PENGEMBANGAN KAWASAN EKOWISATA MANGROVE PULAU LUSI SIDOARJO

Abstract

Lusi Island which ‘Lusi' is derived from ‘Lumpur Sidoarjo’ is a man-made island from waste mud materials that were gathered & settled in one location. Those materials came from the burst of hot mud that is well-known as Lumpur Lapindo disaster. Lumpur Lapindo disaster was started on 29th May in 2006 and located in Renokenongo Village, Porong, Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia. The disaster brought some bad effects, such as: causing the sinking of settlement, agricultural, and industrial area in three districts, decreasing the economic value in Sidoarjo, and destroying infrastructure assets. There were two methods that were held by Lumpur Lapindo National Committee to resolve the evaporation of hot muds. The first method was the construction of embankment around disaster area. Then the second was the disposal of hot muds through drainage to Porong River. Those methods went well until there was the occurrence of siltation in Porong River which led protests from local fishermen. Therefore, Lumpur Lapindo National Committee did a new method which dredged mud materials from the river then collected those in one location. It was the origin of Lusi Island. Furthermore, Lusi Island is not a common island. There are many great potentials such as: the high variety of mangrove & birds, and the beauty of its natural scenery, especially the sunrise. Beside those potentials, some researchers made Lusi Island as the research location of silvofishery system. The existing of silvofishery increases its potential to be research and learning area. Indonesian Ministry of Marine and Fisheries which is named as KKP (Kementrian Kelautan & Perikanan) didn't remain silent. KKP included Lusi Island to their future plans that will develop Lusi Island as tourism area. The tourism area is based on natural potentials by using those as research and learning area as well. According to ministry's plan, then came an idea to develop Lusi Island as mangrove tourism area. Lusi Island will be divided into three main zones: beneficiaries (tourism) zone, buffer zone, and main (conservation) zone. For this project, writer decided to concernedly develop only in tourism zone. The development will include some tourism facilities and represent ecotourism concept.