At the bottom of the warm, shallow ocean of Alor, seagrass forms a field where dugongs live for food. On the surface, on a boat whose engine has been turned off, an old man, Onesimus Laa, chants a spell until a dugong hears his call and appears dancing among the subtle ripples of Alor's sea.
Alexandra Maheswari, Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Site Manager Alor, WWF-Indonesia, at that time, 2017, came to Alor with a paper with a question: why did the being known to be shy turn friendly?
One Friday evening, he told me. According to the community, initially the dugong only saw from afar when a boat was seen in the ocean looking for fish. Over time, the more frequent boats passing by, made the solitary mammal look friendly. But at times they looked uncomfortable — like feeling a threat to their home's seagrass bed, turning aggressive, and getting to the boats with their massive bodies capable of pulling the oars. There are several stories about dugongs that refused to get out of the boat, causing their propellers to hurt their tails.
Based on research on dugong behavior conducted by the WWF-Indonesia team with the Alor Marine and Fisheries Service, BPSPL Denpasar Kupang office, BKKPN, and Nusa Cendana University in 2017, changes in dugong behavior were caused by at least two things: being threatened, which later turned protective in region, and is experiencing a reproductive phase. The aggressiveness of these dugongs is quite dangerous for both dugongs and humans.
The change in dugong behavior is then considered by some people as a potential to raise money. At first only one then multiplied, fishing boats started taking curious people out to sea and escorting them to dugongs. Then, the tour to call dugong was created. Unfortunately, travelers' requests to hold a dugong and swim with it are still a priority. They do not understand that there is an ecosystem that could possibly be lost due to the activity of calling dugong.
Dugong dugon, known as dugong, is included in a range of animals that are vulnerable to extinction and is a type of wildlife that is prohibited in all forms of international trade. Meanwhile, the seagrass beds inhabited by dugongs are also home to several other sea creatures such as sea cucumbers, baronangs, and crabs. Preserving dugongs is about preserving the ecosystem; preserving the ecosystem is maintaining human survival.
Dugong Swimming above seagrass bed via WWF-Indonesia/Juraij
"Thankfully, the Alor community has not wanted to hunt dugongs since the early 90s. The last time a dugong was caught was [when a dugong was] accidentally trapped in a fishing net in 2016, then [the community] received socialization [about the dugong] as a protected and endangered animal from the Alor Marine and Fisheries Service, ”Alexa said.
Alexa shared her activities with the community and local government during her three years in Alor. In addition to conducting dugong conservation activities, the community is then involved in managing marine coastal conservation areas through the Community Supervisory Group (Pokmaswas) in the form of a village-based tourism development community.
"We are helping the government and local communities to conduct research, the results of which are then used as recommendations through the Tourism Office and the Marine and Fisheries Service, which have been legalized in the Alor Regent Regulation, that (dugong) is only seen, not allowed to swim and be held; carrying the ship must also turn off the engine upon arrival in the dugong habitat. However, until the end of 2019 they were still not very compliant and in the adjustment stage, ”said Alexa.
Yusuf Tande, another WWF friend, also told me about his activities with the Alor community. Together with the community, Usu conducted mapping and excavation to find attractions that could be options, such as beach tours, mangrove trails, and exploring Sika Island. The intention is simple, to involve many parties so as not to create social jealousy so that the welfare of the community can be maintained. They also provide guidance to the community regarding the importance of conservation, to continue to preserve nature and the environment, as well as supervise illegal activities such as the use of fishing gear that can damage coral reefs such as fish bombs and fish poison, as well as exploitation of sand mining.
Dugong watching from boat via WWF-Indonesia/Mala Tours
"There is already a Kabola Fishermen Communication Forum. Initially only [managed by] one father who became a traditional leader and several community groups and several local fishermen, but now fishermen and other communities have joined them. So, many people are getting involved in tourism and conservation. In FKNK, there is a women's group that can provide food for guests and young people are also involved as guides. Slowly, the community together with the Alor Regional Government are trying to continue to strengthen the existing potential, "added Alexa.
Life is a dilemma. Humans are faced with meeting needs and preserving nature. So I understand that what Alexa, Usu, the community and other parties are doing is a long struggle. Apart from having to seek answers to the questions on the paper, they also assist the community and spread the idea that preserving nature is a shared responsibility, that preserving nature and the environment is in the community's long-term interest.
March, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic arrives in Alor. People stay at home more often. Tourism that is usually stretched is now fading. Tourist activities only run locally and domestically. Residents who depend on tourism must be laid off. The inn owners then returned to their hometowns. The markets are quiet.
Usu then talked about how the Alor people survived during the pandemic. One of the things they do is look back at the sea.
Kabola Tour Guide walks through Kampung Mali, Kabola District, Alor Regency via WWF-Indonesia/Alexandra Maheswari
“Seaweed farming in Alor is quite developed. By fishermen, the catch is transferred to several collectors. Then, from the collectors then marketed to several areas such as Flores, Makassar and Kupang, "explained Usu.
Other than that, they also returned to cultivating the fields, again selling crops to survive. Alor, which is hilly and mountainous, stores crops such as corn, walnuts, secondary crops, candlenuts, and vanilla, commodities that can become a bulwark when tourism is not (anymore) stretched. They are also trying to find other trade routes for weaving and various handicrafts.
Even so, concerns still arise. If there is an economic downturn, there is a chance that destructive fishing activities will occur.
I remembered the words of a friend: humans are the only living things on earth who can be friends with all creatures and at the same time become the only creatures that accelerate the destruction of the earth.
Dugong is just one of many cases of natural exploitation in the name of a double-edged knife called tourism. Many of the travelers are not yet aware of ecology, while their stomachs who are looking for sustenance from tourism must continue to be filled. So we, travelers, should understand the ethics of traveling; that nature must be taken care of anywhere in any way; that local wisdom must be respected and obeyed.
However, in the midst of all the problems, things got out that were quite pleasing to Alexa. The Alor people, who uphold their religious faith, have transformed local wisdom into religious values. Religious elders, through sermons and preaching, spread positive doctrines about the importance of preserving nature and the environment. This is also their response to climate change which is increasingly threatening. So movements were carried out to plant mangroves, reduce the use of plastics, clean up garbage, and conserve and even save water.
This pandemic in the end became a warning for humans to change direction towards behavior that supports the preservation of nature. Slowly, ecological consciousness penetrated the minds of men. In the city, people started farming, even with limited land. In the world of tourism, the big theme of conservation can become the basis for creating a new tourism climate. Even answered questions about survival. Preserving nature is not just talking about the present, but also for future generations. Perhaps conservation is the answer to all problems.
"People who are already literate in tourism usually understand better how to protect their environment in order to enjoy nature and the benefits of tourism in the following years," Alexa continued to pray.
Tuesday night, as of writing this, I received a message from Alexa. It contains several article links about the annual Expo Alor event which is still being held in the midst of the pandemic. Several public activities in the district began running again in July. On the one hand, it is an attempt to turn the wheels of the economy at the local level, as an effort to survive. On the other hand, even though it has been obliged to be carried out with due observance of health protocols, this event still carries risks. Ah, what a dilemma life is.
Perhaps it is true what Pramoedya wrote in the Greenhouse, “How simple life is really. What is complicated is only the twists and turns."
Publish on Telusuri website, accessible on https://telusuri.id/geliat-bertahan-hidup-di-alor/
The existence of the Covid-19 pandemic that has reached Indonesia makes tourism actors face a very formidable challange. Even so, all tour operators who are members of the Blue Allies do not forget their commitment to saving the environment. This was demonstrated by their participation in the Switch Off activity organized by Earth Hour 2020 on March 28, 2020 which was simultaneously carried out globally at 08.30 p.m to 09.30 p.m (local time).
Different from previous years, the implementation of Earth Hour this year, which carries the theme of "Raise Your Voice" is held in a different way which is through the activation of each online media as a suggessted social distancing effort. Also, tour operators take advantage of the time during Earth Hour to pray together hoping that the global pandemic will be over.
Highest appreciation for tourism actors who have participated in energy savings and various environmental activities that have been carried out to protext the environment in the future.
Hopefully things will be better!
Traveling to beautiful places now is a growing trend among young people. Not just a holiday, with the presence of social media, makes everyone competing to show off their tourist excitement. Stylish in the middle of a vast meadow, taking pictures with the fish while snorkeling, until the most hits today are stylish models or candid photos against a backdrop of natural scenery or tourist attractions.
However, due to the excitement of uploading photos here and there sometimes we do not pay attention to behavior that can damage the beauty of tourist attractions. Mistakenly, our actions can reduce the attractiveness of these tourist attractions or even become bullied netizens as a result of the photos that you upload contain elements of vandalism! Maybe in 5-6 years when you return there, the beauty of the place is no longer the same. Don't let you be one of them! As tourists, we must be responsible for the environment, socio-culture, and also sustainable business management, so that tourism in these locations continues to run well and last long. Well, here are 8 (eight) tips that you can do to become a contemporary and responsible traveler.
Search for information on tourist locations that you will visit in as much detail as possible!
Before packing, we should first find out information about the places we will visit. Can be about special foods, culture, prohibitions, and any spots that we can use as material to be uploaded to social media. Later, you don't just show off, by adding important information to each photo, you have helped promote the potential of these tourist sites.
Follow the instructions of the guide, don't take selfies all the time!
Be an ethical traveler, no matter how often you go to the same tourist spot, keep respecting and paying attention to the guide who is giving instructions, especially regarding rules relating to security, safety, and local ethics. If you do not heed these directives, you can just drown in the sea, get lost in the forest, or even driven out of tourist sites! So pay attention, and do not take a selfie while being given directions!
Don't feed, chase, let alone ride the animals that you meet at tourist attractions
Taking pictures with the fish while snorkeling is fun, you can upload it to Instagram and get lots of likes on the photo. However, feeding animals in nature actually interferes with their native behavior. They will get used to waiting to be fed by tourist visitors by returning to the same place. If this habit continues, they will lose their hunting instincts as wild animals. Ride it
Turn off your camera flash when shooting animals.
Some animals are quite sensitive to light, for example when turtles give birth, when manta rays mate, and when close to whale sharks. Flash light on the camera can change the behavior of animals to be aggressive because they feel disturbed. Instead of getting pictures with the animals, you can actually be hurt by their tantrums.
Lower your voice in traditional places, in local settlements, and places that are used as traditional space
Vacation is one of the moments to have fun, but we must still pay attention to the surrounding environment. Don't laugh out loud and speak out loud when you are not in an open space. If tourist arrivals are felt to be quite disturbing, local people may become unfriendly to us, maybe even they will no longer allow their area of ​​residence to be used as a tourist location.
Do not litter!
Get used to storing trash if you don't find a trash can near you. Imagine if you threw away rubbish as you wish, besides ruining the view, if the rubbish was produced from many tourists, the next few years the place would be full of rubbish! Gone are the tourist attractions there, local people will lose income for everyday life. Besides, you don't want to have a pile of rubbish adorning your holiday photo frames?
Souvenirs for friends? Buy local handicrafts!
Do not take 'souvenirs' from the tourist sites that you visit, for example: rocks, plants, or shells of marine animals, especially in conditions still alive! Buy local handicrafts as souvenirs, and you can promote them through social media. If many are interested, they might be curious and want to come directly to the location to see firsthand how to make it and buy directly from the manufacturer. That way, you guys have helped the business and economic sustainability of the area in the tourist location!
When traveling to the beach, look for lodging, restaurants, recreational boats and trip organizers
Traveling to a place is not fun enough if you don't taste the culinary specialties and souvenirs of the region. But watch out! Do not let the goods / food that you consume come from endangered species even protected by the law! As tourists we must be wise in choosing, not to give a negative impact on the marine and surrounding ecosystems. Because by acting wisely, we can help the economy of the local community while minimizing the illegal trade in endangered animals. Let's look at some tips so that you become a wise traveler in shopping!
Look for as much information.
Gather information about the unique tourist sites that you will visit, be culinary, customs and culture, to the unique species that can only be found there.
Avoid consuming endangered marine animals and the length of the breeding process.
Don't eat fishery products made from marine species such as sharks, turtles, marine mammals, lobsters and groupers. This is because the species has a long time to regenerate, if we consume it means the amount of demand will increase, so that fishermen will look for more animals to meet market demand. Because the breeding time is very long, it may be that the fishermen caught are chicks that have not had time to produce eggs. How do fish not run out quickly?
Don't buy souvenirs made from marine species such as turtle shells, bahar roots, coral reefs, etc.
Even though they are dead, if you buy these items you can be misused by people who are not responsible. These people could have said that the merchandise they sell are made from dead sea turtle shells, even though he got it by catching and then killing the turtle to take the shell and make a souvenir for you. Better, look for a replica or buy another hand-made souvenir, find it safe!
Buy handicrafts from the local community.
By buying handicrafts from the local community, it means that you benefit and show appreciation for them. This action also triggers the community to improve the quality of their products. In addition, directly you also help move the economy of the local community to be more developed.
Bid reasonably.
As buyers we also have the right to bargain! Indeed, sometimes some typical souvenir sellers at tourist attractions offer prices that are not expensive. You have the right to bid on a human level. You can ask first how the manufacturing process can turn into beautiful souvenirs that are traded. That way, you can guess what a fair price is given from the results of hard work during the manufacturing process. In addition, you can also be more familiar with the seller, the possibility is given a greater discount. Yay!
Those are some tips that you can apply while on vacation later. Hopefully with the small steps you take, it can help preserve nature and improve the welfare of the local community. From now on, be a wise tourist in consuming every product produced from nature. Happy heart, nature is awake!
Most Indonesians today often hear the word "Climate Change" or "Global Warming". This is because slowly the effects can already be felt and witnessed with our own eyes. The heat of the air during the day, a plague that runs rampant, to an increase in the average temperature of the marine atmosphere that causes damage to the marine ecosystem. Climate change itself is caused by a variety of human activities that are not environmentally friendly which uses fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil as the main ingredients. However, not many people are aware that in addition to global warming, marine activity also has a role in the destruction of marine ecosystems, especially coastal areas.
The rate of activities of the Indonesian marine industry is now increasing. We can easily find travel agents, trip organizers, and holiday service providers everywhere. Can be through the internet, travel brochures, to chain messages from mobile phones. According to the Ministry of Tourism (2016), for marine tourism destinations, Indonesia has 33 diving destinations and more than 400 operators. Of the many foreign exchange generated by marine tourism, as many as 60% of visitors do coastal tourism, 25% are nautical or motorized marine tours, and 15% underwater tourism such as snorkeling and giving.
The problem is, of the many tourism actors, many do not consider the ecological impact of the preservation of the archipelago's marine assets. Perpetrators of tourism here are service providers and visitors. In fact, there are domino effects on environmental, social, and economic aspects that occur if we are not wise when traveling. Destructive behavior for example when snorkeling / diving, coral reefs broken and damaged due to being trampled, held, and even intentionally broken for souvenirs for visitors. If not stopped, over time the underwater beauty filled with coral reefs will disappear and the value of these tourist sites will decrease dramatically. Domestic and foreign tourists will be lazy to visit. Tourist sites become quiet, local people lose their jobs. That is, the contribution of foreign exchange to the country is also reduced. the impact of extinction is threatening, and cannot be enjoyed directly by future generations.
Not to mention the trip organizer itself, which allows visitors to feed the fish with biscuits and bread that they have provided. Even so, fish can lose their hunting instinct and will return to the same place. In terms of accommodation, irresponsible behavior comes with disregard for energy and emissions savings. Hotel lights are left on during the day. The temperature of the air conditioner is set below 23 degrees Celsius, the air coming from the air conditioner also adds to the effect of global warming. There is also the amount of rubbish that is brought by visitors increases every year if it is not managed properly, for example by turning it into recycled objects or other handicrafts it will turn these tourist attractions into mounds of rubbish island. And many more.
Then, how to overcome it? We can begin to apply the pattern of marine tourism behavior that is environmentally responsible by minimizing waste production, socially responsible by respecting prevailing customs and responsible for the business of the local community. The "Signing Blue" program as one of the initiatives to help create marine tourism is responsible for issuing a series of guidelines for the Best Environmental Equitable Practices (BEEP). The guide can be downloaded via http://www.signingblue.com. Inside are information and tips on how to become a responsible tourist for the sustainability of Indonesian marine tourism. So, from now on we have to start changing our behavior for the sake of better Indonesian tourism.
In the future, specifically for Bali, Signing Blue will increase the number of partnerships. Because in general, the tourism sector is considered to have a lot of attention to human resources owned, helped preserve culture and continue to provide services for tourists to the maximum.
Gerald, Signing Blue Corporate Engagement, said, although in terms of internal management it is already good, there are still important tasks in environmental management. Perpetrators of tourism in Bali are still less responsive to the importance of managing the environment. This is caused by many factors. One of them is local and foreign tourists who are overloaded.
This affects the difficulty of tourist supervision of environmental preservation. For example when diving on the island of Nusa Penida, they accidentally or intentionally do damage to coral reefs. In addition to the lack of knowledge of tourists about environmental conservation at sea, tourism actors also do not provide adequate education related to this matter. So that at one time, coral reefs which should be kept together, become permanently damaged at a certain period of time.
In addition to Nusa Penida Island, Kuta Beach is also one of the points in Bali that experiences over capacity and often occurs before sunset. The number of local and foreign tourists on the beach makes it difficult to control garbage disposal. "As a result, rubbish that is deliberately disposed of or left behind in the sand will be swept away by the waves and become marine trash," Gerald explained.
Signing Blue Will Continue To Add Members To The Tourism Industry Players
Signing Blue in this case moves to encourage tourism actors, the general public, and the traveler to be aware of protecting the marine tourism environment.
If they also have packages for diving and snorkeling, an implementation will be assessed in the field. For example when meeting with animals whether they have followed the correct rules by giving breafing to tourists before diving, because this is so fundamental to be done by members of Signing Blue who have diving packages.
All is done openly and through an assessor. In this case the assessor can be referred to as a third party conducting the assessment, whereas the WWF is only a reviewer. "When all elements needed to become a member of WWF have been fulfilled, it will be declared as a Signing Blue member," explained Gerald.
Assessor, Performance Evaluator for Signing Blue Members
Pariama Hutasoit as assessor of the Signing Blue program is a volunteer who cares about marine tourism in the country. Pariama wants to do more for the country, one of which is to make tourism practitioners concerned about the environment for the sustainability of his business.
According to Pariama, the task of an assessor is to assess the three indicators set. Including marine tourism included in the conservation of marine ecosystems. He said he wanted to encourage others to care about the surrounding environment. "Surely it is equipped with data and accurate evidence to make others join in protecting marine tourism together," he said.
