Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – In response to widespread reports regarding the planned construction of tourism facilities by PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism (PT. KWE) on Padar Island, Komodo National Park, the Ministry of Forestry has issued an official clarification.
The Ministry emphasized that the utilization of natural tourism is a mandate of Law No. 5 of 1990 in conjunction with Law No. 32 of 2024, and such activities are permissible within the designated Utilization Zone.
This clarification was issued following increasing public concern and media coverage over the proposed construction of 448 villas on Padar Island, which some claim displaces local communities, causes social injustice, and threatens the Komodo ecosystem.
According to the Ministry, PT. KWE has held a nature tourism business permit since 2014, granted under Ministerial Decree No. SK.796/Menhut-II/2014. The location of the permit lies entirely within the utilization zone of Padar Island. As of now, no physical construction of tourism infrastructure has taken place.
The Ministry explained that the development area is limited to approximately 15.3 hectares, or 5.64% of the total 274.1 hectares covered by the business permit on Padar Island—not 426 hectares as reported in some media. The construction is planned in five phases and divided into seven site blocks.
Currently, the project is still in the public consultation phase for its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document, following standards set by the World Heritage Centre (WHC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The Indonesian government will not authorize any construction before the EIA document is reviewed and approved by WHC and IUCN, in line with the commitment to protect the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of this World Heritage Site.
The impact assessment has been conducted using a scientific and participatory approach. The EIA was prepared by a multidisciplinary team of experts and has undergone open consultation with stakeholders, including local governments, community leaders, NGOs, business operators, and academics during a public forum in Labuan Bajo on July 23, 2025.
The government affirms that no development will be allowed if it poses any threat to the conservation of Komodo dragons or their habitat. Evaluations of OUV—covering ecological, landscape, and socio-cultural aspects—serve as the primary basis for the entire assessment process.
The government remains fully committed to adhering to UNESCO’s recommendations. The EIA document responds to the mandate from the 2022 Komodo National Park Reactive Monitoring Mission, as well as official decisions from the 46th WHC Session (Riyadh, 2023) and the 47th WHC Session (Paris, 2025). Construction can only proceed if all EIA recommendations are fulfilled and there is no risk to the site’s World Heritage integrity.
The Ministry appreciates public concern for the sustainability and conservation of Komodo dragons and Padar Island. It urges all parties to await the outcome of the ongoing international assessment process and to refrain from spreading inaccurate or misleading information. (*)
