Most tourists to Jakarta may visit Sepa Island, linky However, I took a school group to Pramuka island again, which is not as well set up for tourists. (Though they would like to attract more tourists, obviously for $)
Sadly, many of my Indonesian Students said that this was the first time they had seen a sunset or stars.....
We chatted with the local head guy and he has decided to build another wharf on the other side of the island
currently housing sea grass meadows (which happen to be good for the endangered sea turtles.)When we pointed this out to him he replied that they dont care about sea grasses or the mangroves anymore as tourists only want to see coral reefs, so that is all they need. When one of my students replied with a comment along the lines of sea grasses provided habitats for small fish he replied with they dont need or want small fish only big ones!
I kid you not!
The local rangers were also proudly showing us the new jetski that they had bought. (out of their environmental budget) - the plan was to give tousits rides on it for money (presumably into their pockets) - they were proud as pigs in shit. apparently they had also bought a banana boat as well.
Actually I was in the water and thought they were rehabilitating the reef, which although nice was in pretty crap condition, many broken corals etc.
There was loads and loads of these plastic frames holding small corals in plastic bottles or attached to concrete slabs.
But apparently they sell the corals, so these were coral farms placed on a close to destroyed reef.
In an effort to be mindful of conservation they have to rehabilitate 2 for every 8 they sell/take.
and frankly, having gone back this year, i can see a decline in the conservation efforts of the ppl, and its a little depressing...
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