The role of stakeholders in marine conservation areas in Wakatobi National Park, Indonesia

Wakatobi National Park (WNP) is a marine conservation area, the management of the area being based on zonation system, consisting of core zone, marine protection zone, tourism zone, local utilization zone, general utilization zone and special zone/land. Stakeholders are those that influence or are influenced by decisions or actions. This study aims to determine the role of stakeholders in the management of marine conservation in WNP. This research was conducted in WNP Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, between October to December 2016. Data collection method used in this research is semi-structured interviews from informants, direct observation in the field and literature study. The analysis was conducted descriptively through three stages including stakeholder identification, role-based classification of stakeholders, and understanding of stakeholder relationships. The results of identifying stakeholders involved in the management of the conservation area of WNP are 16 stakeholders. The stakeholders are divided into several groups: the government consists of central government and local government, private groups, local communities, and academics. Stakeholder roles and interests are divided into 4 (four quadrants), as subjects, key players, crowd, and context setters. The role of stakeholders within the WNP area can provide important information in the management of conservation areas.