Meity Mengdon, the green crusader

Meity Mengdon, the green crusader

Fabio Scarpello, Contributor, Bunaken, North Sulawesi

Barely known outside the country's environmentalist circle, the petite Meity Mengdon is softly spoken, has a gentle attitude, and a perpetual smile.

Yet, she was 27 years old when she became the first Indonesian and the youngest person ever to receive the Seacology award.

Seacology is an American foundation that has chosen to recognize the heroic achievements of indigenous leaders who risk their lives and/or wellbeing to protect their island's ecosystems and culture.

She confessed that she was surprised and a little abashed when in November 2000 she was flown to Honolulu, Hawaii, to accept the tribute.

"I really did not expect it, and I am not sure I fully deserved it" she says. Despite her modesty, the prize was rightfully given in recognition of her tireless work to save Bunaken mangrove forests and coral reefs, while improving the livelihood of the villagers.

Meity's strengths rest in her mediation skills that have often bridged the gap between institutions and the villagers.

Born 31 years ago in Kumu (a small village 90 minutes from Manado), Meity understands the locals' culture and needs. She is also a nature lover (as well as a proven diver), and presented a thesis on mangrove tree protection when graduating in Marine Science at Sam Ratulagi University, Manado.

To protect the environment while involving and educating the local people has always been her objective. "Locals have the right to manage the park and to reap the benefits, but they also have the responsibility for its sustainability" she says.

In this case "sustainability" has meant stopping resource- destructive activities, like cyanide and dynamite fishing, mangrove harvesting for charcoal production, and coral/shell collection for the tourist curio trade.

Meity started working at the USAID-funded Natural Resources Management (NRM) while still at University. The group coached the management team for Bunaken National Park.

Bunaken National Park was established by the Indonesian government in 1990 and it consists of 89,065 hectares, 97 percent of which is ocean. It also includes some mainland coast and the islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain.

In 1996, at the end of the NRM project -- together with other like-minded activists -- Meity funded Kelola, an NGO concerned with the conservation of the marine habitat. It was at this time that she started talking about the importance of the park, directly to the people. In 2000 she returned to NRM as a community facilitation specialist, a position that she still holds.

The benefits of Meity's (and her colleagues) work has not gone unnoticed, and in 2003 Bunaken National Marine Park won the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow award. On this occasion, the management was praised for improving the livelihood of the 30,000 residents, while successfully ending coral mining, dynamite/cyanide fishing, and the destruction of mangroves.

"We couldn't ask residents to give up their practices without offering valid alternatives, and today -- thanks to the development of the park -- people can find jobs as park rangers or within the tourism industry. Fishing can still be practiced with nets or long lens (500 metres from the coral) and seaweed farming is growing in importance. Also, subsidies have been put in place to help those that have lost their main source of income," Meity adds.

Developing a national park is always difficult with several groups having different interests and ideas on how the park should be developed. In Indonesia, the groups involved include the Ministry of Forestry, the local government and the people living in the area.

"It has been a difficult to get them to pull in the same direction. The establishment of the National Park Community Concerned Forum (FMPTB) and of the National Park Management Advisory Board (DPTND) has really helped" Meity says. She then explains "The FMPTB is a forum where the representatives of the 30 villages meet once every two months, and the DPTND is collaborative body consisting of 15 seats, filled by representatives of the government, community, university and NGOs".

From among the important developments in the last few years Meity names the NRM's zoning of the park and the setting up of the joint patrol system.

"Maps, brochure, leaflets and calendars have been given to residents and tourist's places alike. In these, the park is dotted with three different colors that indicate what is permitted in the area. So for example, the red areas are off- limits for everything (fishing, snorkeling, anchoring and so on), while the blue areas are designed for tourist use, and the green areas for the community," Meity explains.

"The patrolling of the park is a big problem. Rangers are not doing what they should, and the park is often left unattended. The setting up of the joint patrol with residents in 2001 has improved the situation, but there is still a long way to go," Meity adds pointing the finger at the Ministry of Forestry.

Manado's solid waste disposal is another pressing problem, and the way the DPTND tackles it frustrates Meity. "They have no concept of the seriousness of the issue that if it is not tackled soon, it could mark the end of the park. The DPTND allocates part of the tourists' entrance fee to it, but this is not adequate, and much greater government intervention is needed".

Meity's frustration grows as she appeals to politicians -- campaigning for the forthcoming election -- to maintain an ethical approach. "I do not want to generalize but some, in order to get votes are promising immediate benefits to citizens that contravene all we have fought for in the past few years. For example, Lean beach in Bunaken is a no-fishing zone and some have promised to reopen it if elected!"

She leaves sighing: "I wish there was better environmental awareness in Indonesia....."