 
Our new ENVIRONMENT ACTION segment reveals an issue for
community concern and presents some practical solutions...
The Balinese are well known for being turtle consumers, especially of the famous
edible green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Easily found in Bali about four decades ago, sea
turtles are usually consumed as one of the cheapest and easiest sources of protein, and
turtle meat is also used for religious offerings. Green turtles are especially popular in
turtle soup, satay, and lawar (a special traditional Balinese food). However, day-by-day
unsustainable development in Bali, the fast growing rate of the Balinese population, and
the degradation of Bali’s environment, are all affecting the numbers of sea turtles
nesting on the beaches of Bali.
Around the 1960s, the people of Kuta, Sanur and Jimbaran could still
easily catch green turtles and used them for food and offerings. But now, at the end of
the 20th century, the local people rarely experience the wonderful phenomena of the female
sea turtle nesting after travelling thousands of miles through the ocean, returning to the
beach she was born some thirty tears ago, and laying her eggs there.
Due to the dramatic reduction of turtle nesting in Bali and the high
consumption rate of green turtles, the Balinese have been accused of being the turtle
slayers of Indonesia. Even Greenpeace has campaigned against the unsustainable turtle
consumption in Bali, threatening to boycott the tourism industry in Bali.
All species of sea turtle have been protected by CITES. The Indonesian
government also protects all six species of sea turtle living in Indonesian waters. The
last species protected by national law is the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) under the
Government Act on the Preservation of Flora and Fauna, and another Government Act on the
Usage of Wild Flora and Fauna.
 Before these acts were declared,
Indonesia didn’t have any laws protecting the green turtles. A few local decrees have
been passed, such as the Governor’s Decree of 1990, which declared that the maximum
amount of consumption permitted for green turtles in Bali is 5,000 turtles per year.
Through the Badung Regency’s Decree, the District Authority of Badung Regency also
announced the size limit of green turtles permitted for consumption in Bali, i.e. 50 cm
carapas width. It was also emphasised that turtle meat can only be used for offerings.
In order to control the green turtle trade to Bali and reduce the
consumption rate of turtles, the World Wide Fund for Nature Indonesia (WWF/I) established
its representative office in Denpasar, Bali at the end of 1995. Some activities include
controlling the green turtle trade in Bali, turtle conservation in the natural habitat in
Bali, as well as education and awareness programs for the whole community. As the
management of WWF Indonesia changed, WWF/I Bali also changed and merged into WWF/I
Wallacea Program, covering Maluku, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Bali itself. As one marine
bioregion that addresses marine conservation issues, the sea turtle becomes our flagship
species.
Direct field supervision could be an effective way to reduce turtle
trade in Bali and other regions in Indonesia. At present, the only gateway of turtle trade
in Bali is Tanjung Benoa, where thousands of turtles are brought from Aru Island (Maluku),
Southeast Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and Flores. For participatory reasons, WWF/I Wallacea also
involves local communities in its turtle conservation program. The Tanjung Benoa Turtle
Lover Club has been required to confiscate illegal turtles and release them back to Asia.
Another important task needing immediate action is to provide local
implementation guidelines on both Government Acts, as mentioned above. The guidelines
should be discussed with all related stakeholders such as NGOs, CBOs (Community-based
Organisations), local and regional governments, universities, and other organisations, to
produce democratically sound guidelines available in any region in Indonesia. Hopefully,
conservation in Indonesia will not only be written about in papers, but will be integrated
into all aspects and introduced to all stake holders, especially those who are involved in
sea turtle use and preservation.
Bali Intercontinental Resort,
Yayasan Wisnu and Bapedal
launch hotel environmental rating system
 The launching of the hotel
environmental rating system took place at the Bali Intercontinental Resort at the
beginning of September. Bali Intercontinental Resort was one of the driving forces
spearheading the development of the eco-rating system for the hotel industry, which will
eventually be applied throughout Indonesia. The environmental rating system is a joint
effort of Indonesia’s environmental agency, BAPEDAL, the local government of Bali,
and the hotel industry in Bali.
As a result, in the immediate future, volunteer Balinese hotels will be
graded on specific criteria created by the local government/ private sector task force in
Bali in line with the International Hotel Environment Initiative (IHEI) 100-point
checklist.
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