Managing Komodo park<\/p>\n
I have had the privilege of visiting Komodo National Park a
\nnumber of times over the last few years and I consider it an
\nunequalled gem of the archipelago. The park is managed jointly by
\nthe Balai Taman Nasional Komodo and The Nature Conservancy, the
\nlatter an international organization. Non-Indonesian visitors pay
\na very modest fee of Rp 20,000 to enter this World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n
As of last August, however, non-Indonesian visitors of the
\nNational Park are required to pay a Rp 25,000 surcharge to bring
\nin a camera and Rp 100,000 for a videocamera.<\/p>\n
When I asked why the park didn't simply raise the entrance fee
\ninstead, I was informed that the surcharges were an initiative of
\nregional authorities and not of the joint park management.<\/p>\n
These camera surcharges noticeably exceed the amount of the
\nentrance fee, and the funds raised from the two separate charges
\nseem to go to different destinations.<\/p>\n
This is not a question of money. I wouldn't mind paying more
\nthan the current entrance fee, but only if the money goes to a
\nsingle destination: the joint park management, who are working
\ntogether to protect the park's unique resources and biodiversity.<\/p>\n
I certainly don't begrudge the regional authorities their
\nprosperity, but this is not the way to make ends meet.<\/p>\n
FRANS HUNEKER
\nUbud, Bali<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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