PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism (KWE) has received a 55-year business permit to build nature-based tourism infrastructure on Padar Island, part of Komodo National Park, in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.
The permit, granted under Minister of Forestry Decree No. SK.796/Menhut-II/2014 allows the company to develop facilities within a 274.13-hectare zone, or equivalent to 19.5% of the island’s total 1,400.36 hectares.
Hendrikus Rani Siga, also known as Hengki, Head of the Komodo National Park Authority (BTNK), confirmed the permit’s terms in Denpasar on Saturday (2 August 2025), stating:
“PT KWE has been granted permission to build tourism facilities in the utilisation zone of Padar Island spanning 274.13 hectares, with a management period of 55 years from 2014 to 2069.”
Despite the size of the permitted zone, Hengki clarified that development would only cover 15.75 hectares or 5.64% of that area.
“The developed area accounts for only 5.64% of the permitted area,” he said.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project is ongoing. A public consultation was held at GMCC Golo Mori on 23 July 2025, where a team of experts from IPB presented the preliminary findings.
The proposed facilities include 619 units such as villas, restaurants, gyms, spas, water sports and research centres, with 448 of these being villas.
KWE has yet to commence construction. According to Krisdianto, Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry,
“Regarding the plan (construction of villas and spas), it is currently still in the public consultation stage for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) document in accordance with the standards of the World Heritage Centre (WHC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).”
He added, “The Indonesian government will not approve any construction before the EIA document is approved by the WHC and IUCN, as part of its commitment to protecting the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the world heritage site.”
Criticism Mounts Over Potential Impact on Komodo National Park
@suaradotcom Viral di X Pulau Padar bakal dibangun resort meliputi 619 villa, gym, hingga spa padahal kawasan ini bagian dari area yang dilindungi yaitu Taman Nasional Komodo. Pulau Padar juga jadi pulau terbesar ketiga setelah Pulau Komodo dan Pulau Rinca, bahkan kawasan ini sudah jadi Warisan Dunia UNESCO sejak 1991 silam. Meski Pulau Padar tidak dihuni hewan purba Komodo karena rantai makanan terputus, namun banyak yang menilai pembangunan resort ini bisa merusak ekosistem lingkungan di sekitar. Tak main-main, PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism (KWE) juga sudah mengantongi izin mengelola dan memanfaatkan kawasan tersebut selama 55 tahun ke depan sejak 2024. Rencana pembangunan tersebut terungkap dalam dokumen analisis mengenai dampak lingkungan hidup (Amdal) atau Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) bertajuk ‘Pembangunan Sarana Wisata Alam PT KWE di Pulau Padar’. Gimana menurut Sobat MinSu? #PulauPadar #WarisanDuniaUNESCO #Komodo #LabuanBajo #VillaPulauPadar ♬ suara asli – Suaradotcom
The announcement of the project sparked concern among conservation advocates and members of the local government, particularly due to Padar Island’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its popularity with domestic and international visitors.
Hasanudin, a member of the West Manggarai Regional Parliament, urged caution and a comprehensive review of the development plan.
“This project must be reviewed. Padar Island is a conservation area, home to the Komodo dragon. The animals’ activities will definitely be disrupted. There should be no large-scale development in areas within the national park zone,” he stated during an interview in Labuan Bajo on Wednesday (6 August 2025), as quoted by Kompas.com.
Hasanudin also raised concerns about the risk of environmental pollution, particularly from waste generated by the proposed villas.
“The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for this project must be clarified. Domestic waste from the villas must not be dumped into the sea. This would pollute the waters of Padar Island, which has long been a source of livelihood for the community and a centre of underwater beauty,” he warned.
He further referenced earlier warnings from international conservation bodies.
“Since 2021, UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have issued warnings to halt projects that threaten the world heritage value of the TNK area,” he said.
As reported by CNN Indonesia, the Ministry of Forestry denied reports circulating on social media that PT KWE had been granted a 426-hectare development permit, clarifying that the actual area remains at 274.13 hectares.
The ministry reiterated that it had conducted a scientific and participatory assessment process, including the recent public consultation in Labuan Bajo.
