PNK’s conservation management program focuses on surveillance and enforcement, monitoring and evaluation, safety and security, species management, and habitat management and rehabilitation. Drawing on emerging ideas and concepts within the field of conservation science, PNK’s conservation team works closely with Park users to monitor the Park’s status, and supports the Park Authority to translate this information into science-based management.

Contact: Andrew Harvey andrew@putrinagakomodo.com

GETTING OUR MOTORS RUNNING

The good ship Torani (well, speedboat actually) this month received a welcome refit. Two new Yamaha 250hp 4-stroke outboard engines were installed by PNK’s fleet team, with technical assistance from an approved Yamaha service technician from PT Karya Bahari Abadi, Jakarta. The new engines reduce Torani’s fuel consumption from seven litres per nautical mile to just 4.5 litres, and will bring a considerable reduction in operating costs and carbon emissions.

KEEPING THE MOTORS RUNNING

In an environment of islands and atolls, where communities and habitats are as much water bound as they are terrestrial, it is essential for PNK to be able to move quickly and efficiently by boat. In order to improve their technical knowledge, two key members of the PNK team were invited to a one-day training workshop hosted by Yamaha. The workshop, attended by PNK’s mechanic and the captain of the speedboat Torani, covered technical training on the specifications and maintenance of Yamaha’s marine engines.

GETTING RESOURCEFUL RESOURCE MONITORING

PNK recently hosted a training workshop for fleet and monitoring staff to refresh skills in Resource Use Monitoring. Resource Use Monitoring provides important information about the type and quantity of activities and livelihoods supported by the Park, and this training workshop marks the beginning of the 2009 monitoring season.

2008 ANNUAL REPORT ON MARITIME SURVEILLANCE COMPLETE

PNK recently finished reviewing and reporting on marine surveillance and enforcements records collected from the Park during 2008. The report identifies the type and location of several key enforcement issues in the Park, and this information will assist in the planning of enforcement patrols over the coming weeks and months. The report has been submitted to the Park Authority and PNK continues to offer support to integrate this information into enforcement operations.

FISHERMEN ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL FISHING GEAR

During April, the Floating Ranger Station (FRS) patrol team encountered one case of illegal fishing gear in the Park. Long line fishing is not permitted under Park regulations, and the suspects were arrested by the Park Authority and transported to Labuan Bajo. Here they attended obligatory training on Park regulations and permitted gears, while the offending fishing gear was confiscated.

CYANIDE FISHERMEN ARRESTED

On 26 April, FRS Lajang encountered four Sape fishermen suspected of illegal fishing activities in the Loh Ginggo region of the Park. The patrol team noticed a white powder covering the fishermen’s’ catch, which the fishermen explained was caused by the synthetic insecticide sevin or carbaryl. Suspecting the substance was actually potassium cyanide (a substance that is used to illegally stun and capture large fish for the live fish trade), the patrol team decided to detain the fishermen pending further investigation. PNK is providing support to ensure that the Park Authority is able to fully process this case through the legal system.

The overall objective of PNK’s nature-based tourism development program, besides making resources and facilities available for Park and tourism management, is to establish a sustainable financing structure that will ensure effective management of the Park in the long term and generate sufficient ecotourism revenues by 2012 to fund conservation, compatible community development and efforts to improve the visitor experience.

Contact: Marcus Matthews-Sawyer marcus@putrinagakomodo.com

PERMANENT FLOATING PONTOON LANDING STAGE TO BE COMPLETED IN ONE WEEK

The construction of the new permanent floating pontoon landing stage at Loh Liang, Komodo Island, will now be completed on 18 May 2009 as the contractor has been asked to raise the height of the new T-section to be level with the fixed jetty and ensure the gangway is installed in such a way that that the fixed jetty (it is connected to) receives minimal impact from cruise ship passengers disembarking in large numbers.

TEMPORARY LANDING STAGE USED FOR 11 MAY CRUISE SHIP CALL

In order to disembark passengers during the 11 May 2009 call of Hapag Lloyd Kreutzfahrten’s Hanseatic (max. passenger capacity of 184), PNK continued to use the temporary landing stage constructed last month to disembark, safely and securely, cruise ships passengers during the April 23 call of the Silverseas Cruises’ Silver Shadow (max. passenger capacity of 388). The structure includes a temporary walking bridge, from the gangway that leads passengers off the floating pontoon, across the new T-section.

LOH BUAYA VISITOR TOILETS NEAR COMPLETION AS STONE CLADDING GETS UNDERWAY

The completion of the new visitor toilets at PNK’s tourism management concession area at Loh Buaya on Rinca Island has been delayed slightly as PNK has brought in workers from Lombok, who carried out the stone cladding for Loh Liang visitor facilities last year, to complete the cladding work and ensure consistency of design for the facilities in both concession areas. The work is expected to be completed by 20 May 2009.

TWO CRUISE SHIPS CALL AT KOMODO IN APRIL

April saw the cruise season really get underway, with two more cruise liners calling at the Loh Liang concession area in Komodo. Regent Sea Cruises’ Seven Seas Mariner arrived with 197 disembarking passengers on 05 April, all of whom enjoyed a short trek during which they witnessed Komodo dragons in their natural habitat, as well as taking advantage of PNK’s restaurant and merchandise outlet and the handicraft market. This was followed on 22 April by a visit from the Silver Shadow, operated by Silver Sea Cruises, which arrived at the Loh Liang bay with 108 embarking passengers.

COSTA CRUISES SCHEDULES 9 MORE KOMODO CALLS

Passengers on the Italian cruise line Costa Cruises are clearly big fans of Komodo. The company, which offers a portfolio of eco-excursions, will make a further six visits to the Park in 2009, with a further three calls already scheduled for 2010. Check the Web site, www.costacruises.com for more information and itineraries.

PNK TO DISCUSS EXPORTING HANDICRAFTS WITH ‘AID THROUGH TRADE’ GROUP

PNK is currently in discussions with the Kearney Alliance, an organization whose “Aid through Trade” slogan is manifested in its facilitation of a wide variety of trade based initiatives, working with educational and government institutions, NGOs, corporate bodies and multilaterals. It is hoped that the Kearney Alliance will be able to help local communities within the Park to export their handicrafts and potentially develop new products for external markets. Will keep you updated as more news comes to hand.

ANOTHER FOKKER TO FLORES

Jakarta-based airline Pelita Air is commencing a new easterly route out of Denpasar, Bali as of 01 May. Departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the new service will call at Labuan Bajo, Maumere (Flores) and Kupang (West Timor). They join Indonesia Air Transport (IAT), Merpati and Transnusa as the sole operators flying between Denpasar and Labuan Bajo. No information on in-flight entertainment as yet, but it will be interesting to see how their buns-in-a-box compare with the competition. Price for the Denpasar – Labuan Bajo leg is Rp.646, 000 and flight times are as follows:

OUTBOUND: DPS – LBJ (09.30-10.22) LBJ – MOF (10.52-11.24) MOF – KOE (11.54-12.24)

INBOUND: KOE – MOF (12.54.30-13.24) MOF – LBJ (13.54-14.26) LBJ – DPS (14.56-15.48).

FOUR STAR JAYAKARTA HOTEL SOON TO OPEN IN LABUAN BAJO

Following the successful opening last year of Flores’ first four star hotel, Bintang Flores, another deluxe hotel is now set to open just a few kilometers further down the coast. Indonesian hotel group Jayakarta is currently building the 71 room Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores in the Gorontalo area just a short drive from Labuan Bajo. The hotel’s soft opening is scheduled to take place in July. www.jayakartahotelsresorts.com

LAST CHANCE TO SAIL WITH SEVEN SEAS IN 09

Seven Seas Cruises has just announced that only one of their Komodo cruises for the 2009 season still has availability. The cruise will take place from August 20-30, with special guest Burt Jones of Secret Sea Visions (www.secretseavisions.com) joining the voyage to provide guests with fascinating insights into the region, its people and its ecosystems. www.thesevenseas.net.

The overall objective of PNK’s community development component is to provide local resource users with incentives for giving up access to certain resources within the protected areas of the Park, specifically the terrestrial and marine no-take zones. These incentives include: development grants for community defined welfare needs; support for sustainable enterprise development by providing technical assistance and access to micro credit; training schemes and work opportunities in tourism and village-based handicrafts; pilot projects for sustainable alternative livelihoods in mariculture, agriculture and tourism.

Contact: rmanalu@putrinagakomodo.com

MICROCREDIT PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO FLOURISH

“Loan” may be a dirty word in the midst of the global economic crisis, but at the grass roots level, loans are a valuable way of supporting local enterprise. In the Park, this means encouraging local communities to engage in livelihoods based on sustainable use of the Park’s natural resources. The three Financial Management Units (FMUs) in the Park, which represent the villages of Komodo, Papagarang, Rinca/Kerora, administer micro-credit for projects as diverse as handicraft production, mariculture and baking. Over the month of April, the FMUs of Komodo and Papagarang villages repaid loans totaling Rp.2,850,000 and Rp.4,650,000, respectively, while Pasir Panjang FMU (representing the villages of Rinca and Kerora) paid back Rp.7,500,000. Neither loan defaults nor bailouts appear to be on the cards.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO PROVIDE REFIT FOR PAGARANG VILLAGE HALL

In February, the residents of Papagarang village submitted a project proposal to improve their Balai Desa (Village Hall). Following a field inspection by PNK’s community outreach team, the project proposal was approved and a grant of Rp.9,000,000 disbursed to the Village Grant Committee. The money is being used for roofing and floor improvements, which should be completed by early May. We’ll try and bring you a picture of the newly improved facility in the next edition of the Komodo Update.

PNK CULTIVATES COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

Working closely with the Forestry Department and the Park Authority, PNK facilitates a series of community-based conservation activities, which in the last month have included nursery and mangrove cultivation as well as beach cleaning. Communities also organized a major mangrove planting effort to coincide with Earth Day on 22 April with around 7000 new mangrove seedlings being planted in Kampung Mange on Papagarang Island.

GETTING KIDS UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH THEIR ECOSYSTEM

As part of its conservation education program, PNK works closely with local schools, encouraging young people not to learn about their immediate environment only through books, but through direct experience. In March alone, a total of 34 students from the Stella Maris school got acquainted with the coral reefs that fringe the island they inhabit by diving among them – learning both about coral reef and sea grass ecosystems. The PNK staff worked together with Fabianus, a dive master from Labuan Bajo-based operator Dive Komodo. It’s not all marine-based though as kids also learn about terrestrial species during the sessions, which take place every Sunday.

PNK’s goal is to develop and implement a destination marketing strategy that returns tourist arrivals to the historical peak of approximately 35,000 per year, further generate arrivals to a maximum determined carrying capacity level and increase revenue by focusing marketing/sales activities to capture high-yield market segments.

Contact: Marcus Matthews-Sawyer marcus@putrinagakomodo.com

ENTER THE DRAGON:
VOTE ONLINE FOR KOMODO IN NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE CAMPAIGN

The Park’s bid to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature continues to gather pace, with a national team campaigning vigorously to achieve the accolade. The team, consisting of officials from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, PNK, various media representatives, artists, and the public, held a coordination meeting recently at the home of the West Manggarai Bupati (mayor) Drs. Wilfridus Fidelis Pranda. Cultural rites took place and without going into anthropological detail, let’s just say a white rooster and arak (local palm wine) figured prominently. The Bupati also hosted a lunch, while the meeting itself was opened with a presentation by

an official from the Ministry of Tourism followed by a speech by the Bupati. Team members were given an info kit from PNK and the Park Authority as well as West Manggarai promotional materials. Local media were provided with a press release. Following the meeting, the team spent the rest of the day visiting Batu Cermin (The Cave of Mirrors), an important tourism object close to Labuan Bajo. On the second day, both PNK concession areas were visited to provide team members with a direct experience of the park. At time of writing, we’ve moved up to 8th position in Group E (Forests, National Parks and Nature Reserves). And since we need to be one of the Top 11 of Group E to make the next stage in the campaign, things are looking good.

VOTE NOW! at www.new7wonders.com/nature/en/vote_on_nominees/

You can also vote through the www.gokomodo.org Web site by clicking on the Vote Komodo icon in the left had corner of the home page.

You can now also vote by telephone in three easy steps:

• Dial this international telephone number: +41 77 312 4041
• At the end of the message, after the tone, insert the 3 digit code (527) for Komodo
• When you hear the thank you message, you are all done - you have voted by telephone

PNK MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOR VOTEKOMODO TAKING SHAPE

PNK has submitted a number of proposals to Pak Sapta Nirwandar, Director General of Marketing, Ministry of Culture & Tourism, to encourage Indonesians to go online VOTEKOMODO in the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. Among the ideas tabled are a TV commercial highlighting the natural ‘wonder’ of Komodo ending with a ‘VOTE’ message, a music video and a variety of competitions. Check out the next update for details of what we’ll be running with.

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED JEWELLER ACCEPTS INVITATION TO JOIN THE KOMODO PROPOSITION

World-famous jewelry brand – Madonna is a fan - Bali-based John Hardy, has agreed to donate a one-of-a-kind piece for THE KOMODO PROPOSITION: Art Exhibition and Auction. Hardy’s designs, which are all handcrafted utilizing age-old Balinese smithing techniques, from precious stones, gold and silver, have become iconic pieces noted for their organic feel and impeccable finish. Dragons are a key theme within the Hardy line and the donated piece will be a unique rendition. As reported earlier, a number of high profile artists are already on board including Damien Hirst, Ashley Bickerton, Stefan Sagmeister, Mark Dion, Christian Develter and Ambara Baratawidjaja, a Javanese princess married to the Chilean ambassador to Thailand. Some of Indonesia’s most talented artists have already been approached and agreed to take part (see next item), though these names will be announced when fully confirmed. We are also in communication with a number of other prominent international artists whom we fully expect to join the project. For more information about John Hardy, check out their Web site, www.johnhardy.com

PINTOR SIRAIT AND ASTARI CONFIRM PARTICIPATION IN THE KOMODO PROPOSITION

One of Indonesia’s most exciting sculptors and one of the archipelago’s most respected artists have both confirmed their participation in THE KOMODO PROPOSITION: Art Exhibition and Auction. Pintor Sirait has been garnering high praise for his large-scale steel sculptures, often riddled with bullet marks shot by the artist himself. His celebrated life-size replica of a Formula One racing car – originally produced for a group exhibition entitled “Fetish” – sold at auction in Singapore for S$112,100,

(around US$75,000) more than three times the original estimate. Astari is both versatile and prolific, proficient both in painting and sculpture. Her works address the roles women play in society and looks at issues of freedom versus the psychological pressures women are subjected to from childhood onwards. She has exhibited around the globe, from New York to London to Russia and has a major following among collectors.

A proposal for THE KOMODO PROPOSITION can be downloaded by clicking here.

FOLK TALES FROM KOMODO, REDUX

The communities of West Manggarai province, including the villages within the Park, have a well-developed oral tradition of storytelling. From cautionary tales to creation myths to simple fables, these folk tales are a key way in which communities share experience, establish moral boundaries, understand their environment and, of course, entertain. By their nature, oral traditions are mellifluous and flexible since there is no written record to fix them forever. With the encroachment of modernity, this oral tradition is being eroded and in many villages it is only the older inhabitants that remember the old stories in detail. For this reason, PNK embarked on a project to record, transcribe and translate some of these stories and print them in a book. PNK President Director Rili Djohali’s mother, Hilly

initiated the project and now those original stories are being re-edited to be printed along with some additional tales in a brand new hardback compilation of folk tales from Komodo. Hand illustrated in watercolors by a talented Bali-based artist, the book, which contains adaptations of the original stories, is being sponsored by the Coca Cola Foundation. All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to supporting community development programs within the Park. The book will be published in June, later than originally planned as it as it has taken us some time to ensure that the stories and the illustrations are culturally sensitive. In fact, the dragon princess has become a branding in itself on which the communities can capitalize on. The local communities in the Park are so enthusiastic about the project that they have taken the initiative to develop cultural tours using the stories and they would like to use the illustrations as inspiration for specific sculptures to be placed in the villages.

BIRD LOVERS IMPRESSED WITH PNK CONSERVATION MODEL

The Board of charity Burung Indonesia (Birdlife Indonesia) visited the Park from 13 to 14 April, hosted by PNK and the Park Authority. The group was shown around both PNK tourism management concession areas, Loh Buaya on Rinca Island and Loh Liang on Komodo Island. Two of the key delegates in attendance were Dr. Effendi Sumardja and Ir. Wahyudi Wardoyo, M.Sc both of whom used to be highly placed officials within the Forestry Department with interests in the establishment of the Komodo Collaborative Management Initiative (KCMI). The delegates were impressed with the natural beauty of the Park, the Komodo dragons themselves and especially the partnership between private, government, conservation and community sectors. They felt that a similar model could possibly be implemented in the Mbeliling Area, where tourism is also being built around conservation. Further lessons were learned about the migration patterns of several birds endemic to Flores. Overall, the Park was considered an important reference point for the development of programs in the Mbeliling Forest Reserve. For more information, cheock out www.birdlife.org/worldwide/national/indonesia

PNK PROMOTES PROGRAM AT WORLD OCEAN CONFERENCE

Between May 11-14, 2009, the World Ocean Conference (WOC) is taking place in Manado, on the northeastern tip of the island of Sulawesi in the very heart of the coral triangle. PNK is promoting the Park and its programs with a wide variety of marketing materials including standing banners, dragon coconut bracelets, info kits and merchandise at The Nature Conservancy stand. Among the 5000 delegates attending the conference are high-level government

officials, scientists, and exhibitors from relevant international organizations. There will be over thirty symposia on the themes of ocean science, policy, and technology while key themes will include endangered species and habitats viewed in the context of climate change. The Coral Triangle Initiative is also holding a summit focusing specifically on reef ecosystems. Made up of more than 17,480 islands, the Indonesian archipelago is 73% water and has 95,181km of coastline – the fourth greatest in the world.

WWF CORAL TRIANGLE MEDIA PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY

Award winning husband and wife team, photographer Jürgen Freund and book/documentary producer Stella Chiu-Freund recently embarked on an epic year and a half long media project on the Coral Triangle for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This August, they’ll be joining Jos and Lida Pet (and other guests) on the Seven Seas live-aboard to shoot in Komodo National Park. Jürgen and Stella are focusing on both marine and terrestrial ecosystems and after they’ve shot the coral reefs and marine species, PNK will assist

them in capturing terrestrial images in the Park. The aim is to document a bioregion that is, in the words of WWF representative Dr. Lida Pet Soede, “one of the planet’s last remaining true marine wildernesses, on a par with the Amazon Rainforest or the Congo Basin in terms of its importance to life on earth.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS TEAM VISIT THE PARK

A team of print and TV journalists from the international news agency, Associated Press (AP) visited the Park recently to highlight Komodo’s nomination in the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. The journalists, TV producer Alex Ginting and writer Irwin Firdus interviewed myself in the Bali office on PNK’s self-financing objectives and program to promote VOTEKOMODO with the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, before traveling to the Labuan Bajo to meet our team and behold the outstanding storehouse of globally

significant terrestrial and marine biodiversity that is the Park. As of 2005, the news collected by the AP is published and republished by more than 1,700 newspapers, in addition to more than 5,000 television and radio broadcasters. The Associated Press operates 243 news bureaus, and it serves at least 120 countries, with a diverse international staff located all over the world, including Indonesia.

KOMODO MATTERS

In the recently published 2008 edition of Environment Matters magazine, the Park was prominently featured. A publication of the World Bank, the 2008 edition focused on marine matters and PNK’s model of private/public partnership was featured in an article focusing on private sector contributions to marine and coastal contributions. You can check Environment Matters on line here.

PNK APPOINTS WEST MANGGARAIN AS TOURISM OPERATIONS MANAGER

PNK recently announced the promotion of West Manggarain Arie Marius as Tourism Operations Manager with effect from May 1st 2000. Arie was formerly PNK’s Labaun Bajo-based Communications Coordinator. The Tourism Operations Manager position will be a key player in PNK achieving its goal of sustainable financing for the Park. Perhaps the biggest revenue earner and the biggest benefit local people could derive from the Park is through tourism and there are significant tourism initiatives in PNK’s program and Arie will endeavor to generate as much revenue as possible for local

communities. This appointment also reflects PNK’s commitment to build the capacity of its staff from West Manggarai. Arie will manage and help to develop a commercially viable ecotourism operation and guide socially and environmentally responsible tourism development in the Park. Facilities and services at PNK’s tourism management concession areas include a restaurant, retail outlet and trekking-based tours that incorporate the unique conservation values of the location. His responsibilities will also include the management of an entrance fee, recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for local communities, while also monitoring the environmental impact of tourism. Welcoming his appointment, Rili Djohani, President Director, PNK, said: “The Park is the main driver of the West Manggarai economy and Arie, who has successfully engaged communities, is deeply committed to the success of our program. We are truly fortunate to be able to tap someone of Arie’s energy, enthusiasm, intelligence, and experience for such an important position”.

PNK TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATOR MIMI NAWAI SEEKS NEW HORIZONS

After three and a half years of hard work and dedication, Mimi Nawai left the company effective from May 01 to marry and seek new adventures in California. Here’s a farewell message from Mimi herself:

I never thought I would ever leave Komodo. But after three and a half years, it’s time for me to move on to another step of life. It has been a tremendously valuable experience for me to have worked for PNK, initiating a very good project to make Komodo National Park sustainable. I have experienced the ups and downs of the company

at different phases and learned a lot from the challenges we’re facing. I can say those are really priceless, have enriched my perspective and built my capacity in doing conservation work. The amazingly beautiful work place and great team are things I’m sure will be hard to get in any other place. Komodo is very unique, a treasure of nature. I have grown attached to this place and I have faith for the good future of it. I will continue to be an ambassador of Komodo National Park and our great programs to support one of the last great places on earth. I believe this can be done from wherever I am. Thank you very much for everything the company has provided me as an employee. Working for PNK/Komodo National Park is undoubtedly one of the most important things I have done in life. I am very proud to have been part of this work.

PNK COMMISSIONER ANDY PHILIPS TO VISIT KOMODO

One of PNK’s Board of Commissioners, Andy Philips from San Diego Zoo recently confirmed that he will visit the PNK office in Bali and the Park from 25-30 May. During his visit, he will review safety protocols for visitors to the Park concession areas, and make recommendations for maximizing safety standards; review existing monitoring programmes undertaken by BTNK and KSP, and make recommendations for maximizing the quality and value of these programs; Review existing Komodo dragon outreach and training programmes, and make recommendations for developing the scope and effectiveness of these programs; assist with identifying funding sources to support Komodo dragon monitoring & management, outreach & training, and visitor safety programs; provide input into the design of possible future fencing to exclude the dragons from certain areas within the main concession area/s (as an option for the future).