Researcher Tom's Visit
'The Slum Dog Eco Village'
By Tom Gammage: https://www.facebook.com/tom.gammage.12
'SLUM DOG ECO VILLAGE' - the nickname given to one of npoprojects.org's newest environmental and humanitarian projects in Poto Tano, Sumbawa, Indonesia; and it's a real good one. I'll start off at the very beginning - to share with you the thought processes that led us to start with this project, what we want to acheive, and exactly how we plan on going about helping the villages of the region.
I had the good fortune to meet the driven and experienced leaders of npoprojects.org whilst on my travels this year in the country - Peter Honey and Ekadana I Gusti Putu. These guys have worked tirelessley over the past years to better lives of the poorest local people in the region whilst integrating environmental protection and endearment to nature. This new project regarding manta ray and dugong protection in the small rural fishing port of Poto Tano in West Sumbawa sounded very interesting; so i decided to go there and check it out.
Arriving at 6:30pm on 23rd August, i'd misjudged how long it would take me to drive to Labuhan in Lombok and catch the ferry across to the new 'Eco Village.' I'd been given the phone number of 'Arif Hasyim' (the current fisheries officer) beforehand as i was told he'd help me find accomodation. Although it was late and he was unaware of my coming, Arif immediately offered me one of only two rooms in his house to sleep for as long as i like, and be fed. This was offered for free, although i ofcourse paid them for the gesture. This was my first experience of Sumbawanese hospitality and kindness, but just the start of a series of literally HUNDREDS of these experiences, leading me to know that these are truly good people.
I had the chance that evening to talk with him about exactly what he does. Arif patrols the waters around Poto Tano for illegal fishing practices such as dynamite fishing, potassium cyanide fishing and the use of large gillnets in shallow regions. I also learned that night that Arif receives 1,000,000rph (100 $US) per month for fuel and repairs from the government to patrol the 42km of sea around his village. This is so little even in Indonesia that much of the time he simply can't work - meaning the region doesnt have a single person enforcing the already weak marine protection laws.
Arif also told me of his hatred for the quantity of plastic that has been disgarded by the people in his village - an all too common trend in Indonesia. I was truly shocked by the sheer amount, and dreadful stench of the rotting rubbish on the beach upon my arrival. Nestled within the one of the most beatiful areas of Asia, and so easily accessible, this dessicration of the surrounding environment screamed to me a complete waste of potential. They need steering in the right direction.
But, in which direction do they need to be steered? Well, ontop of the rubbish problem what i mean by this is the lack of a properly installed and regulated fishing policy, and manta ray, dugong and shark fishing going on in the area. We want to reach a state of sustainablility in the fisheries of the area - one which will ensure the enduring beauty of the region and provide food security for the grandchildren of current residents. Mantas and Dugongs are protected species and thier extraction needs to stop worldwide or we will undobtedly lose some of the most beautiful assets we've ever had. BUT... how to approach such a delicate situation? Although only earning 600,000rph (60 $US) for a single large manta ray, this is over a months wages for many of them and therefore an essential part to many of thier livelihoods.
We COULD try to introduce another useless 'top-down' scheme to try and regulate these fishing activities, but these schemes are frightfully expensive to enforce and never work because there insn't the community will to self-enforce the environmental law. We decided that the local people needed to be PUSHING this new scheme, rather than us PULLING them. This way, we are helping them to acheive what they really want, and we're only facilitating that to happen. This will hopfully stop this project from telling the same sob story of so many failed schemes that lacked the essential 'community glue' to hold it all together. We also wanted to acheive something unprecedented that many 'save the planet' initiatives also lack - that of empowerment of the local people, and the aquiration of more much more money from these environmantal assets than they would otherwise get from slowly destroying them. Acheiving a situation such as this would be an incredible leap forward for the region, setting an example for surrounding villages in Sumbawa, and over on the neighbouring island of Lombok only 25km away, and home of the infamous fishing port of 'Tanjung Luar' (upcoming article coming soon.)
So, this is what we want to acheive, and it all sounds very impressive - but HOW exactly does one go about acheiving a solution to all of these problems simultaneously, whilst ensuring it contains enough planning and community will power to last lifetimes? The answer lies with responsible eco tourism. Volunteer travellers aquired from our close by traveller hotsot base on Gili Trawangan, North Lombok will be billeted to live with families from all over the village, paying at least 120,000rph (12 $US) per night, and will live for the duration of thier time there a life equivalent to the family kind enough to welcome them into thier homes. Whilst at the village, they will participate in activities such as patrolling the 42km stretch of coastline with Arif, teaching English, learning Indonesian, educating the local children and community about environmental matters, cleaning the beach of rubbish, snorkelling and (eventually) SCUBA diving. Reef recovery checks and helping our resident biologist 'Wawan Suryawan' with his self-funded research will also all be possible. Wawan is an incredibly driven man, who is the first of what we hope to be many who will be able to carry out scientific research at Poto Tano in due time. We hope to turn Wawan's small scale work into a fully functioning research base. (Watch this space for the upcoming article on the inspirational Wawan Suryawan.) We also plan to set up a proper long term waste disposal and recycling scheme that volunteers will also be able to assist in it's setting up
To ensure this project doen not facilitate Indonesian culture, tradition and local environment being sacrificed for Western money, all volunteers will adhere to rules on suitable clothing, manners and rules on minimising environmental damage. They will also eat local food and live in the same way as local people, adhering to local customs. This will help to keep the area free of deceipt, disrespect and maintain it as an area where all people are equal. This will ensure MAXIMUM prosperity and empowerment for the region with MINIMAL impact on the environment.
We made large, tactfully made signs and posters for the town (see pictures) in English and Indonesian to act as a publiscising mechanism, introducing them at first to the 'kepala desa,' (village head.) Tens of people flocked to see us unveil the signs, and discuss the proposed plans. It was a sight to behold. The change of village mindsight was quite touching, and everyone understood the importance, potential and need for this project to get up and running as soon as possible (see pictures.)
We have chosen to help re-launch a traditional, culturally relevant sustainability scheme employed by people of Indonesia for thousands of years but sadly wiped out by the exploitative nature of the last President of the country - Suharto. It's is entitled the 'Lar' scheme and applys to all of the natural environment; from forestries to rivers, and fisheries in balance with people. Before it was done away with to make way for Suharto's greed, this scheme (although under different regional names) set the respected rules of how to exploit the natural environment sustainably. i.e. cut one tree, plant three. This scheme is not 'top-down,' imposed by local governing bodies or dogmatic westeners - but a scheme that is instilled within the culture of the region, and has been used for generations to ensure thier childrens future. This scheme will be updated, reintroduced, and most importantly respected by the local people providing them with empowerment to protect thier resources.
The essential 'community glue' needed for such a project has in part been sourced by a the power of 'Pirah,' a brave ten year old girl with no legs: (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AGEIj77MT2Q) When Pira was two, the bus she was on blew a tyre and rolled. 19 people were badly injured, one person died and Pirah had her legs ripped off and intestines pulled out. Pira is now Ten! Pira is the top in her school and is determined to be doctor. When you see Pirah on you tube you will release that someone had to do something - for 8 years no one has done anything to fix this problem. Pira's huge stomach injury has now healed, she walks on her knees but this is starting to cause really bad issues, so we needed to act fast. After a lot of hard work $800 dollars has been raised, and the John Fawcett foundation will do surgery and bring prosthetics in from Australia. The process will take a year. However, the fight for Pirah is a fight that must include all - and the village has rallied behind Pirah in a new and amazing way - by all contributing some money. This unity to work together is a strength required to also fight for their fishing area and drive away the plundering industrial fishing boats. The villages new spirit is empowering and water front land has been given to NPO Projects and the villagers will build a two storey 'volunteer research & education facility,' for FREE! The location is perfect, it is just across the road just from the fisheries officer and right beside the jetty for easy loading of volunteers to do thier part.
The village has been given a new name, a name they are talking about and thanks to the signs are proud of: 'Dugong Village' - the 1st in the region to love & protect Dugongs & Manta! (we will work on the shark fishing in due time, but its best to narrow our focus for the time being. They are, however already talking about this, too.)
This project will prodide an injection of much needed prosperity to the area, allowing Arif to patrol 6 days a week and employ more fisheries officers to patrol the region. It will also provide volunteers an experience of a lifetime helping in an invaluable project that will act as a template for hundreds of other rural Indonesian villages to follow. FINALLY... a new leas of life for this once dreary and somewhat tired village to fulfill its real potential SUSTAINABLY. This wont happen overnight, but it will happen. And we want you to be involved. Check out the website (http://nposumbawa.weebly.com/) and our other projects at www.npoprojects.org. Now is the time for change.
By Tom Gammage
"Oh My God," they said: "We had no idea of how endangered these species now are, or how much the people of the planet value & dream to see these hugely endangered species. All this time God has delivered us Manta Rays & Dugongs - a huge opportunity right on our door step to better our lives and we have thrown it back in his face by killing them! We must stop today! These Mammals & Manta are migratory and we must also stop our neighbours or they will destroy this huge blessing from God for all of us." the village reaction (I would have loved to have videoed & captured this amazing change of village mind set)
By Tom Gammage: https://www.facebook.com/tom.gammage.12
'SLUM DOG ECO VILLAGE' - the nickname given to one of npoprojects.org's newest environmental and humanitarian projects in Poto Tano, Sumbawa, Indonesia; and it's a real good one. I'll start off at the very beginning - to share with you the thought processes that led us to start with this project, what we want to acheive, and exactly how we plan on going about helping the villages of the region.
I had the good fortune to meet the driven and experienced leaders of npoprojects.org whilst on my travels this year in the country - Peter Honey and Ekadana I Gusti Putu. These guys have worked tirelessley over the past years to better lives of the poorest local people in the region whilst integrating environmental protection and endearment to nature. This new project regarding manta ray and dugong protection in the small rural fishing port of Poto Tano in West Sumbawa sounded very interesting; so i decided to go there and check it out.
Arriving at 6:30pm on 23rd August, i'd misjudged how long it would take me to drive to Labuhan in Lombok and catch the ferry across to the new 'Eco Village.' I'd been given the phone number of 'Arif Hasyim' (the current fisheries officer) beforehand as i was told he'd help me find accomodation. Although it was late and he was unaware of my coming, Arif immediately offered me one of only two rooms in his house to sleep for as long as i like, and be fed. This was offered for free, although i ofcourse paid them for the gesture. This was my first experience of Sumbawanese hospitality and kindness, but just the start of a series of literally HUNDREDS of these experiences, leading me to know that these are truly good people.
I had the chance that evening to talk with him about exactly what he does. Arif patrols the waters around Poto Tano for illegal fishing practices such as dynamite fishing, potassium cyanide fishing and the use of large gillnets in shallow regions. I also learned that night that Arif receives 1,000,000rph (100 $US) per month for fuel and repairs from the government to patrol the 42km of sea around his village. This is so little even in Indonesia that much of the time he simply can't work - meaning the region doesnt have a single person enforcing the already weak marine protection laws.
Arif also told me of his hatred for the quantity of plastic that has been disgarded by the people in his village - an all too common trend in Indonesia. I was truly shocked by the sheer amount, and dreadful stench of the rotting rubbish on the beach upon my arrival. Nestled within the one of the most beatiful areas of Asia, and so easily accessible, this dessicration of the surrounding environment screamed to me a complete waste of potential. They need steering in the right direction.
But, in which direction do they need to be steered? Well, ontop of the rubbish problem what i mean by this is the lack of a properly installed and regulated fishing policy, and manta ray, dugong and shark fishing going on in the area. We want to reach a state of sustainablility in the fisheries of the area - one which will ensure the enduring beauty of the region and provide food security for the grandchildren of current residents. Mantas and Dugongs are protected species and thier extraction needs to stop worldwide or we will undobtedly lose some of the most beautiful assets we've ever had. BUT... how to approach such a delicate situation? Although only earning 600,000rph (60 $US) for a single large manta ray, this is over a months wages for many of them and therefore an essential part to many of thier livelihoods.
We COULD try to introduce another useless 'top-down' scheme to try and regulate these fishing activities, but these schemes are frightfully expensive to enforce and never work because there insn't the community will to self-enforce the environmental law. We decided that the local people needed to be PUSHING this new scheme, rather than us PULLING them. This way, we are helping them to acheive what they really want, and we're only facilitating that to happen. This will hopfully stop this project from telling the same sob story of so many failed schemes that lacked the essential 'community glue' to hold it all together. We also wanted to acheive something unprecedented that many 'save the planet' initiatives also lack - that of empowerment of the local people, and the aquiration of more much more money from these environmantal assets than they would otherwise get from slowly destroying them. Acheiving a situation such as this would be an incredible leap forward for the region, setting an example for surrounding villages in Sumbawa, and over on the neighbouring island of Lombok only 25km away, and home of the infamous fishing port of 'Tanjung Luar' (upcoming article coming soon.)
So, this is what we want to acheive, and it all sounds very impressive - but HOW exactly does one go about acheiving a solution to all of these problems simultaneously, whilst ensuring it contains enough planning and community will power to last lifetimes? The answer lies with responsible eco tourism. Volunteer travellers aquired from our close by traveller hotsot base on Gili Trawangan, North Lombok will be billeted to live with families from all over the village, paying at least 120,000rph (12 $US) per night, and will live for the duration of thier time there a life equivalent to the family kind enough to welcome them into thier homes. Whilst at the village, they will participate in activities such as patrolling the 42km stretch of coastline with Arif, teaching English, learning Indonesian, educating the local children and community about environmental matters, cleaning the beach of rubbish, snorkelling and (eventually) SCUBA diving. Reef recovery checks and helping our resident biologist 'Wawan Suryawan' with his self-funded research will also all be possible. Wawan is an incredibly driven man, who is the first of what we hope to be many who will be able to carry out scientific research at Poto Tano in due time. We hope to turn Wawan's small scale work into a fully functioning research base. (Watch this space for the upcoming article on the inspirational Wawan Suryawan.) We also plan to set up a proper long term waste disposal and recycling scheme that volunteers will also be able to assist in it's setting up
To ensure this project doen not facilitate Indonesian culture, tradition and local environment being sacrificed for Western money, all volunteers will adhere to rules on suitable clothing, manners and rules on minimising environmental damage. They will also eat local food and live in the same way as local people, adhering to local customs. This will help to keep the area free of deceipt, disrespect and maintain it as an area where all people are equal. This will ensure MAXIMUM prosperity and empowerment for the region with MINIMAL impact on the environment.
We made large, tactfully made signs and posters for the town (see pictures) in English and Indonesian to act as a publiscising mechanism, introducing them at first to the 'kepala desa,' (village head.) Tens of people flocked to see us unveil the signs, and discuss the proposed plans. It was a sight to behold. The change of village mindsight was quite touching, and everyone understood the importance, potential and need for this project to get up and running as soon as possible (see pictures.)
We have chosen to help re-launch a traditional, culturally relevant sustainability scheme employed by people of Indonesia for thousands of years but sadly wiped out by the exploitative nature of the last President of the country - Suharto. It's is entitled the 'Lar' scheme and applys to all of the natural environment; from forestries to rivers, and fisheries in balance with people. Before it was done away with to make way for Suharto's greed, this scheme (although under different regional names) set the respected rules of how to exploit the natural environment sustainably. i.e. cut one tree, plant three. This scheme is not 'top-down,' imposed by local governing bodies or dogmatic westeners - but a scheme that is instilled within the culture of the region, and has been used for generations to ensure thier childrens future. This scheme will be updated, reintroduced, and most importantly respected by the local people providing them with empowerment to protect thier resources.
The essential 'community glue' needed for such a project has in part been sourced by a the power of 'Pirah,' a brave ten year old girl with no legs: (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=AGEIj77MT2Q) When Pira was two, the bus she was on blew a tyre and rolled. 19 people were badly injured, one person died and Pirah had her legs ripped off and intestines pulled out. Pira is now Ten! Pira is the top in her school and is determined to be doctor. When you see Pirah on you tube you will release that someone had to do something - for 8 years no one has done anything to fix this problem. Pira's huge stomach injury has now healed, she walks on her knees but this is starting to cause really bad issues, so we needed to act fast. After a lot of hard work $800 dollars has been raised, and the John Fawcett foundation will do surgery and bring prosthetics in from Australia. The process will take a year. However, the fight for Pirah is a fight that must include all - and the village has rallied behind Pirah in a new and amazing way - by all contributing some money. This unity to work together is a strength required to also fight for their fishing area and drive away the plundering industrial fishing boats. The villages new spirit is empowering and water front land has been given to NPO Projects and the villagers will build a two storey 'volunteer research & education facility,' for FREE! The location is perfect, it is just across the road just from the fisheries officer and right beside the jetty for easy loading of volunteers to do thier part.
The village has been given a new name, a name they are talking about and thanks to the signs are proud of: 'Dugong Village' - the 1st in the region to love & protect Dugongs & Manta! (we will work on the shark fishing in due time, but its best to narrow our focus for the time being. They are, however already talking about this, too.)
This project will prodide an injection of much needed prosperity to the area, allowing Arif to patrol 6 days a week and employ more fisheries officers to patrol the region. It will also provide volunteers an experience of a lifetime helping in an invaluable project that will act as a template for hundreds of other rural Indonesian villages to follow. FINALLY... a new leas of life for this once dreary and somewhat tired village to fulfill its real potential SUSTAINABLY. This wont happen overnight, but it will happen. And we want you to be involved. Check out the website (http://nposumbawa.weebly.com/) and our other projects at www.npoprojects.org. Now is the time for change.
By Tom Gammage
"Oh My God," they said: "We had no idea of how endangered these species now are, or how much the people of the planet value & dream to see these hugely endangered species. All this time God has delivered us Manta Rays & Dugongs - a huge opportunity right on our door step to better our lives and we have thrown it back in his face by killing them! We must stop today! These Mammals & Manta are migratory and we must also stop our neighbours or they will destroy this huge blessing from God for all of us." the village reaction (I would have loved to have videoed & captured this amazing change of village mind set)
