Ecotourism development in and around the Tangkoko-Duasudara nature preserve and Batuputih-Batuangus tourism areas

KONTAK is a local guides association from Batuputih village. Its vision is to preserve Tangkoko through nature conservation, ecotourism and social development. The proposed project is part of the ecotourism development program. Tangkoko ecosystem types are primary and secondary forest, coastal forest, lowland and montane forests. Some areas were damage by forest fires. The area is habitat to a variety of flora and fauna, amongst others the black crested macaque, the tarsier and the Sulawesi eared nightjar. Tangkoko is under threat of human activities like illegal logging, poaching, forest-fires, non-sustainable tourism, agriculture and encroachment by communities surrounding the area. The main causes of these threats are poverty and lack of knowledge about nature and the environment. By developing ecotourism some of these threats and causes can be addressed. The project expects to improve guiding and tourism services in the Batuputih tourism area and to campaign for the preservation of Tangkoko. To achieve these results the project will carry out the following activities as part of the ecotourism development project; an English language course, a boat competition, clearing and cleaning tourist-trails, purchase trekking equipment, creating a souvenir-shop, and making Batuputih more attractive for tourists.