For this year’s FairFrontiers Annual meeting, we had the opportunity to visit one of the famous ecotourism destinations in Maros before we start our intensive meeting in Hasanuddin University educational forest. Rammang Rammang is known as the second biggest karst area in the world. It’s located within the Maros Pangkep UNESCO Global Geopark with a beautiful natural landscape in the form of cluster of karst mountain. The geopark area is predominantly inhabited by the Bugis and Makassarese ethnic groups. Their way of life is deeply influenced by ancestral customs, encompassing moral and social values towards both fellow humans and the natural environment. During this visit, we discussed with local community representatives and listened to their inspiring story behind the geopark establishment.
Perspectives towards karst
We listened to the story from one of the key people behind the community movement, Muhammad Ikhwan (also known as Iwan Dento). He first started by saying that the local community and local government have a different view of the Karst. Governments and investors see karst mountains for marble and cement mining. However, local people seen it differently. For Iwan, this karst formation is their space for living and their identity. This place is also their ancestral heritage that they must protect at any cost. Their relation to the place is deeper, beyond its material benefits.
Iwan’s introduction to the story, and how he perceived the karst area reminded me of the research that FairFrontiers team is currently working on, “nature’s contributions to the non-material wellbeing. Somehow, I felt Iwan’s emotions towards nature and his “Home.” He really got my attention.
A Fighting to defend home
Their fight to defend their home started from 2008, when 3 foreign companies already obtained the permits to mine the karst. The local community stood firm in their opposition. Finally, the mining permit was revoked in 2013. Their resistance went beyond simple rejection—they proposed an alternative solution: ecotourism. This sustainable approach, they believe, could safeguard their environment and livelihoods without destroying the landscape. Iwan said “The choice of Rammang Rammang as a tourist area may not be the best choice, but it is much better than mining. This is when viewed from the perspective of protecting the area.”
But then, the fighting for their home is not over yet. The government then designated the Rammang Rammang as a protected area, so that all people living in it must leave the area. Iwan knows that to defend his home, he must fight not with anger, but with knowledge. He has turned to legal frameworks, studying national laws and policies to protect the land. Utilizing two key government programs—social forestry, which grants communities access to protected forests, and agrarian reform, which offers land ownership certificates—Iwan is empowering his community to reclaim their rights and secure a future rooted in sustainability. They also proposed Rammang Rammang to be designated as a UNESCO global geoparks. The advantage of this designation is that it is not only about protecting nature, but also society and culture.
Rammang Rammang today
All the fighting and hard work is paid off. Today, this once-threatened area has transformed into a world-renowned ecotourism destination, a source of pride for the government and locals alike. Visitors from across the globe now want to come here to experience the breathtaking karst landscape. The place is now generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue annually, according to Iwan’s calculations.
What’s interesting about the Rammang Rammang community is that despite the financial benefits from tourism, they continue to practice their agricultural roots. For them, farming is not just a means of survival, it’s also an ancestral heritage that they are determined to preserve. As we wandered through the area, we passed vibrant rice fields, caves, and fishponds, all nestled against towering karst mountains. The scene was marvelous, evoking a sense of timelessness. It reminded me of the sweeping landscapes in classic films like Jurassic Park, with the iconic soundtrack playing in my head as I soaked in the beauty of the moment.
However, I still wonder—will this success story be permanent? The fight isn’t over yet. For instance, the local government is now trying to take over the business through tourism agencies. Although the strategies of utilizing social forestry and agrarian reform are effective for now, future challenges are inevitable. Government regulations are evolving, and the social forestry mechanism is not permanent. The community will need to renew their rights after a certain period. Moreover, as policies shift toward entrepreneurship, there’s growing pressure for the community to make their land “productive” in ways that align with these changing priorities.
Reflection
This trip to Rammang Rammang was not only fun but also deeply inspiring. I enjoyed the landscape, and it was beautiful. But after learning about the story behind this place? It doubled my appreciation. I wasn’t just admiring the landscape—I felt a sense of relief and joy for the people who call this place home. When I see the farmers harvesting their paddy, I realized that it’s not only the aesthetics of the field that amazed me. These fields are a living connection to their ancestors, and every grain of rice holds the weight of their pride and struggle.
Unfortunately, the story of Rammang Rammang is only one of the few success stories where local people have triumphed in their fight against exploitation. In many other FairFrontiers research sites, communities are still struggling, often becoming scapegoats in the name of development. This realization has been a wake-up call for me. It’s time for me to contribute through research activities that I hope can truly benefit the communities we are studying. Even though my contribution might not directly affect the community, I am glad to be part of this work. That’s the least I can do, and I hope it will make a difference in the long run.
Written by Azwar Azmillah Sujaswara