Skip to content
  • About
  • Partner with Us
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Indonesia
Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Latest
  • News
  • Brief
  • Interview
  • Opinion
  • Figure
  • Youth
  • SDGs
  • Topics
  • #LetterfromtheFounder
  • Brief
  • Featured

Are Komodo Dragons for Tourism?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the komodo dragon as an Endangered species. Aside from the climate crisis, human activities also severely threaten the komodo dragons living in the Komodo National Park.
by Abul Muamar November 16, 2022
a komodo dragon is roaming about in the coast of Komodo Island, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.

A komodo dragon is roaming about on the coast of Komodo Island. | Photo by Mitch Hodiono on Unsplash.

The Komodo dragon is a widely-known endemic species from Indonesia. This giant reptile lives in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, specifically in Komodo National Park’s three main islands: Komodo Island, Rinca Island, and Padar Island.

Despite its status as a protected species, the lives of komodo dragons in Komodo National Park have been continuously threatened to fulfill human needs. In the past, they were being hunted by the Europeans for research. Today, the komodo dragons are caught in the middle of a tourism scheme.

A Path to Extinction

In August 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the komodo dragon Endangered. It’s an unfortunate progression from its status as Vulnerable that started in 1996. Nowadays, the threats of global warming and the rising sea level are predicted to erase around 30% of komodo’s population in the following 45 years.

Aside from the climate crisis, humans also pose a terror of their own. The infrastructure development for Labuan Bajo’s Kawasan Strategis Pariwisata Nasional (National Tourism Strategic Area) or Destinasi Pariwisata Super Prioritas (Super Priority Tourism Destination) came into the spotlight for putting the Komodo National Park’s ecosystem at risk.

The Indonesian government is building a premium tourism project dubbed “Jurassic Park”. It is said to be massive-scale infrastructures involving a dock and wave breaker, an elevated deck, guest houses, animal pools, and a museum.

“Everything needs calculations and clear routes. The first target for Labuan Bajo is welcoming 1 million tourists according to its airport capacity,” said President Joko Widodo when officiating the Rinca Island’s area planning.

The Irony of Premium Tourism

the islands of Komodo National Park, located at West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
The Komodo National Park, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. | Photo by Fajruddin Mudzakkir on Unsplash.

The Komodo National Park has gained worldwide recognition as a conservation area. The park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977, Natural World Heritage Site in 1991, and listed as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature since 2012. The current development of the premium tourism project, which has gained support from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, sticks out like a sore thumb after multiple-years-worth of conservation efforts. 

Gregorius Afioma, an environmental activist from Labuan Bajo, shared a photo of a komodo dragon standing face-to-face with a heavy-loaded truck at Loh Buaya Valley, Rinca Island. The heavy equipment still runs its course despite the “Please Keep Silent” sign, meaning that one should be very careful with even the slightest sound in the area.

“The Komodo National Park must be seen as one integrated ecosystem. How can luxurious buildings be built at Rinca, whereas Komodo Island needs to stay natural? Both islands are the home to komodos,” said Gregorius.

Due to its concerning state, UNESCO urged the Indonesian government to stop the project and reevaluate its environmental impact analysis. The updated version should be submitted to UNESCO World Heritage Center on 1 February 2022 at the latest, to be examined at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee meeting. However, even critics from UNESCO couldn’t put an end to this development.

“Transporting heavy materials requires heavy equipment because it’s impossible to do it by hand. The usage of heavy equipment such as trucks and excavators had been done with caution,” said Nunu Anugrah, the Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Tourist Quota Restriction

Suppose the infrastructure development at Komodo National Park, which has Outstanding Universal Value, is deemed non-harmful for the komodos and has to follow the government’s plan to completion. In that case, komodo protection efforts must be backed up by policy implementation to minimize threats to the endangered species. One of the aspects is regarding the tourism impacts.

To align the conservation efforts with tourism, the government imposed a tourism quota restriction at the Komodo National Park, particularly in Komodo and Padar Islands, as conservation areas. A study on tourism capacity by Balai Taman Nasional Komodo (Komodo National Park Association) gives a recommendation on the islands’ ideal number of visitors per year. The numbers are 219,000 visitors per year for Komodo Island and 39,420 per year for Padar Island. This equals 100 people for every visit.

“Regulating the visitors with the quota restriction system aims to minimize the negative impacts of nature-based tourism to the preservation of the Komodo population and other wild animals, to maintain the preservation of Komodo and Padar Islands’ ecosystem, and to provide comfort and safety to the visitors and staffs at the Komodo National Park,” the Vice Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong had explained. 

To support this policy, the government plans on raising the Komodo and Padar Islands entrance ticket prices to 3.75 million rupiahs on 1 January 2023. Meanwhile, the ticket to Rinca Island will remain unchanged. Beyond the regulations and policies, however, it is far more crucial that the komodo dragons’ conservation efforts are conducted seriously and in consideration of every aspect related to them.

“We also hope conservation efforts can go hand-in-hand with economic recovery efforts,” said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno.

Translator: Kresentia Madina

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

To read the original version of this article in Indonesian, click here.

Thank you for reading!
If you find this article insightful, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with sustainable development news and stories from multistakeholder communities in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Abul Muamar
Website | + posts

Amar is the Manager for Editorial Indonesia at Green Network. He performs the role of writer and editor for Green Network ID.

  • Abul Muamar
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/abulmuamar/
    Ruhana Kuddus Fought for the Emancipation of Indonesian Women through Journalism and Education
  • Abul Muamar
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/abulmuamar/
    Orangutan Information Center’s Mission to Save Sumatran Orangutans
  • Abul Muamar
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/abulmuamar/
    Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia

Continue Reading

Previous: Australia Launches Website for Workplace Sexual Harassment Prevention
Next: Supporting Multilingual Students with Multilingual Education

Related Stories

a snow leopard cub eyeing its prey Snow Leopards Conservation Efforts in Central Asia
  • Featured
  • News

Snow Leopards Conservation Efforts in Central Asia

by Kresentia Madina March 20, 2023
a woman wearing a mask throwing an empty cup to a trash bin Urban Waste Management: How Your City Can Help You Recycle
  • Brief
  • Featured

Urban Waste Management: How Your City Can Help You Recycle

by Kresentia Madina and Nazalea Kusuma March 17, 2023
Dipterocarp trees in a forest in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Carbon Offset in Southeast Asia: Assessing Benefits and Opportunities
  • Brief
  • Featured

Carbon Offset in Southeast Asia: Assessing Benefits and Opportunities

by Lalita Fitrianti March 16, 2023
a band with four members are playing in front of audiences under orange-hued lights Decent Work and Rights Protection for Arts and Entertainment Workers
  • Featured
  • News

Decent Work and Rights Protection for Arts and Entertainment Workers

by Kresentia Madina March 15, 2023
an empty emergency tent Sindh Rehabilitation Project: Rebuilding Lives and Strengthening Disaster Response
  • Featured
  • News

Sindh Rehabilitation Project: Rebuilding Lives and Strengthening Disaster Response

by Kresentia Madina March 14, 2023
macro closeup of a black soldier fly looking at the camera Science & Technology for Sustainable Insect Farming
  • Featured
  • News

Science & Technology for Sustainable Insect Farming

by Nazalea Kusuma March 13, 2023
  • Latest
  • Popular
  • Partner
  • a snow leopard cub eyeing its prey Snow Leopards Conservation Efforts in Central Asia
    • Featured
    • News

    Snow Leopards Conservation Efforts in Central Asia

  • a woman wearing a mask throwing an empty cup to a trash bin Urban Waste Management: How Your City Can Help You Recycle
    • Brief
    • Featured

    Urban Waste Management: How Your City Can Help You Recycle

  • Dipterocarp trees in a forest in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Carbon Offset in Southeast Asia: Assessing Benefits and Opportunities
    • Brief
    • Featured

    Carbon Offset in Southeast Asia: Assessing Benefits and Opportunities

  • a band with four members are playing in front of audiences under orange-hued lights Decent Work and Rights Protection for Arts and Entertainment Workers
    • Featured
    • News

    Decent Work and Rights Protection for Arts and Entertainment Workers

  • an empty emergency tent Sindh Rehabilitation Project: Rebuilding Lives and Strengthening Disaster Response
    • Featured
    • News

    Sindh Rehabilitation Project: Rebuilding Lives and Strengthening Disaster Response

  • The green landscape of Semakau Island in Singapore Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore
    • Featured
    • News

    Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore

  • Indonesian spices as cultural heritage Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News

    Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia

  • illustration of National SDG tracker by Unescap UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker
    • Featured
    • News

    UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker

  • Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums
    • Figure

    Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums

  • Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production
    • Featured
    • News

    Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production

  • green big containers, blue building, and large tube at Hamparan project site B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization

  • the TEPI Talks #4 event poster Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia

  • Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery

  • The illustration of Harm Reduction with the fundamental purpose of upholding the safety and dignity of all people. An Introduction to Harm Reduction
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    An Introduction to Harm Reduction

  • A young adult from we day ugm and three elementary schoolers planting mangrove seed. Photo is taken from above and shows only their heads and backs. WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment

About Us

  • About
  • The Team
  • Partner with Us
  • Sponsored Content
  • Contribute to Our Mission
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Advisory Network
  • Youth Advisory Network
  • Author Network
  • FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Telegram
  • Etsy
  • Tokopedia
  • Media Link 11
  • Media Link 12
  • Media Link 13
  • Media Link 14
  • Media Link 15
© 2023 Green Network Asia