PRESERVING TIOMAN ISLAND’S BEAUTY WITH CINTAI TIOMAN
About the Island, Tioman Island
Tioman Island, situated off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, has a local population of just over 3,700 people. A majority of the local villagers are dependent on tourism as their main source of income.
There are many family-run and owned chalets, restaurants and small businesses on the island. Tioman is a well-known tourist destination, attracting tourists to its beautiful beaches, underwater wonders as well as untouched rainforests.
About Cintai Tioman
This long-term community-based programme is a first in Malaysia.
The project was started in 2014 to protect the coral reefs around Tioman and to improve the livelihoods of the local community.
The end goal is to ensure sustainable use of the island’s natural resources for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG)
TMCG was established in 2019 and consists of local islanders living on Tioman Island. Reef Check Malaysia, together with RMCG was then recognized by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) as a strategic partner of DOF to manage coral reef areas in the Pulau Tioman Marine Park area. This recognition is to guarantee joint efforts in the management of marine biodiversity conservation in marine parks.
Involving the Community in Marine Management
TMCG was established as RCM heard the islanders' pleas and consulted them on the marine management of the Tioman Marine Park - the islanders want to have a say in the management of their marine resources.
RCM then embarked on a journey to train TMCG members to obtain dive certification, EcoDiver certification from RCM, coral rehabilitation and maintenance efforts and other marine conservation work. Equipping local islanders with the right skills ensures the longevity and efficacy of marine conservation of their own island, Tioman Island.
TMCG members also receive supplementary income when they participate in conservation work led by RCM, incentivizing them and reinforcing that conservation work. can be an economic livelihood alternative as well.
To date, there are over 80 TMCG members trained, from all 7 villages across Tioman Island, who are ready to assist our Cintai Tioman team in their conservation work.
The First Group in our Community Marine Conservation group (CMCG)
TMCG is the first group established under our community marine conservation group (CMCG) programme. Its success now becomes the blueprint of other CMCGs that we replicate across all our project sites.
Coral Reef Rehabilitation on Tioman Island
Tioman Island boasts some of the best reefs in Malaysia and is a popular vacation spot both for locals and international tourists. The booming tourism in Tioman has both positively and adversely affect the island and its ecosystem.
Unsustainable tourism practices have led to the deterioration of some of its coral reefs. To ensure the marine biodiversity of Tioman Island remains intact, our team, and now with the help of TMCG, has been hard at work to rehabilitate coral reef sites in Tioman Island since 2014.
Green Fins Standards for Sustainable Diving and Snorkelling
Green Fins Members have the responsibility to "protect and conserve coral reefs by following environmental guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling industry".
In Malaysia, RCM runs Green Fins, in partnership with the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia (DMPM) on the Peninsular and Sabah Parks in Sabah. We actively promotes the Green Fins standards to local operators to ensure a sustainable tourism industry.
ASEAN Green Hotels Standards for Hotels
We are proud to lead the way in implementing the ASEAN Green Hotels standards for accommodations in Malaysia, inspiring others to join us in our mission to protect our planet and preserve it for future generations.
The ASEAN Green Hotels promotes sustainable tourism through environmentally friendly practices and energy conservation efforts by the hotels. In line with our end goal, we introduce and promote the Green Hotel standards and carry out assessments of the hotels based on the criteria listed in the Green Hotel Standard.
School Programmes on Marine Conservation
Our team conducts weekly school programmes at schools on Tioman Island to reach out to the younger generation and inspire them to get to know, love and care for the island they call home.
We encourage them to get curious about the various marine ecosystems and marine life, the threats that our marine world face and what we can do to help save our beautiful ocean.
More information and updates on this programme can be found on Cintai Tioman’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CintaiTioman/
