Hi my name is Sofia Tedestam, originally from Sweden but permanently living in Indonesia. I am a professional diver and dive operations manager since 2009. After two years of voluntary work in marine conservation project management, I arrived in Labuan Bajo in 2015 to seek employment as a recreational scuba instructor.

This town is the gateway to Komodo National Park, which is highly regarded among experienced divers for its strong currents, healthy reefs and diverse marine life. However, upon landing a job I soon came to realize I could no longer enjoy and economically support myself from this area, whilst seeing the growing threats and degradation to what I was teaching others to love. So when I unexpectedly was offered the chance to start a branch of an international NGO focusing on activating the community to reduce the solid waste problem, I jumped on the opportunity.

Over five years I built up a team which did large-scale weekly cleanups, education, awareness and implementing sustainable solutions to the area. Our team had a huge success and our chapter became a role model for other national branches. The hay day of our project came to an end during Covid when much of the team moved on to new areas and ventures, and for a few years my focus was on building a family and home here on Flores.

The urge to do something ‘to give back’ never ceased for me, and in fact this feeling kept growing. Through my work as a Dive Operations Manager, I was able to run and get involved in many conservation ventures. The idea of creating a long-term conservation project had been brewing for some time when I met Abi from Sulawesi through overlapping communal and environmental activities. He has a high energy, positivism and a strong background in conservation NGO management. He had recently finished a conservation project in the area of Golomori and was looking for what to do next.

We were joined by several of our friends that share a passion for protecting the marine world and the name Konservasi Tacik Indonesia was chosen. The Meaning of “Tacik” in the local language is "The Sea." For the people living in the coastal villages here, Tacik is their identity, history and livelihood.

The Tacik team members are professional scuba divers, dive managers and fishermen, providing us with the specialized skills and practical knowledge essential for supporting underwater conservation activities. Some of us are from Golomori, giving us strong ties with the local community and authorities. Most of us have experience managing community and conservation projects in West Manggarai, we therefore have a good understanding of the situation on the ground, diverse insights and proven strategies for effective grass root conservation.

This strong local foundation enhances our ability to collaborate and build trust within the region.

Project Location

The coast of Golomori with its rolling green hills, multi colored beaches and rich mangroves is a breathtaking and humbling sight. Colorful corals are hidden under rapid currents, caused by tidal water squeezing through the narrow channel that separates Golomori from the famous Komodo National Park archipelago.

Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World heritage site since 1980, is attracting visitors from all over the world to experience the Komodo dragon in its unique habitat, and to snorkel and scuba dive in its exciting marine interior.

It lies in the heart of the Coral Triangle; an area which has the highest marine biodiversity in the world with over 1000 species of fish, 260 species of reef building corals and many endangered marine mega fauna animals such as mantas, sharks, dolphins, dugongs and turtles.

The Challenge

Until recently the Golomori area was hard to access, but a new road is now connecting it to the tourism town Labuan Bajo and its new international airport. It has been recognized by authorities that Komodo National Park is about to reach its maximal capacity limit (Labuan Bajo Impact Assessment 2018), and for this reason destinations outside the park are explored and developed.

The Central government has declared the areas to become a “Super Premium Destination”, with a new tourism center in Golomori. As a consequence investors are starting to develop the area with large resorts, and a fishing depot is underway in a nearby village. it is important to include the local community in this process and to raise awareness and skills on how to further develop this area with a strong focus on sustainability.

The Solution

Our vision is of a conservation-conscious community protecting marine ecosystems and supporting sustainable livelihoods in West Manggarai. Our initial focus is the coastal communities of Lenteng in Golomori, two interconnected neighboring villages with a total of 156 families. We believe that when local people are empowered, they become the most effective guardians of the sea. Our goal supports UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #14 “Life Below Water” and has two main sections;

1. Community Empowerment

We will build a diverse and empowered group of locals who can champion sustainable practices and inspire lasting change within their communities. Our regular community events include :

Our approach to this initiative is deliberately holistic and inclusive. We are committed to ensuring that those who are often under-represented, such as women and young people, are actively encouraged and supported to participate in the programs.

2. Real Conservation

We will do real conservation work that has a positive impact on the four habitats; coral, mangrove, sea grass and human settlement.

The internationally recognized Reef Check method will be used to monitor the health of coral reefs in the region.

By trialing different coral-growing methods, we will find the most effective way to restore coral reefs in our area. Mangrove and sea grass rehabilitation are on the cards for the future of the program too.

The findings and data collected in the conservation program will allow us to support local authorities and communities in developing evidence-based best practices and policy making, whilst simultaneously finding sustainable solutions that can lead to the much needed change.

Call to Action

Our program duration is 5 years and we are now in the process of becoming a Legal Foundation (Local Yayasan). We have the spirit, knowledge and contact network to make this project successful. However we started with zero budget and need assistance from those that are in position to aid. The first year will be the crucial time to get us off the ground. Even a small donation goes a long way in Indonesia.

The total budget for year one investments and running costs can be seen in the attached photo. If you cannot donate, please share our story to help us reach those who can.

Terima Kasih!