Coral Reef Status and Suitability for Ecotourism Potential in Rural Ecosystem of Taka Bonerate

Abstract

This study assessed the condition and suitability of the Taka Bonerate coral reef ecosystem, which is located at the center of world marine biodiversity. Condition and suitability assessment could provide supports on multitude of interests’ management and coastal communities dependent on coral reefs resources on these small islands. In this study we assessed the condition of two islands and one patch reef with ecological analysis (coral cover and biodiversity index) and suitability for tourism. In addition, this study provides a tourism suitability map using spatial analysis to estimate area of coral reefs. The results of the analysis show that coral conditions are classified as moderate to good (57% ± 4,4) with some damage, but diversity still covers around 50% of the total coral genera in Indonesia and coral fish diversity is classified as high (H' >3). The results of the spatial analysis estimated that the area in this study has 5,992,251 m² of coral reef area for snorkeling and 4,383,887 m² for diving, categorized as suitable and very suitable.

Keywords : Coral reef, Reef fish, Diversity, Marine, Tourism suitability