Activities

In the context of the project "Improving Village Government Institutional Capacity and Social Forestry Management to Develop Community-Based Ecotourism", a collaboration between GIZ PROPEAT and DESMA Center, an assessment of natural, cultural and man-made resources was conducted to observe, assess the potential and existing tourist attractions in Atap Village and Setabu Village, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan. This activity was carried out as a baseline for a feasibility study and the preparation of a master plan for village ecotourism development, as well as institutional strengthening of Pokdarwis and village governments. 

The assessment in Atap Village was conducted from 18 to 23 September 2021 in twelve locations of potential natural, cultural and artificial attractions. Meanwhile, the assessment in Setabu Village was conducted from 22 to 28 September 2021 in ten potential locations of natural, cultural and artificial attractions. In addition to observation, the assessment conducted by the DESMA Center team also aims to conduct stakeholder mapping, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with relevant local stakeholders, in-depth interviews, assessment of natural, cultural and man-made attractions using a point rating system; training needs analysis, as well as mapping and analysis of tourist attractions using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Identification of tourist attractions needs to be done to obtain priorities for tourism development in Atap Village and Setabu Village based on a number of parameters including (a) quality of tourist attractions; (b) diversity of tourist attractions; (c) marketing scale of tourist attractions; (d) level of accessibility support; (e) level of supporting infrastructure support and (f) development prospects.

The focus group discussion (DKT) which was held on 18 September 2021, was attended by the Sub-District Head of Sembakung Sub-District, Mr Zulkifli S.Sos; Mrs Wahyuni Sulistyawati, S.Hut M.AP, Forestry Extension Officer and Social Forestry Facilitator of Setabu Village Forest and Seribu Temunung HKm from KPH Nunukan; GIZ PROPEAT representative, Mr Masruni; Secretary of Atap Village, Mr Sahrin and representatives of youth and community groups of Atap Village. DESMA Center presented its work program as well as gathering aspirations and information about Atap Village's tourism potential. The participants were enthusiastic because ecotourism development is one of the economic options and it is hoped that through ecotourism, the existence of nature and culture-based tourism in Atap Village can be promoted while preserving nature and culture.

After conducting the DKT, the DESMA Center Team then conducted a survey for observation, assessment of potential and existing tourist attractions; mapping tourist attractions using Geographic Information System (GIS) and assessing them using Point Rating System. The DESMA Center team also conducted in-depth interviews with representatives of the Tourism Office; local village officials; MSME players; homestay players; traditional leaders; and representatives of each community group.

The whole series of activities in Desa Atap ended with a focus group discussion (FGD) to disseminate the results of the observations, discuss the results, get ideas for tourism planning, and discuss local tourism institutions.

The same mechanism was used by the DESMA Center team in Setabu Village, West Sebatik Sub-district. The first round of focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted on 24 September 2021 and the second round of FGD was conducted on 28 September 2021 in Setabu Village. The FGD was attended by Setabu Village Head Mr Rambli and Setabu Village Secretary Mr Robyansyah; Mrs Wahyuni Sulistyawati, S.Hut M.AP, Forestry Extension Officer and Social Forestry Facilitator of Setabu Village Forest and Seribu Temunung HKm from KPH Nunukan; GIZ PROPEAT representative Mr Masruni; representatives of Pokdarwis Setabu Jaya, community groups, customary groups, fishermen groups and youth groups.  

The results of the assessment will be used by the DESMA Center team for the feasibility study, baseline information for the village ecotourism development master plan, training needs analysis, institutional strengthening needs, draft village tourism development regulation, and stakeholder mapping, the results of which will be used in the next stage of the project.

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The project "Capacity Building of Village Government Institutions and Social Forestry Management to Develop Community-Based Ecotourism" implemented by DESMA Center, is a Peatland Management and Rehabilitation Project-GIZ PROPEAT, which is implemented in the context of Indonesia-Germany government cooperation in reducing emissions from the forestry sector and improving the lives of rural communities.

One of the GIZ PROPEAT programmes is to strengthen the capacity of village governments and village forest managers in an effort to support sustainable peat and mangrove management; as a form of conservation of environmental use and protection through sustainable ecotourism management

Within this framework, GIZ PROPEAT together with DESMA Center conducted a series of activities that included (1) Developing a feasibility study of community-based ecotourism in Atap and Setabu Villages, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan; (2) Developing a Village Ecotourism Master Plan for Atap Village and Setabu Village, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan (3) Facilitating and implementing integrated concepts and practices for the development of Sustainable Village Ecotourism with Pokdarwis and Village Officials in Atap and Setabu Villages, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan; with capacity building activities through a series of training and coaching, institutional strengthening and assistance in drafting village regulations on ecotourism.