Residents of Bali's Nusa Ceningan plot their own future<\/p>\n
By I Wayan Juniarta<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): No traditional Balinese community had
\never undertaken the type of daunting task performed by the people
\nof Nusa Ceningan, a small island an hour's boat ride south of
\nBali island.<\/p>\n
The modest people of Ceningan have just completed a detailed
\nmaster plan of the island's land utilization and management, as
\nwell as a comprehensive guideline for development on the island.
\nExtensive mapping of Ceningan island was also carried out.<\/p>\n
Nusa Ceningan is located between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa
\nPenida, and is included in the Klungkung regency of East Bali.<\/p>\n
The idea of undertaking the mapping project and producing a
\nthorough master plan of this 306-hectare island was based on
\nresidents' concern about a plan to develop a gigantic tourism
\nproject on the island. The project was aimed at transforming the
\npristine and peaceful island into an attractive and profitable
\ntourist destination.<\/p>\n
The large investor consortium of Nusa Penida Devindo Wisata
\n(NPDW), which includes the Bali Tourism Development Corporation
\n(BTDC), declared its interest in 1997 in developing various
\ntourist facilities on this beautiful island.<\/p>\n
NPDW's shareholders consist of the Klungkung regional
\ngovernment, private company PT Puriloka Asri and BTDC, the
\ncompany that manages the famous Nusa Dua tourist resort.<\/p>\n
The consortium planned to build at least 16 hotels on Nusa
\nCeningan. Locals rejected the idea, and the consortium was forced
\nto relocate its project to Nusa Penida island.<\/p>\n
Nyoman Napan, a respected figure in Nusa Ceningan,
\nexplained that people's objection to the plan was based on the
\nfact that the consortium never involved locals in the planning
\nprocess. The locals also believed the development would damage
\nthe island's already scarce natural resources.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, there is a big question over the island's water
\nsupply, which is not enough for the island's population of 1,603,
\nlet alone to support 16 big hotels,\" Napan said.<\/p>\n
He said there are only two wells on Nusa Ceningan that provide
\nfreshwater, with the island's other wells producing salty water.<\/p>\n
The locals, however, realized tourism would also benefit them
\nand could boost the island's development. They knew the island's
\nwhite beaches, magnificent coral reefs and prime location
\ncertainly had the potential to become a tourist haven.<\/p>\n
\"We need investors to build the infrastructure and facilities.
\nBut any development on the island must involve the locals, and
\nthe investors must listen to the expectations and aspirations of
\nthe locals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With the help of several non-governmental organizations
\n(NGOs), including the Denpasar-based Wisnu Foundation and the
\nManikaya Kauci Foundation, the people of Nusa Ceningan began
\nchanneling their hopes and aspirations into a detailed master
\nplan in the middle of 1999.<\/p>\n
With financing from the Jakarta-based Kehati Foundation, the
\nlocals carried out the first stage of the master plan project.
\nAll of the residents of Nusa Ceningan, comprising five
\ntraditional community organizations, took part in the process of
\ncollecting necessary data.<\/p>\n
Within several months data had been collected on the island's
\ndemographic conditions, socioeconomic situation and natural
\nresources. For the first time in their history, the people of
\nNusa Ceningan had comprehensive data on their social and economic
\ncondition, and natural assets.<\/p>\n
They received meaningful assistance from two scholars: JJ
\nWennou, an expert on small-island ecology at Pattimura University
\nin Ambon, and Dr. Prijo Sutedjo, an expert on semiarid ecosystems
\nat Nusa Cendana University. Together with locals, they began to
\nformulate the island's master plan on land use and management,
\nand development guidelines.<\/p>\n
\"Their community is so solid, the bonds between them so strong
\nthat everybody was willing to get involved in the process. It is
\nno wonder that they finished the whole process in just one year,\"
\nsaid the Kehati coordinator for Java and Bali, Made Suarnatha<\/p>\n
The plan divides the island into 12 zones, including a
\nprotected zone, conservation zone, housing zone, tourism zone,
\ncultivation zone, limited zone and a mangrove zone.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that there must be a balance between the urge to
\ndevelop and the ability to conserve. Otherwise, we might destroy
\nnature in the process of developing our island,\" another Nusa
\nCeningan community leader, Pan Sita, said.<\/p>\n
Nusa Ceningan's three community temples and nine clan temples
\nare included in the protected zone. The island's precious coral
\nreefs along the eastern shore of Nusa Ceningan are included in
\nthe same category.<\/p>\n
Several areas where rare vegetation and plants grow were
\nplaced in the conservation zone. The beaches on the northern part
\nof the island were placed in the limited zone in order to protect
\ntheir coral reefs and seaweed.<\/p>\n
The plan also includes several rehabilitation programs for the
\nisland's critically arid and eroded areas.<\/p>\n
The people of Nusa Ceningan prefer ecologically friendly
\ntourism development. Therefore large-scale tourism projects,
\nwhich would consume huge portions of land and other natural
\nresources, are definitely out of the question.<\/p>\n
\"As long as investors adhere to our guidelines then the people
\nof Nusa Ceningan will embrace them warmly, and are ready to work
\nwith them to develop this island,\" Nyoman Napan stated.<\/p>\n
The Nusa Ceningan residents have shown humble people are able
\nto speak their mind, determine their own destiny and plan the
\nfuture of their own community, with only a little help from their
\nconcerned friends.<\/p>",
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