A Study on Ecotourisme Potency and Its Carrying Capacity in Pulau Sempu Nature Reserve – East Java

Abstract

Pulau Sempu Nature Reserve (PSNR) has become a popular destination for ecotourism in East Java. The ecotourism activities pose management issue related to the status of the area. According to its status as a nature reserve, the tourisme and other activities entering the site is forbidden except for education, research and development of science. Nevertheless, the visitor numbers increase by time and can’t be avoid. The pressure of this tourisme demand will affect the declining of quality and quantity of the PSNR biodiversity resource, soon will threaten its sustainability. Strategic plans need to deal with the problems, to optimize the value and function of the site. The reseach was conducted : (1) To identify and analyze potential objectives of natural tourist attraction in PSNR (2) To analyze its carrying capacity regarding the impacts of tourism activities (3) To formulate a strategic plan of PSNR according to its potency and status. The research was taken for 6 months on October 2012 until March 2013. Field observation and multistakeholder deep-interview was taken to gain data. Potency assessment analysis conducted to assess objectives of natural tourist attraction in PSNR. Carrying capacity analysis based on criteria and indicators of site situation which is ecotourism doesn’t affect physically to the site resources. The SWOT analyse was used to formulate the strategic management plan. The result from analysis of objects assessment of natural tourist attraction (ADO-ODTWA) showed that PSNR is very potential to be developed as ecotourism destination with 85,41% land attraction and 83,33% beach attraction. The main attraction is a uniqe phenomenon lagoon called Segara Anakan, biodiversity and its ecosystem. Those attractions have not supported by some facilities i.e accommodation, institution element, infrastructure, management and service, accessibility, and declining of environmental quality. The carrying capacity limited by factors i.e slope, type of soil against erosion sensitivity, landscape potency, climate, wildlife disturbance index. The recent visit assessed were below the standard carrying capacity especially in “blok rimba” management plan of PSNR. In the future the management authority (BBKSDA Jawa Timur) should notice and hold up management standard based on ecotourism. The SWOT analysis result as the strategic management plan based on ecotourism, 1) Management policy is to divide the “blok inti” and “blok rimba” to prevent the lost of biodiversity and its ecosystem function 2) To evaluate the recent status as basic proposal to change the recent status from of nature reserve to natural park 3) Fully improve coordination to Malang regency as local institution to improve management of PSNR 4) Develop ecotourism based on its potency 5) Develop management collaboration with all stakeholder especially the people of Sempu as local resident.