The development of tourist facilities on Padar Island is guaranteed to remain environmentally friendly
Jakarta – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that the planned development of tourism facilities on Padar Island, Komodo National Park, will prioritize environmentally friendly principles and will not disrupt the habitat of the endemic Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).
“I will ensure that, even if the private sector develops the area, the most important thing is to protect the ecology. We must not damage the environment or the Komodo dragon’s habitat,” he said. He explained that ecotourism is still permitted within the utilization zone, as long as it follows strict regulations and is based on scientific studies.
Padar Island, which is under the management of Komodo National Park and has had UNESCO World Heritage status since 1991, has had a tourism permit from PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism (PT KWE) since 2014. However, no physical development has taken place yet. According to the Minister of Forestry, every development step will go through a lengthy process, including an environmental impact assessment involving UNESCO.
“We will also re-examine the development plans, including the issue of hundreds of villas. We still need to refine the data,” he explained. He confirmed that if construction proceeds, it will not be a permanent building, but rather a relocatable structure to avoid disrupting the ecosystem.
Similarly, Destika Cahyana, a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), assessed that the development of tourist facilities on Padar Island is not a problem as long as it complies with regulations and does not damage the environment. “If the land status complies with regulations, there’s actually no problem. Villas can be built as long as they don’t damage the environment or the Komodo dragon habitat. That’s the main thing,” she said.
Destika emphasized the importance of maintaining natural balance, particularly in land use planning. “The balance between green areas and buildings must be maintained. We must avoid exposing land, which could potentially cause erosion and damage the sea,” she said.
He also highlighted the need for formal local community involvement, for example through cooperatives or village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), so that development brings economic benefits to residents. “If we leave it without well-managed development, Komodo National Park will simply become a center of international attention with no direct benefits for the community. As long as everything is maintained and the community is involved, this is actually an opportunity,” he concluded.
With a conservation-based approach and community participation, the development plan on Padar Island is expected to be an example of sustainable tourism development that preserves natural heritage while boosting the local economy.
