Bunaken National Park World Heritage Proposed So

Bunaken National's proposed to be part of world heritage or natural world heritage. Nature conservation area was judged to have superior characteristics of marine biodiversity.

World Ocean Conference Committee Member (World Ocean Conference / WOC) John Tasirin, in Manado, Sunday (24 / 8), say, a world heritage working group is currently reviewing the proposed document the Park became world heritage to be submitted to the UN organization for education and culture (Unesco) no later than January 2009. World heritage working group composed of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Ministry of Forestry.

The existence of the Park are also planned as a world heritage management unit pilot in World Ocean Conference in Manado on 11 to 15 May 2009. According to John, announce the Bunaken as a world heritage protection implications of the world of marine conservation areas, as well as managing and developing the region. Management of the region ban them making corals, fish intake regulation in certain zones, and management of marine tourism.

Nevertheless, the preparation of Bunaken National Park as a world heritage must consider the interests of society in the region, and to support government programs for area management. Assistant II for Economic Development and the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi, Marieta Kuntag, said the support program that provided among other environmentally friendly infrastructure development, including avoiding the establishment of structure-containing cement.

Proposed Bunaken as a heritage of the world had revolved to Unesco in 2003 and 2005. In 2005, Bunaken proposed to be shared with the world heritage marine park protection Raja Ampat in Papua, East Kalimantan and Derawan. However, the proposal was not acted upon.

Bunaken National Park area is 89000.65 hectares, covering Pulai Nain, Mantehage, Manado Tua, Bunaken, and Siladen. The total population in the region is 30,000, amounting to 70 percent of the population of whom worked as a fisherman.

In the 1970s, the Bunaken area suffered severe damage to coral reefs. Approximately 48 percent of 62 000 hectares of coral reefs damaged by fishing with the use of bombs, poison, and cyanide. Area rehabilitation program conducted by the government by involving the community was started in 1992, including the prohibition of taking of coral and fish on a particular zone. In 2004, there were areas of improvement around 4100 hectares of coral reefs.

Jonah Kasehung, Manager of Bunaken National Park Visitor Center, argued that other issues still facing is the lack of electricity and clean water facilities. Almost every day, power outages lasted for 12 hours, starting at 06:00 until 18:00. Meanwhile, lack of clean water supplies and cause showers and washing activities rely on brackish water. "Constraints of electricity and clean water facilities hamper tourism development Bunaken,"