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The
Rinjani Trek is managed by a unique partnership of National Park, tourism
industry and the local community. Activities focus in the Community - run
cooperatives at Rinjani Trek Centre ( RTC ) in Senaru and the Rinjani
Information Centre ( RIC ) in Sembalun Lawang. Under the guidance of the
Rinjani Trek Management Board ( RTMB ), each are run by a stakeholders'
committee who look after roster systems for guides and porters, village tours,
trek trail maintenance, and handicraft sales. Revenue from tourism activities
and entry fees is used for conservation, training and management of the Rinjani
Trek, thus ensuring sustainability.
Conceptually,
the project started with three stakeholder circles labeled "Park Management",
"Community Development" and "Tourism". Whit Project assistance, the Park set
out to engage with the stakeholder groups in each of the circles, independently
at first and then, as the groups got used to deal with each other, increasingly
together. This approach recognized that it takes time for the multi-skilled
"cross-over" people that ecotourism requires (people who can operate in between
the circles) to emerge.
Invitation for donor agency, why you should invest?
Ø In
2004, the Rinjani Trek achieved international recognition when it won the World
Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship.
Ø Also
in 2004, the Rinjani Trek received an Award for innovative
Tourism from the Minister of Tourism & Culture.
Ø In 2005, Rinjani Trek selected as a finalist in the British Airways, Tourism for Tomorrow Award from WTTC for Destination Award.
Ø In
2008, again Rinjani Trek selected as a finalist for the same category, Destination Award in the British Airways,
Tourism for Tomorrow Award from WTTC.
Ø Assisting
to develop effective partnerships in ecotourism and resource management.
Ø Contributing
to poverty alleviation and the economy of North Lombok.
Fact
v The
Gunung Rinjani National Park covers an area of 41,330 ha on the northern part
of Lombok. It is the second highest volcanic peak outside of West Papua; the
peak of Gunung RInjani (3,726m) dominates the landscape.
v It
is surrounded by a further 66,000 ha of Protected Forest and covers the three
administrative district of West, East and Central Lombok. The park ecosystem is
the transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Walaceae zone). Average
rainfall is about 3,000 mm annually.
v Gunung
Rinjani is rich with a variety of flora, fauna and vegetation. On the south
western side of the mountain is the most eastern extent of primary rainforest
and drier climate in the east, and savannah in the north east. Notable flora
includes the everlasting edelweiss flower (Anaphalis viscid), tiger orchid
(vanda sp.), alang - alang grass (Imperata cylindrical), cemara trees
(Casuarina trifolia and Casuarina ocidentale)
v For
the people of Lombok, Sasak and Balinese alike, the volcano is referred as a
sacred place and adobe of deities. Its crater-lake is the offerings in the
water and bathes away ailments in the hot springs.
The RTMB
The RTMB (Rinjani Trek Management
Board) was established after three years consultation with the member of the
Gunung Rinjani stakeholders. It is a consultation and coordination forum for
ecotourism management in Gunung Rinjani based on participatory principle and
integration between government, community and the tourism industry. Under the
authority of the Governor of Nusa Tenggara Barat, it embodies the unique
partnership of the National Park, tourism industry, non-government
organizations, and local communities that have been forged to sustainable
manage and protect the Rinjani mountain environment.
The Vision
Establishing credible partnership
in increasing trekking activity based on ecotourism principles in Mount Rinjani
in order to improve local economy and self-esteem.
The Mission
- To
develop an accountable, transparent, effective and efficient Rinjani Trek
Management Board that publicly legitimate as National Park partner
- To
establish Rinjani's Trekking as an ecotourism icon in West Nusa Tenggara
and a world class climbing destination, which is community based and
environmentally sound
- To
develop Rinjani's image through culture value implementation and local
wisdom
The Objectives
- Improving
Park management through training, management techniques, and improved
infrastructure;
- Fostering
community development on Park boundaries, bringing about benefits to rural
women and men, in recognition of the link between national conservation
and local development goals; and
- Development
responsible and sustainable Park tourism by encouraging ecotourism based
on trekking and Sasak culture
Achievement
- Training
49 trek guides and 140 porters from village communities;
- Issuing
49 guide licenses and 140 National Park Warrants to engage locals with the
wider Indonesia tourism industry and improve security;
- Establishing
a cooperative as a licensed Indonesia travel agency with 15 local trek
organizers, thus regularizing community-based trek operations;
- Introducing
a range of eight guided village tour products and one round Rinjani drive
to involve more local people in tourism benefits;
- Arranging
training for seven small business groups to stimulate local people to
produce food, handicrafts, screen printed tee-shirts and weaving;
- Providing
credit to about 80 small traders, mostly women;
- Establishing
the Rinjani Trek Centre in Senaru and Rinjani Information Centre in
Sembalun Lawang as the basis for trek organization on each side of the
mountain, each operating as a community-based cooperative.
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