Namatota Island: Local wisdom conserving nature

Tue, September 6, 2016 / 02:27 pm

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Children play at sunset at Namatota Island’s dock in Kaimana, West Papua. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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People on a boat pass a pier on Namatota Island in Kaimana. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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People of the Kamoro tribe feed a wild dolphin as part of local conservation efforts. They have named the dolphin Sima. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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A Namatota child is covered in sand after playing. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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Children go to school on Namatota Island. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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Residents must climb 20 meters to the top of a valley to get a cell phone signal on the island. They have built a hut for the purpose called Signal House. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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Dancers from Kampung Lakahia perform a traditional dance during the declaration of a conservation zone in waters off Namatota Island. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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People of the Kamoro tribe read a newspaper in Kampung Lakahia, Kaimana. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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The island is seen from the water. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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Residents cross Triton's Gulf in a boat, the only mode of transportation available to reach the islands around Kaimana district. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

Namatota Island is home to 149 families and rich ocean biota, located at the “neck of the bird” of Papua.

Administratively part of Kaimana Kota district, Namatota Island was named a conservation area by the West Papua governor on Oct. 19 last year. It has been working to live up to its status, with the islanders even declaring the implementation of a customary zoning system in Kaimana waters in April this year.

The customary system declares three conservation zones: a fishing zone of 97,293 hectares, special tourism zone of 11,184 ha and core zone of 14,109 ha.

The corridor manager at Conservation International in Kaimana, Thamrin La Muasa, said Namatota was part of Kaimana’s regional water conservation area, which totals 508,324 ha. Namatota’s conservation area of 122,586 ha accounts for 24 percent of total areas in Kaimana.

The villagers promote the slogans “My ocean, my life” and “Kaimana our home” to nurture the environment on their island. [evi]