Illegal turtle trade, an ongoing battle<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
The outcome of the fight by local environmentalists, against the
\nillegal yet excessive sea turtle trade in Bali, relies on many
\nfactors -- their ability to stir up public sympathy, gain support
\nfrom the traditional community and religious leaders, soften the
\npoacher's hearts and most importantly, secure the support of the
\nlocal government.<\/p>\n
The recent reaction of members of the village of Tanjung Benoa
\nto anti-turtle poaching regulations was another indication that
\nconfrontational approaches to the problem only breed hostility.
\nThe villages demanded authorities revoke the regulation which had
\nbeen instigated by various local and international NGOs.<\/p>\n
For years outsiders have publicly labeled the Tanjung Benoa
\npeople as heartless slaughterers and even threatened to stage an
\ninternational boycott against the island's tourism. Only 50 out
\nof a total of 783 households are involved in turtle poaching but
\nthis kind of criticism alienated and angered the whole village,
\ncrushing the hope that the villagers might help to protect the
\nturtles in the future.<\/p>\n
Such crude approaches caused the trade to operate underground.
\nNow it is difficult to estimate the current number of turtles
\nbeing caught, and shipped into Tanjung Benoa, as the trade is
\nalmost undetectable.<\/p>\n
The village was once known as the heart of the turtle trade in
\nIndonesia. In the late 1990s, a single year could bring 27,000
\nturtles, from locations around the country, to its rudimentary
\nport.<\/p>\n
Efforts to engage and pressure the local police to take firm
\naction against the trade has generally resulted in the arrest of
\npoor men, who turned to poaching in the struggle to make a
\nliving, and small-scale traders. The trade bosses, who provide
\nthe ships and capital are left free to continue the business.<\/p>\n
The recent protest was undoubtedly triggered by off-shore
\nraids conducted by the sea police in Bali and East Kalimantan, in
\nwhich hundreds of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were seized from
\npoacher's ships that had originated from Tanjung Benoa.<\/p>\n
Esxcorted by traditional security guards (Pecalang), the
\nprotesters, mostly dressed in Balinese costumes, protested loudly
\nand concluded by burning a blue WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
\nbanner outside the office of the its Wallacea chapter in
\nDenpasar.<\/p>\n
Claiming they need turtles for religious purpose, the
\nprotesters demanded the government grant the village a special
\nturtle quota. Moreover, they insisted that NGOs should provide
\nformer poachers with alternative source of income, and accused
\nenvironmental organizations of inciting the police to take
\ntougher measures toward poachers.<\/p>\n
"The protest provided us with a better and clearer
\nunderstanding of the dynamics of this problem, particularly the
\nissues we must address -- alternative sources of income and the
\ncustomary and religious need for turtles," WWF Wallacea's Turtle
\nCampaign Leader, Windia Adnyana said.<\/p>\n
From a respected Brahmin family, Windia is well-versed in
\nancient Balinese Hindu traditions, and knows that certain
\nsacrificial rituals require meat from the turtle and it's head.<\/p>\n
"Religious authorities have stated that only 70 turtles are
\nneeded for religious purposes in the regency each month. If that
\nis really the case, I believe we will be able to find a solution
\nthat accommodate the villager's needs without sacrificing the
\nfuture of the species," he said.<\/p>\n
For years WWF had been allocating a significant amount of
\nenergy and funds to non-confrontational programs. It was
\nremarkably successful in Perancak, West Bali, when it managed to
\nfacilitate the transformation of a group of turtle poachers into
\nconservationists.<\/p>\n
By establishing the Adopt the Nests program, WWF channeled
\nfunds -- generously donated by local companies and concerned
\nindividuals -- to reformed turtle poachers, who were tasked to
\nprotect the turtle nests at their beach. Thousands of turtle's
\neggs were hatched safely as a result of the program.<\/p>\n
However, WWF still faced a dead-end when it came to Tanjung
\nBenoa. A program, organized in collaboration with Ecosafe --
\nwhich involved providing the poachers with wood carving skills
\nand marketing their handicrafts -- failed to stimulate a
\nsufficient response from local poachers.<\/p>\n
The government's help and assistance would surely have boosted
\nthe program. With the government's assistance it may have been
\npossible to set up a soft loan scheme, to help the poachers learn
\nnew skills and to start new trades, while simultaneously imposing
\na deadline for the end of the turtle trade.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, local politicians and bureaucrats were busy
\nrustling up support for the Bali governor's election and the 2004
\ngeneral election. NGOs should not have too much faith that
\ngovernment-led initiatives will come to the rescue of the
\nturtles, or fix the problem in Tanjung Benoa.<\/p>\n
After field research, Windia then tried to sell the idea of
\nestablishing a turtle center to the people of Tanjung Benoa. The
\ncenter would be comprised of a hatchery facility, turtle cultural
\nmuseum, training center and on-site display facility. Tanjung
\nBenoa was designated as the core of turtle-based ecotourism in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The development of the center was expected to be co-financed
\nby NGOs, the tourism industry and local turtle trade bosses.<\/p>\n
"The problem now is whether the people of Tanjung Benoa are
\nstill willing to talk to us," he said.<\/p>\n
To communicate the NGOs would have to first convince Tanjung
\nBenoa people that they came not only to save the turtles, but
\nalso to help the people.<\/p>",
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