On Karakelang, a small tropical island in Indonesia within the Wallacea biodiversity hotspot, local communities face multiple challenges resulting from the use of toxic pesticides, and they are waving a flag for help.

CEPF grantee IDEP Foundation and local community group Kompak are working together to respond to the crisis.

Copra—the dried flesh of the coconut used to extra coconut oil—is an important export in Karakelang. In the 1970s toxic insecticides were sprayed by air over the island to protect coconut plantations from the agricultural pest Sexava coconut treehopper (Segestidea novaeguineae). Severe toxic damage was caused to the island’s ecosystems and though the spraying has stopped, the chemicals continue to be applied via tree trunk injection.

In addition to the problem of pest resistance and resurgence, the pesticides are highly poisonous to birds, mammals, amphibians, earthworms, honey bees and other insects essential to the health of biodiversity cycles. In addition, the poison can enter groundwater that is used for human consumption. 

Local communities in Karakelang now refuse to eat their own coconut products due to poison risk and thus are burdened with finding alternative nutrition and—for those with the desire to divest from coconut agriculture—to find alternative incomes to supplement seasonal earnings from cloves production.

“Porodisa [paradise] has turned into a toxic island that is killing many of its endemics, especially the mascot of the island, sampiri,” said Michael Wangko, leader of Kompak. Sampiri is the local name for one of Indonesia’s Endangered parrot species, the red-and-blue lory (Eos histrio), which is native to Karakelang. In addition to falling victim to insecticide poisoning (the bird’s food sources includes coconut nectar and insects), this small and colorful parrot is highly favored by poachers for the illegal wildlife trade. 

According to a 1999 survey by Birdlife International, between 1,000 and 2,000 red-and-blue lories were taken annually from Karakelang for sale in the nearby Philippines. The endemic species is also affected by the destruction of forest habitat.

Another endemic to Karakelang is the shy and secretive Talaud rail (Gymnocrex talaudensis). Discovered in 1998, this species is also now classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Endangered mammals endemic to Karekelang include the long-tailed Talaud melomys (Melomys talaudium), short-tailed Talaud melomys (Melomys caurinus) and the nocturnal Talaud fruit bat (Acerodon humilis), which is 70 percent insectivore, feeding at night when the poison-tainted Sexava grasshopper actively feeds.

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Caption: 

IDEP Foundation assisted Mama Maria of Ambela Village develop an organic garden using local materials for borders and fences to deter chickens and pigs.

Credit: 

Photo by IDEP Foundation

Answering the call for assistance in helping to restore the island’s collapsing ecosystems, IDEP Foundation started a collaboration with Kompak. Beginning in January 2016, IDEP and Kompak engaged three villages on Karakelang in an 18-month pilot permaculture and inclusive-conservation training program. A holistic approach to ecological lifestyle, permaculture relates the interconnectedness of nature to systems of community livelihoods, protecting entire habitats and lifecycles on which humans depend. Through the training, local people are learning to use permaculture gardening to provide nutritious organic vegetables for consumption and sale, resulting in alternative income without the use of chemicals and pesticides.

“They killed us slowly, they killed our land,” said Adrian Tamarengki, a project beneficiary, explaining the impacts of insecticide chemicals on the island. “Thankfully this knowledge about permaculture came upon us, and I think we still have high hope to restore our ecosystem for our future generations."

Following training in sustainable agriculture and livelihoods, IDEP will encourage environmental protection through conservation education: Community members will learn the value of endangered endemic species to nature tourism.

In the long term this replicable, inclusive conservation model designed by IDEP will contribute holistic livelihood elements to complement past anti-poaching efforts by Indonesian authorities and education initiatives conducted by international bird protection groups. The goal is to restore balance and rich biodiversity on “paradise island” by creating healthier habitats for humans and wildlife alike.

Learn more about IDEP: Founded in 1999 to assist economic survival of Bali communities in crises following the Asian Financial Crash, IDEP Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on disaster management mitigation through the restoration of healthy environment and livelihoods through permaculture principles. Learn more. 

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Ade Andreawan is Executive Director of IDEP Foundation – Indonesia, joining the organization in 2006 as disaster recovery coordinator after the Aceh Tsunami. He travels widely supervising IDEP programs, including the CEPF Wallacea Hotspot project on Karekelang, North Sulawesi.

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Kerrie Hall is the media and relationships officer at IDEP Foundation as an Australian Volunteer for International Development, a global initiative of Australian Aid. A specialist in Southeast Asia storytelling, she recently fell in love with Turkish cheese and the natural wonders of Fetiye.

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