DETERMINATION OF MARINE ECOTOURISM ZONES ON PISANG ISLAND – PESISIR BARAT, INDONESIA USING MARXAN ZONING

Abstract

Pisang Island on Pesisir Barat has great potential to be developed as a marine ecotourism destination, particularly due to its coral reef ecosystem, seagrass beds, and beautiful, picturesque beaches. However, when developing this tourism, it is important to consider the balance between ecosystem protection and the economic needs of coastal communities, so that the ecosystem remains sustainable. This study aims to determine sustainable marine ecotourism zones using Marxan. We integrated ecological variables— bathymetry, brightness, current velocity, coral reefs and seagrass cover beds—with social layers: jetties, boat sailing lanes, traditional fishing areas, and surfing spots. The integrated ecological data includes bathymetric maps from BATNAS, water brightness indices from Sentinel-2A image processing, surface current velocities from Copernicus Marine Service, and maps of coral reefs and seagrass bed distribution from Allen Coral Atlas. Socio-economic data was obtained by identifying jetties locations, boat sailing lanes, traditional fishing areas, and established tourist sites around Pisang Island. Three habitat protection targets (30%, 40%, 50%) were tested through Marxan Zoning on hexagonal planning units. The model results are displayed using the summed-solution frequency approach to see how often a unit is selected. After that, the zones are divided into four categories: core zone, buffer zone, marine ecotourism zone, and other zone. The results of the study indicate that Scenario A, with a protection target of 30%, is the most optimal choice, with an allocation of 120,670 ha (5.30%) for the ecotourism zone and 26,199 ha (1.15%) for the core zone. Scenario A is the most balanced approach in supporting marine ecosystem conservation and coastal community empowerment through tourism activities. This approach is considered the most balanced as it preserves marine ecosystems while providing space for tourism that supports local community economic benefits. These findings highlight the important role of Marxan as a data-driven spatial planning tool to support sustainable marine ecotourism management policies in Pisang Island.