Meity Mengdon, the green crusader<\/p>\n
Fabio Scarpello, Contributor, Bunaken, North Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Barely known outside the country's environmentalist circle, the
\npetite Meity Mengdon is softly spoken, has a gentle attitude, and
\na perpetual smile.<\/p>\n
Yet, she was 27 years old when she became the first Indonesian
\nand the youngest person ever to receive the Seacology award.<\/p>\n
Seacology is an American foundation that has chosen to
\nrecognize the heroic achievements of indigenous leaders who risk
\ntheir lives and\/or wellbeing to protect their island's ecosystems
\nand culture.<\/p>\n
She confessed that she was surprised and a little abashed when
\nin November 2000 she was flown to Honolulu, Hawaii, to accept the
\ntribute.<\/p>\n
\"I really did not expect it, and I am not sure I fully
\ndeserved it\" she says. Despite her modesty, the prize was
\nrightfully given in recognition of her tireless work to save
\nBunaken mangrove forests and coral reefs, while improving the
\nlivelihood of the villagers.<\/p>\n
Meity's strengths rest in her mediation skills that have often
\nbridged the gap between institutions and the villagers.<\/p>\n
Born 31 years ago in Kumu (a small village 90 minutes from
\nManado), Meity understands the locals' culture and needs. She is
\nalso a nature lover (as well as a proven diver), and presented a
\nthesis on mangrove tree protection when graduating in Marine
\nScience at Sam Ratulagi University, Manado.<\/p>\n
To protect the environment while involving and educating the
\nlocal people has always been her objective. \"Locals have the
\nright to manage the park and to reap the benefits, but they also
\nhave the responsibility for its sustainability\" she says.<\/p>\n
In this case \"sustainability\" has meant stopping resource-
\ndestructive activities, like cyanide and dynamite fishing,
\nmangrove harvesting for charcoal production, and coral\/shell
\ncollection for the tourist curio trade.<\/p>\n
Meity started working at the USAID-funded Natural Resources
\nManagement (NRM) while still at University. The group coached the
\nmanagement team for Bunaken National Park.<\/p>\n
Bunaken National Park was established by the Indonesian
\ngovernment in 1990 and it consists of 89,065 hectares, 97 percent
\nof which is ocean. It also includes some mainland coast and the
\nislands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain.<\/p>\n
In 1996, at the end of the NRM project -- together with other
\nlike-minded activists -- Meity funded Kelola, an NGO concerned
\nwith the conservation of the marine habitat. It was at this time
\nthat she started talking about the importance of the park,
\ndirectly to the people. In 2000 she returned to NRM as a
\ncommunity facilitation specialist, a position that she still
\nholds.<\/p>\n
The benefits of Meity's (and her colleagues) work has not gone
\nunnoticed, and in 2003 Bunaken National Marine Park won the
\nBritish Airways Tourism for Tomorrow award. On this occasion, the
\nmanagement was praised for improving the livelihood of the 30,000
\nresidents, while successfully ending coral mining,
\ndynamite\/cyanide fishing, and the destruction of mangroves.<\/p>\n
\"We couldn't ask residents to give up their practices without
\noffering valid alternatives, and today -- thanks to the
\ndevelopment of the park -- people can find jobs as park rangers
\nor within the tourism industry. Fishing can still be practiced
\nwith nets or long lens (500 metres from the coral) and seaweed
\nfarming is growing in importance. Also, subsidies have been put
\nin place to help those that have lost their main source of
\nincome,\" Meity adds.<\/p>\n
Developing a national park is always difficult with several
\ngroups having different interests and ideas on how the park
\nshould be developed. In Indonesia, the groups involved include
\nthe Ministry of Forestry, the local government and the people
\nliving in the area.<\/p>\n
\"It has been a difficult to get them to pull in the same
\ndirection. The establishment of the National Park Community
\nConcerned Forum (FMPTB) and of the National Park Management
\nAdvisory Board (DPTND) has really helped\" Meity says. She then
\nexplains \"The FMPTB is a forum where the representatives of the
\n30 villages meet once every two months, and the DPTND is
\ncollaborative body consisting of 15 seats, filled by
\nrepresentatives of the government, community, university and
\nNGOs\".<\/p>\n
From among the important developments in the last few years
\nMeity names the NRM's zoning of the park and the setting up of
\nthe joint patrol system.<\/p>\n
\"Maps, brochure, leaflets and calendars have been given to
\nresidents and tourist's places alike. In these, the park is
\ndotted with three different colors that indicate what is
\npermitted in the area. So for example, the red areas are off-
\nlimits for everything (fishing, snorkeling, anchoring and so on),
\nwhile the blue areas are designed for tourist use, and the green
\nareas for the community,\" Meity explains.<\/p>\n
\"The patrolling of the park is a big problem. Rangers are not
\ndoing what they should, and the park is often left unattended.
\nThe setting up of the joint patrol with residents in 2001 has
\nimproved the situation, but there is still a long way to go,\"
\nMeity adds pointing the finger at the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
Manado's solid waste disposal is another pressing problem, and
\nthe way the DPTND tackles it frustrates Meity. \"They have no
\nconcept of the seriousness of the issue that if it is not tackled
\nsoon, it could mark the end of the park. The DPTND allocates part
\nof the tourists' entrance fee to it, but this is not adequate,
\nand much greater government intervention is needed\".<\/p>\n
Meity's frustration grows as she appeals to politicians --
\ncampaigning for the forthcoming election -- to maintain an
\nethical approach. \"I do not want to generalize but some, in order
\nto get votes are promising immediate benefits to citizens that
\ncontravene all we have fought for in the past few years. For
\nexample, Lean beach in Bunaken is a no-fishing zone and some have
\npromised to reopen it if elected!\"<\/p>\n
She leaves sighing: \"I wish there was better environmental
\nawareness in Indonesia.....\"<\/p>",
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