Photo By Watchdoc & Pulau Pari Denizen’s
Behind the beauty of Pari Island, there is a hidden problem. People of Pari Island, Kepulauan Seribu Regency, Jakarta believe this. The people of Pari Island depend on their livelihoods through fishery and seaweed cultivation. However, due to the changing quality of the environment, due to waste and garbage from Jakarta Bay, Pari Island residents are looking for alternative sources of economy.
With the best quality mangroves and coral reefs in the Thousand Islands region, Pari Island has a very promising tourism economic potential. The residents independently managed the economic potential and popularized Pari Island as a tourist destination in Jakarta.
However, after the tourism economy, which was managed independently by the residents, developed, the residents faced a new threat: the Pari Island area was claimed by a private company planning to build a luxury resort. The residents refused. As a result, in November 2017, three residents were criminalized.
Industrial investors get priority because they can create jobs for residents. Even without the presence of investors, the residents have proven that independently they can manage the economic potential of Pari Island. Residents hope that employment issues can also be operated separately by themselves.