Orangutan Ecotourism on Sumatra Island: Current Conditions and a Call for Further Development

Agus Purwoko (), Wanda Kuswanda, Rospita Odorlina Pilianna Situmorang, Freddy Jontara Hutapea, Muhammad Hadi Saputra and Parlin Hotmartua Putra Pasaribu
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Agus Purwoko: Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Tri Darma Ujung 1 Padang Bulan, Medan 20155, Indonesia
Wanda Kuswanda: Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung B.J. Habibie, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
Rospita Odorlina Pilianna Situmorang: Research Center for Population, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gd. Widya Graha Lt. X, Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto No. 10, Jakarta 12710, Indonesia
Freddy Jontara Hutapea: Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung B.J. Habibie, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
Muhammad Hadi Saputra: Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung B.J. Habibie, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia
Parlin Hotmartua Putra Pasaribu: Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Gedung B.J. Habibie, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8, Jakarta 10340, Indonesia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: This paper aimed to provide a narrative review of the current conditions of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island, problems in the current management systems, and some recommendations for further development. Orangutan conservation centers have been developed on Sumatra Island since 1973. The Bukit Lawang Conservation Station is one of the orangutan conservation centers that have practiced ecotourism to overcome ecological and socio-economic issues. Even though the Bukit Lawang Conservation Station has operated for decades, this station has faced several issues, in particular a monetary crisis in 1997, a flash flood in 2003, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified that orangutan conservation centers on Sumatra Island have the potential to support orangutan ecotourism. These conservation centers have ecological support, available facilities, and rich local wisdom that can provide added value for orangutan ecotourism. Therefore, we propose that the development of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island should accommodate surrounding communities through community-based wildlife ecotourism. We also recommend the following strategies to develop orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island: (1) mapping the location and distribution of wild orangutans in their natural habitats; (2) managing captive and semi-captive orangutans in conservation centers; (3) provision of tour packages; (4) community empowerment; (5) institutional strengthening of community-based ecotourism management (CBEM); (6) developing ecotourism through a benefit-sharing model; (7) anticipating and minimizing the negative impacts of ecotourism on orangutans; and (8) integrating orangutan tourism with local wisdom.

Keywords: Batang Toru; Bukit Lawang; community; national parks; tourism; wildlife (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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