Zoning Map of Komodo National Park: Balancing Conservation and Sustainable Use

The Zoning Map of Komodo National Park shows how this globally significant conservation area is strategically divided into management zones to protect its unique biodiversity — including the Komodo dragon — while allowing sustainable use such as ecotourism and traditional community activities. This zoning system covers both terrestrial and marine environments within the park.

🗺️ What Is Zoning in Komodo National Park?

Zoning is the planned division of the national park into areas with different management objectives, regulations, and permitted activities. Each zone has specific rules governing what human activities are allowed or restricted, helping park authorities balance conservation goals with ecological tourism, research, and community use The zoning system at Komodo National Park was established under national conservation regulations and implemented through decrees from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

📌 Main Zones Shown on the Zoning Map

The park’s zoning includes several distinct areas, each with its own purpose and permitted activities:

1. Core Zone (Strict Protection)

This is an area of highest conservation priority. Human activities are strictly prohibited, except for scientific research and monitoring.

2. Wilderness Zone with Limited Tourism

Limited, environmentally sensitive tourism is allowed here under permit, but most disruptive activities are prohibited.

3. Tourism Use Zone

Designated for planned nature tourism — both marine and land tourism activities may be permitted with proper environmental assessment and management.

4. Traditional Use Zone

This zone allows sustainable use of natural resources by local communities, including traditional fishing and low-impact tourism, under permit and regulation.

5. Pelagic Use Zone

Primarily a marine zone where regulated fishing and tourism activities are allowed, subject to gear restrictions and sustainable practices.

6. Special Research and Training Zone

Reserved for scientific research and training activities with permits, without other extraneous uses.

7. Traditional Settlement Zone

This zone is set aside for village areas and settlements of local indigenous communities, allowing daily life activities under park regulations.

🧭 How Zoning Supports Conservation and People

The zoning map is a key management tool that helps park authorities:

✔ Identify strict protection areas where biodiversity must remain undisturbed.
✔ Allocate zones where ecotourism can take place responsibly to boost local incomes.
✔ Allow space for community livelihoods that align with sustainable practices.
✔ Improve planning and enforcement by clearly defining boundaries and permitted activities.

Tourism zones, for example, permit nature-based tourism with careful controls to limit environmental impact, while zones for traditional use recognize the role of local communities in sustainable resource use.

📊 Overview of Zoning in Komodo National Park

In its most recent designation, the park’s zoning includes land-based and marine-based areas with varying levels of protection and permitted use. Some key statistics from the zoning plan include:

• Core Zone – Strictly protected area covering tens of thousands of hectares.
• Wilderness and Protected Marine Zones – Larger areas where ecosystems are preserved with limited tourism.
• Traditional and Pelagic Use Zones – Areas where regulated fishing and community activities are allowed.
• Tourism Zones – Allocated for land and marine tourism development under environmental guidance.

🏁 Conclusion

The Zoning Map of Komodo National Park provides a structured approach to managing one of Indonesia’s most precious natural heritage sites. By dividing the park into zones with clearly defined conservation priorities and permitted uses — from strict protection to sustainable tourism and traditional use — the park ensures both ecological integrity and community benefits.

This zoning system not only protects vital habitats and species, but also supports responsible tourism and traditional livelihoods, creating a balance between nature conservation and human well-being within Komodo National Park.

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