Posted on April, 05 2012

by Creusa Hitipeuw

Cendrawasih Bay is home to the second largest marine park in Indonesia after the Savu Sea. A scientific expedition led by Conservation International in 2006 with the participation of the world's most famous marine scientists had found more than 1,100 species of reef fishes, 4 times higher than previously recorded. Ten new fish species were also recorded, of which 5-7 are suspected to be endemic. The unique geological and oceanographic history of this area, along with repeated isolation since 18,000 years ago, has created a major regional center of endemism in this semi enclosed large bay. Another interesting fact about Cendrawasih Bay is that many deep-dwelling fish species have been encountered in relatively shallow water. In fact, the world's leading fish scientist, Dr Gerry Allen, had labeled Cendrawasih Bay as ‘the Galapagos of Indonesia’s Reefs’.

In general, this vast bay is considered as pristine with reef tops that comprise healthy coral gardens and schools of fish including pelagic barracudas and trevallies along the reef points and ridges and in distant marine atolls. Dugongs, whales, dolphins and whale sharks are also often observed. Fishing pressure is still low compared to other regions in the western part of Indonesia.

However, recent sea temperature records have revealed that the reefs of Cendrawasih Bay, with their generally stable temperature regime, may prove to be particularly susceptible to temperature variations caused by climate change. As such, these reefs require extra attention to minimize the other potential stressors to which they are exposed (including destructive fishing, overfishing and sedimentation from land clearing in surrounding watersheds) in order to maximize their likelihood of adapting to future temperature changes. Under no circumstances should mining tailings or other industrial waste be discharged into Cendrawasih Bay.

Cendrawasih Bay National Park, covering an area of over 1.4 million ha was established in 2002 and is managed by a Park Authority (under the Ministry of Forestry). Plenty of resources are still required to effectively implement its recently approved zoning and management plan. Coincidentally, the park's area almost entirely overlaps with the area administered under the district of Wondama and a large part of the district of Nabire of West Papua Province.

Thus, the conservation outcome of the management of Cendrawasih National Park will be impacted largely by the type and intensity of economic development activities in the area. Both the Park Authority and local governments are now facing very important decisions on how to balance sustainable economic development of rich marine resources and the conservation of globally-significant marine diversity.

The gradual increase in visitors on diving liveaboards over the past few years provides opportunities for sustainable low-impact ecotourism. This will reconcile the need for economic revenue for the district with the imperative for park authorities to get local stakeholders to protect the marine environment as assets for long-term benefits, as well as for meeting the needs of the local villagers as well.