| |
Indonesia MINAHASA MARINE
HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM |
 |
| Internet: |
http://www.artificialreefs.org/Photogallery/ptnewmount/ptnewmont.html |
| Timeframe: |
6 years |
| Issue: |
Sustainable Management of
Ecosystems and Biodiversity |
| Country/Region: |
Indonesia, Asia |
Overview:
Unsustainable fishing practices
(principally poisoning and bombing) have resulted in degradation of
reefs in the coastal region of North Sulawesi. Harvesting of
mangroves for construction materials has also resulted in
significant degradation of this important fish nursery and feeding
habitat.
Newmont Mining Corporation operates the Minahasa Gold
Mine in North Sulawesi, Republic of Indonesia. Working with local
communities and partners, Newmont has developed and is currently
implementing the Marine Habitat Enhancement Program as a part of the
Integrated Sustainable Development Program for the local area. Two
key elements of this program are the Reef Ball (development of
artificial reefs) and Mangrove Rehabilitation projects. The Reef
Ball Project is the largest of its kind conducted by the private
sector to date. These projects are being conducted in conjunction
with micro-financing and training programs for local fishermen and
women and other coastal conservation programs such as the Water
Police and the Coastal Clean-up programs.
The Marine Habitat
Enhancement Program at Minahasa is described here as it embodies the
three pillars of sustainable development. Specifically, the program
promotes a partnership between Newmont, academic institutions, NGOs
and local government and communities; enhances both the marine
environment and environmental awareness of the local communities;
and, provides economics benefits during project implementation and
subsequent to the completion of the program. The Reef Ball and
Mangrove Rehabilitation projects at Minahasa have been a great
success due to measurable, and therefore tangible, environmental and
economic benefits since their inception in 1999. In addition, since
Reef Ball construction and mangrove planting are conducted by local
residents, the projects are germane to the Minahasan tradition of
undertaking cooperative projects for the good of the community.
How the Project addresses
sustainability:
The Minahasa Marine Habitat Enhancement
Program incorporates all three elements of sustainable development.
The environmental importance of coral reefs and mangrove habitats in
coastal regions and on fishery resources is well documented. Loss of
coral reef habitat due to unsustainable fishing practices (e.g.,
poisoning and bombing) and natural factors such as climate and
ecological changes (e.g., crown of thorns and bleaching) may have a
significant impact on the marine ecosystem in general, and fishery
resources, in particular. Coral reef habitat enhancement through the
deployment of Reef Balls is therefore a significant contribution to
conserving this important ecosystem and promoting a sustainable
marine fisheries industry. In addition, through the involvement of
local residents in the manufacturing and deployment of Reef Balls
and mangrove planting, environmental awareness of local communities,
which are heavily dependant on fishing, is enhanced.
Economic benefits of the project relate to the construction
of Reef Balls and the increased fishery resources subsequent to
artificial reef and mangrove habitat formation. In respect to Reef
Ball construction, Newmont purchased the license for Reef Ball
manufacturing and provided construction training to local residents,
who are contracted to make the Reef Balls. Increased revenues
through increased fishery resources are already being demonstrated
by increased fishing activity over the Reef Ball sites established
in 1999. Additional micro-finance programs for the local fishery
enterprises (e.g., funding for boats, engines, cold storage
facilities, etc.) implemented by Newmont are designed to ensure the
long-term sustainability of the fishing industry in the
area.
Social benefits of the project arise from the full
inclusion and participation of local residents demonstrating the
connection between environmental conservation and increased
resources for the local communities. Training and education
(techniques in sustainable fishing, processing, storing,
transporting and marketing) programs implemented by Newmont will
further enhance the sustainability of program.
Results/impact of the Project:
Surveys of Reef
Ball sites have been ongoing at Minahasa since 1999 to monitor the
development of the artificial reefs. The survey techniques employed
are internationally established protocols for description and
quantification of coral ecosystem components and are conducted by
divers using SCUBA. These surveys have been conducted by independent
scientists, scientists from Sam Ratulangi University in Manado and
scientific staff of Newmont’s Environmental Department. The surveys
of the Reef Ball sites are being conducted on a quarterly basis.
Time-series results of surveys conducted at Reef Ball sites may
therefore be used to quantify and document coral growth and changes
in abundance and composition of coral fish
communities.
Mangrove rehabilitation is planned for a total
of 5 ha in the local area. To date, 1 ha has been rehabilitated and
approximately 10,000 mangrove seedlings of local species have been
produced in the community nursery. Measurement and quantification of
the resulting mangrove habitat (both in terms of area and number of
trees) is therefore relatively simple.
Qualitative fish catch
information may also be derived by systematic interviews with
fishermen and women. For example, questions and documentation of
data regarding fish caught (e.g., type, size, weight, value, etc.)
will provide an indication of the impacts of the Reef Ball and
Mangrove Rehabilitation projects on the local fishery industry.
These surveys/interviews would be conducted on a regular basis to
qualitatively assess temporal trends in the quantity and quality of
fish caught in local waters.
Basis for replication of
the Project:
The application of the Marine Habitat
Enhancement Program to other coastal sites is highly appropriate
given the program’s simplicity, relatively low implementation costs
and short-term realization of benefits to the local marine
environment, coastal habitat and fishery resources. Since 1999 at
Minahasa, approximately 3000 Reef Balls have been deployed at three
main locations, demonstrating that significant artificial reef
initiation can be achieved in a relatively short time span. The
Minahasa site represents the largest Reef Ball Project undertaken by
a private company in the world, and second only in size to the Reef
Ball Project implemented by the Malaysian Government.
The
replicability of the project has been demonstrated by a recent
agreement between Newmont and two Diving Centres in Manado, whereby
Newmont will provide approximately 300 Reef Balls for establishing
two artificial reefs (house reefs) for the centres. Other coastal
villages have also requested Reef Ball deployment in their local
waters and plans are currently underway to extend the Reef Ball
Project to these nearby villages. Additional Reef Ball projects in
Asia, Australia, Middle East, North and South America demonstrate
the ease of replication of this marine habitat enhancement
technique.
Considerable local expertise in Mangrove
Rehabilitation has been developed as part of this program. A
community organization responsible for the Mangrove Rehabilitation
Project, which is managed by local residents, has recently been
established. This organization has drafted a zone plan (including
areas for conservation, plantation, aquaculture and recreation)
which has been submitted for ratification by the Village Assembly.
Innovation and inspiration:
Although the
technology employed in this project is not new, Reef Balls have been
deployed in over 1,500 projects worldwide, the integration of this
technique with a comprehensive Marine Habitat Enhancement Program
has resulted in a significant advance in sustainable fishing
practices and environmental awareness in the area of the Minahasa
Mine. The community participatory approach embraced by this project
has also promoted a real feeling of ownership by all partners, in
general, and the local residents, in particular.
Mangrove species
selection by local community members has resulted in significant
innovation on a local scale. The community organization responsible
for mangrove rehabilitation has also led the process of assessing
the suitability of species for their local area and conditions. This
participatory approach has also been a significant source of
inspiration for local residents that can observe the results of
their efforts in enhancing their local
environment.
How the partnerships
worked:
Several organizations and community groups have been
collaborating in the Reef Ball Project. The principal partners in
the project were the Marine Ecology Department at Sam Ratulangi
University in Manado, Association of Scientific Divers
(ASPISIA-NGO), the Reef Ball Foundation, Water Police, local
government, local residents and Newmont. These groups and
organizations have been involved in various aspects of the Reef Ball
Project including Reef Ball fabrication, site selection, ocean
deployment and ecological monitoring of the artificial reefs. The
Water Police, which have been established and funded by Newmont, are
responsible for reporting and arrest (in case of repeat offenders)
of people engaged in illegal fishing practices, such as reef bombing
and poisoning.
Initial training of local communities in mangrove
rehabilitation techniques and protocols was conducted by University
of Sam Ratulangi, ASPISIA and Newmont. Subsequently the local
communities have led the processes of site selection, species
selection, growing of mangrove seedlings and planting and mangrove
habitat monitoring. It is envisaged that the recently developed
community organization responsible for the Mangrove Rehabilitation
Project will become partners with community members from other
villages that desire the implementation of the project in their
local areas.
|
Contact
Details
|
| Name: |
FATIEN KARUNIA FAJARRINI |
| Email: |
fatienkf@corp.newmont.com |
| Organisation: |
Newmont Mining Corporation |
| Address: |
Standard Chartered Bank Building 14th
Floor
Jalan Jendral Sudirman Kav 33A |
| City: |
Jakarta |
| Postal Code: |
10220 |
| Country: |
Indonesia |
| Telephone: |
+62-21-5732711 ext. 45316 |
| Fax: |
+62-21-5732709 | |
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