INDONESIA, Molas, Meras, Tongkeina, and Bahowo Villages, Sulawesi Island - July 2004
Establishment of four no take marine reserves in exchange for outdoor cultural theater
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World-renowned for its fantastic coral reef diversity, the 89,000-hectare Bunaken National Marine Park is home to over 30,000 fisher/farmers. In exchange for the formalization of four no take marine reserves totaling 160 acres as a means of rebuilding reef fish stocks in this area, Seacology is funding a 200 seat outdoor cultural amphitheater to be used for traditional dance performances.*
UPDATE January 2005 - Construction of the theater was completed in December 2004. The Bunaken Concerned Citizen's Forum is now working with cultural groups from around the area to prepare a six-month performance schedule for 2005 that will begin in January. Performances will be targeted at both local domestic visitors to Bunaken National Park as well as international guests, and will be held primarily on Saturdays and Sundays for maximum attendance.
UPDATE July 2005 - As reported above, construction of the theater was completed in December 2004 and a visitor center complex is expected to be completed by August 2005. Several educational programs have been conducted on the stage, and the Bunaken Concerned Citizen's Forum is beginning their work with cultural groups from around the area to prepare a performance schedule for August through December 2005. The no-take zones have been established and the villages have received recognition for their efforts to protect several important grouper spawning aggregation sites.
UPDATE January 2006 - As reported in author Jeff Greenwald's dispatch from a site visit, the theater is largely going unused; the unroofed aspect of the stone structure is problematic, as locals have an aversion to being in the sun. Various strategies being suggested to remedy the problems are a tent-like covering for the theater, and building new toilets and creating an environmentally-friendly wastewater garden treatment project similar to that at Tirtagganga, Bali.
UPDATE June 2006 - Several local NGOs have been approached to help fund and coordinate performances. A target was set to present some performances during the 2006 peak season.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the
Nu
Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation
