PanEco

Increased exploitation of the Sulawesi coast is endangering both mangroves and coral reefs. PPLH Puntondo and its partners are developing a sustainable management plan for the bay of Laikang.

The increasing density of development on the Sulawesi coast is leading to conflict between stakeholders. Village communities traditionally allocated user rights, for example for fishing or mushroom collection. This system has, however, collapsed in most Indonesian regions and been replaced by central management. The system of control is poor and authorities cannot respond to the situation on the ground. The emergence of new forms of use, including algae and fish farming and tourism has made sustainable cultivation even more challenging. Thinking changed in 2007.  A new law set a legal basis for sustainable development of the coastal zone and will enable collaboration between government and local stakeholders.

Coastal protection in Laikang
The bay of Laikang lies in the southwest of Sulawesi, where the Makassar Strait meets the Flores Sea. Three tropical ecosystems coexist in the large bay: mangrove forests, seaweed meadows and coral reefs. All three are, however, under pressure. The bordering districts of Takalar and Jeneponto have already developed zoning plans that do not fully consider the needs of the local population. We will build on this work and together with PPLH Puntondo develop sustainable coastal zone management in the bay of Laikang. We place particular importance on involving local inhabitants in the design and decision-making process. Regular workshops will be held on a variety of themes.

A workshop will be held every three months over the next two years. The goal is to increase awareness about the need for integrated coastal zone management and to improve communication between the stakeholder groups. Working groups will be formed in the 20 villages that surround the bay to discuss the most urgent issues for coastal zone management. The results will be presented at the workshops. A monitoring system will be established in collaboration with local government, NGOs and also partners from the private sector. Groups of fishermen will be trained to observe specific environmental and socio-economic parameters. Dr. Sven Blankenhorn of the ZHAW will accompany the project on the ground.