Illlustration by Ai

FORMOSA NEWS

Southeast Maluku, Indonesia — A new study by Osin Eltina Rumheng, I Gede Astra Wesnawa, and Gede Iwan Setiabudi from Ganesha University of Education (Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha/Undiksha) has found that the traditional Sasi system plays a central role in sustaining coral reef conservation-based ecotourism in Ur Pulau Village, Southeast Maluku. Published in June 2026 in the Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA), the research shows that while the village has achieved a moderately sustainable level of ecotourism management, improvements in environmentally friendly infrastructure and stronger legal integration of customary institutions are essential to ensure long-term conservation and economic resilience.

The findings are particularly relevant as Indonesia continues to promote sustainable marine tourism while protecting its globally significant coral reef ecosystems. The study demonstrates that combining indigenous knowledge with modern sustainability assessment tools can help coastal communities preserve biodiversity while creating economic opportunities.

Coral Reefs Face Growing Pressure Despite High Ecotourism Potential

Indonesia lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the world's richest regions for marine biodiversity. Coral reefs provide habitat for thousands of marine species, protect coastlines from erosion, support fisheries, and attract tourists from around the world.

Ur Pulau Village, located in West Kei Kecil District of Southeast Maluku Regency, possesses more than 14,000 hectares of coral reef ecosystems, making it an attractive destination for marine ecotourism. However, destructive fishing practices, including the use of explosives and potassium cyanide, along with damage caused by boat anchors and poorly managed tourism activities, continue to threaten these valuable ecosystems.

Unlike many coastal communities, Ur Pulau Village still practices Sasi, a centuries-old customary system that regulates when, where, and how natural resources may be harvested. The local tradition has long served as a community-based conservation mechanism, limiting resource exploitation while encouraging collective responsibility for environmental protection.

The new research evaluated whether this traditional management system remains effective as ecotourism expands and new environmental challenges emerge.

Measuring Sustainability Across Five Dimensions

The researchers conducted the study in Ur Pulau Village using a descriptive semi-quantitative research design and applied the Rapid Appraisal for Fisheries (RAPFISH) method, adapted specifically for ecotourism sustainability assessment.

Data were collected from 38 key stakeholders, including village government officials, traditional leaders, local residents, fishermen, tourism business operators, environmental organizations, and representatives from regional government agencies.

Information was gathered through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and direct field observations. Rather than focusing solely on environmental conditions, the assessment examined sustainability across five interconnected dimensions:

  • Ecology
  • Economy
  • Socio-cultural development
  • Technology and infrastructure
  • Law and institutions

The multidimensional approach allowed researchers to identify not only the village's overall sustainability status but also the specific areas requiring immediate improvement.

Study Finds Ecotourism Is Moderately Sustainable

The analysis produced an overall sustainability index of 60.56, placing Ur Pulau Village within the "Moderately Sustainable" category.

Among the five dimensions evaluated, Law and Institutions achieved the strongest performance with a score of 67.93, reflecting the continued effectiveness of the Sasi customary system in regulating marine resource use.

Meanwhile, Technology and Infrastructure received the lowest score at 48.71, making it the only dimension classified as "Less Sustainable."

Other dimensions also demonstrated moderate sustainability:

  • Ecology: 64.65
  • Socio-cultural: 62.77
  • Economy: 58.76

The researchers also confirmed that their assessment remained reliable through Monte Carlo analysis, indicating that the sustainability scores were stable despite potential variations in respondent evaluations.

Critical Challenges Remain

Although the overall results are encouraging, the study identified several sensitive issues that could significantly reduce sustainability if left unaddressed.

The greatest ecological threat remains coral damage caused by poison and potassium cyanide fishing, which recorded the highest leverage value among all sustainability indicators. Even occasional destructive fishing incidents can reverse years of coral reef recovery.

The study also found that technological support has not kept pace with conservation efforts. Many tourism sites still lack environmentally friendly infrastructure such as mooring buoys, designated snorkeling routes, proper waste management systems, and sustainable fishing equipment. Without these facilities, tourism itself may unintentionally contribute to coral reef degradation.

From a social perspective, researchers identified limited educational opportunities as another major constraint. While community participation in Sasi remains strong, lower levels of formal education reduce local capacity to manage ecotourism businesses, guide visitors, and adopt modern conservation practices.

Economic sustainability also faces challenges. Although tourism has begun generating income through homestays and boat rentals, conservation activities—including reef monitoring, patrols, and ecosystem restoration—still depend heavily on community volunteer efforts and external funding because no permanent financing mechanism currently exists.

Sasi Demonstrates the Value of Indigenous Conservation

One of the study's most significant conclusions is that indigenous knowledge continues to provide practical environmental benefits.

Ethically paraphrasing the authors, Osin Eltina Rumheng, I Gede Astra Wesnawa, and Gede Iwan Setiabudi of Ganesha University of Education explain that Sasi functions as valuable social capital by encouraging community compliance with conservation rules, reducing monitoring costs, and protecting coral reef ecosystems. However, they emphasize that long-term sustainability will require customary institutions to be formally incorporated into village regulations while being supported by modern conservation infrastructure and community capacity-building programs.

The researchers argue that this hybrid approach—combining customary governance with formal legal protection—would strengthen resilience against increasing tourism pressure and external environmental threats.

Practical Implications for Coastal Tourism

The findings provide important guidance for governments, conservation organizations, tourism planners, and coastal communities across Indonesia.

The researchers recommend three priority actions:

  • Formalize Sasi within official village regulations to strengthen legal protection.
  • Invest in environmentally friendly tourism infrastructure, including mooring buoys, sustainable fishing equipment, waste management systems, and visitor facilities.
  • Expand education and training programs that prepare local residents to become ecotourism guides, conservation practitioners, and sustainable tourism entrepreneurs.

These strategies could improve environmental protection while ensuring that tourism revenues directly support long-term coral reef conservation.

As Indonesia continues developing marine tourism under sustainable development goals, the experience of Ur Pulau Village illustrates how indigenous environmental governance can complement modern policy and scientific management. Rather than replacing local traditions, integrating customary knowledge into formal conservation planning may offer one of the country's strongest tools for protecting its marine ecosystems.

Author Profile

Osin Eltina Rumheng is a researcher specializing in sustainable ecotourism, marine conservation, and community-based natural resource management at Ganesha University of Education.

Dr. I Gede Astra Wesnawa is a lecturer and researcher at Ganesha University of Education whose expertise includes geography education, environmental management, sustainable tourism, and regional development.

Gede Iwan Setiabudi is an academic at Ganesha University of Education focusing on environmental sustainability, ecotourism management, conservation policy, and coastal resource development.

Source

Article Title: Sustainability Analysis of Coral Reef Conservation-Based Ecotourism: Integration of Sasi Local Wisdom and the RAPFISH Approach (Case Study: Ur Pulau Village, Southeast Maluku)

Journal: Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA)

Publication Year: 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/mudima.v6i6.71