September 17, 2025 | 04:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The environment of Padar Island in Komodo National Park is threatened with destruction because of the development of super premium tourist facilities. The world is watching.
THE threat of environmental damage hangs over Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara. Palma Hijau Cemerlang tourism company has constructed a number of buildings on Padar Island, part of the national park. Other surrounding islands are also threatened with damage.
This construction is part of the super-premium tourism development plan in the region. It is easy to imagine that there will be five-star resorts, premium villas, restaurants, and tourist sites with exclusive services.
It seems that it will be difficult to stop the luxury tourism development because the individuals involved are no ordinary people. There are indications that Palma Hijau Cemerlang is affiliated with Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism. These two companies are alleged to be linked to the families of Golkar politician Setya Novanto and tycoon Tomy Winata.
This type of development is clearly at odds with the aims of conservation—the type of endeavor that is allowed in national parks. Conversely, this development will destroy the habitat of the Komodo dragons.
Even worse, the development of the super-premium tourism region is not supported by an environmental impact analysis. Such an analysis of Padar Island even concluded that development there was not recommended because it includes forest and water sources that are important for Komodo dragons, especially in the dry season.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has warned the Indonesian government not to grant permits for projects that have a negative impact on the Komodo dragons and their ecosystem. UNESCO has designated Komodo National Park a World Heritage Site because Komodo dragons are an ancient and rare endemic species, and because of its unique natural habitat and the rich marine biodiversity. Because of this designation, the government should protect Komodo dragons and their habitats.
If the government ignores this warning, UNESCO could remove Komodo National Park from the list of World Heritage Sites. This would result in the loss of recognition and protection under international law from UN bodies for the park.
The loss of this status would result in a loss of global prestige for Komodo National Park, problems for the government in obtaining conservation funds and international support, damage to Indonesia's reputation, and a loss of public support. If the number of tourists to Komodo Island fell, the government would lose revenue from the tourism sector as well as other supporting sectors.
Hasty investment, especially if it ignores environmental impacts, will lead to major problems. Bali is a concrete example of a region trapped in tourist development without adequate planning.
And the islands in Komodo National Park are not uninhabited. Indigenous communities, who have culture, traditions and livelihoods dependent on the environment, live there. The development of super-premium tourism on the island has the potential to force them to leave or wreck the ecosystem that has supported their livelihoods.
Before it is too late, the government of Prabowo Subianto needs to immediately prevent damage on and around Padar Island to ensure the survivability of the inhabitants and the ecosystem.
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