Workshop Series Enhancing co-benefits of conservation area management through an inclusive wildlife-based ecotourism strategy (ECOTOURISM)
The Project Preparation Grant (PPG) is a funding mechanism utilized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to design and prepare comprehensive sustainable development projects, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The PPG focuses on initiatives in the areas of environmental protection, food security, climate change, and inclusive development. GEF is an international funding institution that supports global environmental projects. One such project is titled “Enhancing Co-benefits of Conservation/Protected Area Management through an Inclusive Wildlife-Based Ecotourism Strategy (ECOTOURISM)”, which is funded through the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
This project is being implemented in collaboration with the Government of Indonesia, specifically the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, through the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), c.q. the Directorate of Environmental Services Utilization. The objective is to enhance the effectiveness of protected area management and address development challenges through a wildlife-based ecotourism (WBE) approach.
The project duration is five years and will be implemented in five national parks: Way Kambas National Park, Tanjung Puting National Park, Wakatobi National Park, Baluran National Park, and Alas Purwo National Park.
Indonesia extensive conservation forest areas—covering approximately 27 million hectares—hold a vast natural wealth and beauty, offering strong existing resources for the development of wildlife-based ecotourism. This form of ecotourism emphasizes experiences centered on the protection and observation of wildlife in their natural habitats. These ecotourism resources are found across numerous national parks, which serve as sanctuaries for various keystone, endemic, and endangered species.
As part of project formulation and preparation, the PPG team—comprising national and international experts—collaborates closely with UNDP and the Indonesian government. Site visits were conducted to project locations including Way Kambas National Park (13–15 January 2025) and Tanjung Puting National Park (20–22 January 2025).
A series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to support project planning and stakeholder engagement. The inception workshop took place in Jakarta on Jakarta, January 16, 2025, attended by relevant ministries and agencies, academics, NGOs, UNDP, and the consultant team. Additional FGDs were held in Jakarta and Bogor from 6–7 March 2025 and 14–18 March 2025. A pre-validation workshop was conducted on 19 March 2025, involving various directorates within KSDAE and relevant technical units. These discussions and internal coordination meetings culminate in preparations for the upcoming validation workshop, scheduled for 16–17 April 2025 in Jakarta.
Ecotourism is a practical application of sustainable tourism principles, offering solutions to address the overexploitation of natural resources, increasing carbon footprints, and declining ecosystem quality in protected areas due to overtourism.
This approach seeks to balance economic interests, environmental conservation, and community welfare, through collaboration among tourists, businesses, local communities, and government stakeholders to ensure environmentally responsible tourism development and travel practices.
The development of wildlife-based ecotourism not only provides educational travel experiences for visitors but also serves as a funding source for conservation efforts. This model becomes a strategic solution to sustain both conservation efforts and the economic well-being of local communities—while contributing to national revenue thorugh allocation a part of tourism revenue to ecosystem preservation, wildlife monitoring, and community empowerment.
DESMA Center is committed to supporting the development of sustainable wildlife-based ecotourism through policy development, capacity building, human resource training, and data-driven research to ensure that ecotourism in Indonesia evolves in a sustainable, inclusive, and impactful way for both the environment and local communities. DESMA Center, joined as one of the PPG team for UNDP in assisting the Indonesian government to prepare and develop this project of “Enhancing co-benefits of conservation/protected area management through an inclusive wildlife-based ecotourism strategy (ECOTOURISM)”
