Sustainable Management of Coral Reef Area in Alor Island, Indonesia: A Spatial and Economic AnalysisNiendyawati, Ati Rahadiati, Dewayani, Suprajaka Abstract Alor is an island that located at the border between Indonesia and Timor Leste. The area has high prospect in coastal and marine resources, especially for coral reef. However, the potentiality of this island is still under usage. It seems such assessment has to be employed for the future of local economic growth. Dealing with this, a research was employed in order to achieve the optimal used of coral reef area, especially for eco-tourism. Sea weed culture nearby the coral reef area was also be considered as the other coastal economic prospect. Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS approach were being used for this study. RS was used for mapping the coral reef distribution area. Meanwhile, spatial analysis will be used for classify the suitable location for sea weed culture and marine eco-tourism. Beside that, economic analysis was also being employed for both marine eco-tourism and sea weed culture. The economic analyses were employed based on productivity approach and travel cost method (TCM). Scenarios were carried out in order to get optimal ecologically and economically used of coral reef area. The result of this research will become an input for local and national decision maker for coastal resource management of Alor Island. I. INTRODUCTION 1.2. Background The existence of coral reef ecosystem is very important in relation to its economic and ecological role. The ecologically benefits ecosystem of coral reef is as beach protection, fish habitat, wave energy dissipation/storm surge protection, etc. Meanwhile, the economical benefit is related to recreational sites, fishing ground area, high valuable material, etc. The existence and variety of fish and coral reef species is an indicator of environmental condition of the coastal water due to its sensitivity to environmental changes, regionally and globally. This may result in decreasing water quality. For example agricultural activity and mining in mainland area, erosion and sedimentation, waste, and illegal catching fish practice such as fish bombing. Therefore, in order to have a sustainable management of the coral reef area, a spatial assessment of a coral reef island should be employed. The island of Alor was selected as the study area due to its potentiality and strategic position. Located at the border between Indonesia and Timor Leste, The island of Alor has lot of coastal and marine resources potentiality, such as coral reef, fish, and seaweed. Under water view of this territorial water is as the heaven for national as well as international divers. At least there are 36 dive sites interested by the divers (The East magazine, 2007). Unfortunately the marine resources in this area is not been managed properly. For example a lot of coral reef areas were destroyed caused by human exploitation or physical disturbance (such as current). The physical condition of Alor territorial water is suitable for the growth of coral reef, pearl oyster and seaweed culture (Bakosurtanal, 2006). Therefore, this research was employed spatial analysis to achieve the optimal used of Alor territorial water, not only for marine eco-tourism location but also for seaweed culture. Seaweed ecosystem was selected as the theme of study since it has as ecological and economical benefit. Economic analysis was also need to be assessed for this study. Travel cost method (TCM) was eco-tourism while productivity approach was used for the seaweed culture. Management scenario was also developed in order to getting optimal region management either through ecology and economic. The expected result of this research is as input for local government or decision maker in Alor for managing its coastal and marine region. 1.2. Objective The objective of this research is to achieve the optimal used of coral reef area not only for tourism but also for sea weed culture by using spatial and economic analysis. II. METHODS The basic method of this research was using remote sensing technique, GIS (spatial analysis), and economic analysis (TCM and productivity approach). The research approach can be shown in figure 1 as follow:  2.1. Remote sensing technique Remote sensing technique was used to get the coral reef distribution, by using Landsat ETM+ acquired 2005. The steps of image processing that used in this research were radiometric and geometric correction, band selection, water column correction (Lizenga method), classification, field check, and reclassification. The classification of coral reef was used two steps, first: unsupervised method in order to get the cluster / group based on the digital number group, second: supervised method based on the first result and interpreter knowledge and other information (secondary data). 2.2. Geographic Information System GIS approach was used to analyze the suitability area for seaweed and marine eco-tourism. The analyses based on the scoring method. For marine eco-tourism used parameter for diving and snorkeling (see table 1 and 2). While the seaweed suitability analysis was used the parameters like seen at table 3.
2.3. Travel Cost Method The travel cost method was used to estimate the economic value of recreational benefits generated by ecosystems. It assumes that the value of the site or its recreational services is reflected by how much people are willing to pay to get there. It uses actual behavior and choices to infer values. Peoples’ preferences are revealed by their choices. The basic premise of this method is that the time and travel cost expenses by the people that will visit a site, represent the “price” of access to the site. Thus, peoples’ willingness to pay to visit the site can be estimated based on the number of trips that people make at variety of travel costs. The steps for calculating travel cost in Alor Island were:
2.4. Productivity Approach Parameters that used in this approach were: Investment for seaweed culture, such as the equipments expenses for string, float, boat, pillar and sacks. Operating expenses (fixed and variable cost). Fixed cost consists of the purchasing of equipments for seaweed culture, maintenance of appliances and farm expenses, while variable cost consists of seed, labor, fuel and transportation expenses. Primary and secondary data were used to calculate benefit of seaweed productivity. III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION 3.1. Remote Sensing Remote sensing analysis for coral reef ecosystem results in three ecosystem classes, i.e; coral reef, sea grass and sand. The percentage of coverage and species cannot be obtained in this analysis. To get detail information such as percentage of coverage and number of species, field check is needed. Based on the field observation, coral reef coverage in this area is between 0 – 35%. It meant, the coral reef of Alor was classified as low to medium quality classes. 3.2a. GIS – for Seaweed analysis The result of suitability analysis for seaweed culture indicates two suitability classes. These classes are S2 (suitable) and S3 (suitable with conditional). S1 class (very suitable) was cannot be analyzed in this region due to the lack of reliable characteristics to fulfill the S1 criteria (see Table 1). Appropriate area for seaweed culture of the research area is 6.295.944 m2. 3.2b. GIS – for marine eco-tourism analysis The result of suitability analysis for eco-tourism, diving and snorkeling parameters, indicates the total suitable area, i.e 580.711 m2. 3.3. Productivity approach Referred to Fitran (2005), for early investment of seaweed culture was needed Rp. 4,840,000 / unit effort (2400 m2). Operating expenses from fixed cost is equal to Rp. 1,621,700,- and variable expenses were Rp. 9,000,000,-.The time period for one production is 1.5 until 2 months, yielding 16.500 kg / unit, the selling price is Rp. 2,450 / kg. So, the advantage in one production was Rp. 29,803,300,-. Result of spatial analysis the appropriate area for the seaweed culture around Kepa and Alor Island was 6.295.944 m2. So, the benefit of seaweed culture in this area based on the productivity approach was around Rp. 65,486,473,328 / period, or Rp. 327.432.366.640,- / year (with assumption productivity during 1 year is 5 times). 3.4. Travel Cost Method Total of visit in this area at 2006 was 260 people, which came from Asia, Australia, Europe and America. Table 4 shows the number of population in each zone:
Based on the calculation using TCM, the total estimate of economic benefit from recreational uses of Alor Island is around U$ 81,160.00 per year or around U$ 312.15 per visit (Rp. 730.440.000,- per year or Rp. 2.809.350,- per visit, with assumption: U$ 1 = Rp. 9.000,-). If the action cost less than U$ 81,160.00 per year, the cost will be less than benefits provided by site. If the costs are greater than this, the tourist management will have to decide other factors to get an optimal management. SCENARIO MANAGEMENT: Based on both analyses as mention above, there are three management scenarios which can be explained in this research, that is:
It can be seen (see table 5) that the scenario 1 is the most beneficial management. The second optional management is scenario 3, and the last is scenario 1. However, dealing with the eco-tourism and seaweed culture that urgently needed for improving the prosperity of the local people, scenario 3 was consider as the good suggestion. Another reason for selecting this scenario is that the potentiality of the area as eco-tourism destination that still not well manage. The consequences of applying this scenario is that the local government has to improve the infrastructure and services. The increasing number of tourist hopefully will improve the local government income and the prosperity of the local people. IV. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
The East Magazine. 2007. Visit Alor. Inflight Magazine of Trans Nusa. Vol. 01 / March 2007. Kupang, NTT _. Ecosystem Valuation. Available on http://www.ecosystemvaluation.org  
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