Twenty-six years ago, Christopher E. Brown came to Pemuteran village, Buleleng, Bali, to dive and start a tourism business.
By
HENDRIYO WIDI, DIDIT PUTRA ERLANGGA
·5 minutes read
Twenty-six years ago, Christopher E. Brown came to Pemuteran village in Gerokgak district, Buleleng, Bali, to dive and start a tourism business. But he underestimated the environmental problems he was about to face, which led him to start a new life in Buleleng.
In 1991, when Brown arrived for the first time, Pemuteran village already had the potential to become a diving spot for tourists. However, the area’s coral reefs were severely damaged as the local people regularly harvested coral for construction materials. The damage was also caused by fishermen who used explosives to catch fish.
The damage was part of the hardships that affected Pemuteran village residents. To turn corals into limestone, residents needed to cook them using firewood, which they took from the forest.
Soon, the forest was depleting, and the coral reefs almost destroyed. Only disaster and drought would follow. Poverty and environment degradation ultimately led Pemuteran residents to hunger.
Aside from diving, Brown would stroll along the beach in Pemuteran village on Bali’s north coast. Several times he would see turtles being placed in cages to be sold.
He left his job as a computer expert, problem solver and public communicator and strategic planner at a company in Australia.
“The mountains and sea have been damaged. [The villagers] become poor and hungry. They needed no restrictions, but awareness to improve and build a home for the surrounding and themselves,” Brown said.
Then, Brown started to talk with the local people. He left his job as a computer expert, problem solver and public communicator and strategic planner at a company in Australia. Using his expertise and basic Indonesian language, Brown responded to his personal call to bring back the balance between nature and the villagers of Pemuteran.
The key to solving poverty and starvation is to feed people and free them from poverty while preserving the environment.
The process was not easy, and it took time, from 1991 to 1996. He touched the very basic problem in the village, namely poverty and starvation. With patience, Brown continued to remind the people that land and sea destruction would also mean the loss of food sources.
The villagers needed to fix the damages independently to replenish their food sources. Once the food sources were back, the people could live sustainably.
Turtle project
In addition to making impromptu visits, Brown also established Reef Seen to conserve coral reefs and breed turtles. Brown was aware that if he reminded people about the environment without providing any economic yield, his efforts would fail.
They lay around 60-150 eggs in one season. Those eggs were moved to the breeding center until they hatch.
Using his own money and a donation of US$4,000 from a New York-based company, he started the turtle project. He said the turtle project did not aim to make profit. The project was made to help save and protect turtles and turtle eggs, while at the same time provide income for the local people. He bought turtles or turtle eggs found by local people at above the market price.
At the same time, Brown gradually taught the villagers about the importance of turtle conservation. Female turtles can return to Pemuteran four times in one season to lay eggs. They lay around 60-150 eggs in one season. Those eggs were moved to the breeding center until they hatch. After they turn 2-3 months old, those little turtles are released into the sea.
“The villagers are aware they can get more money from selling eggs and ensuring the female turtles go back to the sea than catching turtles, selling or killing them,” he said.
Cultural approach
A cultural approach and dialogs with community leaders were made. Awig-awig (customary rule) is the key to natural conservation. It is closely related to the Tri Hita Karana (traditional Balinese philosophy) teaching, namely preserving the harmony between humans and Hyang Widi Wasa/Parahyangan (God), Pawongan (other humans) and Palemahan (the environment).
It resulted in the awig-awig of Pakraman Pemuteran village. The rule bans people from harvesting corals using explosives or poison in fishing and catching ornamental fish to sell. Those who violate the rule will be punished, starting from educational punishments and fines, to being exiled from the customary village.
He built an underwater park comprising 33 statues and several temple-like structures as a diving attraction.
Brown also made efforts to conserve the area’s coral reefs through the Reef Gardeners program. The program started by clearing the area of crown-of-thorns starfish that damaged the coral reefs. The starfish cause more destruction to the corals than coral reef bleaching.
Brown tried to beautify the corals of Pemuteran while transplanting coral reefs. In addition, he built an underwater park comprising 33 statues and several temple-like structures as a diving attraction. All those efforts resulted in the economic independence of the local people, who were able to open kiosks, restaurant and tourism services (as guides, diving instructors and dancers for gathering).
Although Brown is a foreigner, his activities have drawn the appreciation of the public. Today, local people call him Pak Nyoman, a symbol that he is part of the Pemuteran family.
Brown has fallen in love with the village and cannot be separated from it. “I wish to die here,” he said smiling.
CHRISTOPHER E BROWN
Born: Sydney, Australia, 20 July, 1959
Nationality: Australian (with Kitap)
Job: Owner and director of Reef Seen Diver’s Resort Pemuteran, Bali
Awards: Beach and Turtle Conservation Award (1995) from Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka; Recognition for Businesses that Link Communities to Sustainable Marine Tourism Initiatives. (2016)