The Real Exotics of Solor-Alor Tropical Island

Alor Solor region stretch from west to east and located exactly at the tip of East Flores Island, Eastern Nusa Tenggara. There are three major districts, Alor District, Lembata, and East Flores. The region covers up to 4.272,026 hectares mangrove forest, 7.327,984 hectares coral reefs and 1.826,177 hectares seagrass beds. The area is rich in marine biodiversity with recorded 279 species of fish, 15 species of cetaceans-including whales, four species of sea turtles, and a species that makes Alor Solor very unique, Dugong (Dugong dugon). The traditions and cultures among the Alor District has the widest area, the land area is 2.864,64 km², ocean area of 10.773,62 km². Alor’s population reached 178 .964 inhabitants. Lembata has three districts are an area of land about 1.266,390 km² and ocean 3.353,995 km². Populations in Lembata registered as many as 110.966 inhabitants. East Flores district has a land strongly believed. area of 1.812,85 km², with a total area 4.170,53 km² of ocean, but has the highest population about 227.732 inhabitants. Most of the community live as fisherman One of those, is the with rods and trawlers, fish trading, up to seaweed cultivation. tradition of whale The traditions and cultures among the three districts are strongly believed. One hunting. of those, is the tradition of whale hunting. In Lamalera village, Lembata, specific whale caught is Sperm Whale meanwhile villagers of Lamakera village, East Flores mostly hunts for blue whale. Lamakera people are generally more modern than Lamalera, because the majority of the community also hunts other marine species besides whales.

The widespread bombing and poisoning of reef fish and tuna, excessive fishing with purse seine, turtle eggs and meat poaching, and turtle bycatch, dugong catching, to whaling is a serious threat to the health of marine ecosystem of Alor-Solor.

Working hard to make people aware of it is an extraordinary work. However, Alor-Solor region is not an untouched area. Local government and various environment NGOs have contributed to the following matters which became the initial capital of Alor-Solor conservation area: 1. Completion of ecological survey for coral reefs, seagrass, mangrove, and fish in the three districts. 2. Conduct initial survey to determine the outer limits of KKLD (Regional Marine Protected Area) Alor. 3. Completion of perception survey to determine knowledge and understanding of the community about conservation. © Robert Delfs / WWF-Canon 4. Establishment of community forums in each target village which aims not only to manage the area, as well as to manage the fund with micro-credit system. 5. Collaboration MCS (Monitoring, Controlling and Surveillance) in Alor District, was held. 6. Formation of MCS and MCS Protocol Team with SK (decree) Regent in three districts (Alor, Lembata, and East Flores). 7. Successfully implementing business meeting with tuna entrepreneurs and build collaboration between groups of fishermen with tuna entrepreneurs. First tuna The widespread production is from Balauring village (Lembata) managed to reach three tonnes of yellow fin tuna by grade A and one rejection (Grade C). bombing and 8. Strengthening community capacity about household and business management. poisoning of reef 9. Strengthening community economical capital through systems and mechanisms of microcredit. fish and tuna, excessive fishing Our Work with purse seine, turtle eggs and With those initial capital, WWF-Indonesia, worked in three districts of Alor Solor with 23 village, continue to improve sustainable support with the aim of diminishing the threat and meat poaching, that Alor-Solor will continue its conservation programs, as followings: KKLD formation and turtle in Lembata and East Flores, build and maintain the commitment of local governments in the formation of KKLD at those two districts in the way of program and budget sharing. bycatch, dugong Conduct further surveys on coral reef ecology, fish, mangroves, and seagrass, and divide catching, to zoning team for Alor district which have been formed by SK Regent, where the process of preparation of zoning area is still in process. whaling is a serious threat Developing business for community groups to provide capital assistance to micro-credit system in the 23 village is also one of the supporting programs of WWF-Indonesia. to the health Currently, the Government has allocated IDR 300 million for Lembata to establish KKLD of marine and since March 2009, Alor waters already reserved as KKLD covering 4083 km 2 or 400 083 ha where eight of the village are in the KKLD area. ecosystem of Alor-Solor.

For more information:

Wawan Ridwan Ayi Ardisastra Marine Program Director Project Leader Solor-Alor Phone : +62 21 576 1070 [email protected] Fax : +62 21 576 1080 [email protected]