Sasiand Marine Conservation in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Abstract

Raja Ampat, Indonesia, possesses the greatest diversity of corals and reef fishes on the planet. The area is a priority for marine conservation for the provincial government, local communities, and major international nongovernmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International. Traditional marine resource management practices in the region, referred to as sasi, have the potential to support conservation objectives. This article contends that while traditional marine resource management systems may support conservation, they must be reinforced by a supportive social structure and governance system to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. Two villages in Raja Ampat were studied to gain a better understanding of sasi and how this practice has been affected by cultural, political, and economic change. These villages illustrate how the role of religious authorities, access to alternative livelihoods, proximity to urban centers, and capacity for monitoring and enforcement may influence the effectiveness of marine resource management systems. Our research suggests that the continued relevance of sasi in marine resource management relies on the support of influential local leaders and businesses and government regulations that reinforce traditional resource use practices.

Community-Based Conservation and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Implications for Social-Ecological Resilience

“…We also identified nontraditional ecological knowledge mechanisms contributing to effective communitybased conservation initiatives through the publications' data and created the following coding categories: (1) scientific information, (2) dominant religion, (3) formal regulations, and (4) official institutions. The study by McLeod et al (2009), for instance, was coded as "dominant religion" because it describes the role of Christianity in supporting some of the traditional ceremonies and rituals that contribute to maintain customary marine resource management and the conservation system in an Indonesian village.…”

Avoiding conflicts and protecting coral reefs: customary management benefits marine habitats and fish biomass

“…However, as part of the decentralisation of governance in many countries, including Indonesia (Thornburn 2001;Patlis 2003), customary practises are becoming enshrined in legislation of district and local authorities (Janssen, 2005;Gelcich et al, 2008). Documenting the successes or failures of customary practices improves understanding of the governance frameworks within which marine environments and their resources are most effectively managed (McCleod et al, 2009). Here, we present a case study from Aceh, Indonesia, that examines the socioeconomic and ecological conditions of six coastal communities in which a customary management system operates.…”

Perubahan Kelembagaan Dalam Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Laut Tradisional (Kasus Kelembagaan Sasi Di Kaimana)

“…Von Benda-Beckmann, et al (1992) menyebutkan bahwa Sasi selalu menjadi bagian dan dibentuk oleh organisasi budaya, keagamaan dan sosialpolitik yang lebih luas dari masyarakat desa, dan telah mengalami perubahan selama 400 tahun terakhir. Perubahan tersebut mulai dari ritual perlindungan sumberdaya komunal terhadap sumberdaya privat dan bersama yang diatur melalui rezim kontrol agro-ekologi pemerintah, hingga suatu cara komersialisasi dan privatisasi besar-besaran untuk menghindari pencurian.Berbagai perubahan dalam Sasi ini pada akhirnya berdampak pada pelemahan ataupun penguatan Sasi sebagai suatu lembaga yang dipercaya dalam mengelola sumberdaya alam secara berkelanjutan (Zerner 1994;Harkes dan Novaczek 2002;McLeod et al 2009). Lebih jauh, Adhuri (2013) menambahkan aspek tenurial sebagai isu penting dalam kajian Sasi, yaitu konsep petuanan, yang terkadang justru menjadi problematika utama karena adanya multiinterpretasi dalam narasi historis atas hak tenurial tradisional yang seringkali terjadi.…”

“…Sasi yang kini masih bertahan pun kini memiliki bentuk kelembagaan dan kepemimpinan yang berbeda-beda. Hal ini sejalan dengan studi yang dilakukan oleh McLeod et al (2009) di Raja Ampat, yang menunjukkan bahwa Sasi telah berevolusi dari suatu institusi yang diatur dan ditegakkan oleh pemimpin tradisional, kini menjadi suatu institusi yang diatur oleh kombinasi dari pemimpin tradisional, pemimpin gereja dan pihak pemerintah lokal.…”