Indigenous Bird Ecotourism in Halmahera Island, Indonesia

Abstract

Bird watching hobbyists will often go to great lengths to observe wild birds around the world, traveling to tropical rainforests, beaches, and even mountains. As birds may serve as cultural symbols in which their songs and other sounds are important in various activities, local communities can use a cultural approach to protect birds in close proximity. The results of this study show that endemic bird species are used as cultural symbols by indigenous people on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, a tourist destination for local and foreign visitors. The study used a random survey method which involved interviewing farmers in four regions: Loloda Kepulauan, Maba, Buli, and Wangongira, as well as research respondents residing in forest fringes around the village. Interviews were conducted in local languages. The research findings reveal that the endemic birds most sought after by photographers and tourists belong to eight families: Paradisaeidae, Alcedinidae, Pittidae, Rallidae, Megapodiidae, Columbidae, Aegothelidae, and Meliphagidae. Furthermore, this study demonstrates how indigenous knowledge can be used to protect local birds by making a species a cultural symbol. These results emphasize the importance of building partnerships with indigenous communities and will hopefully encourage government programs to increase the role of local communities in biodiversity conservation. An ecotourism approach based on indigenous knowledge is the key to sustainable development as it combines ecological, economic, and cultural dimensions. Finally, the involvement of women in ecotourism may be especially important, based on the evidence that women play a significant role in conservation activities in our study communities.