West Manggarai Regency


West Manggarai Regency is one of the eight regencies which divide the island of Flores, located in the province of East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia. It covers a land area of 2,947.46 sq,km, and had a population of 221,703 at the 2010 Census, rising to 251,689 at the 2015 Intermediate Census.; the latest official estimate is 256,491. The regency's capital is the town of Labuan Bajo.

Geography

The regency includes the western portion of Flores island and several small islands mainly lying to the west of it, including the two largest islands, Komodo and Rinca as well as others such as Seraya Besar, Seraya Kecil, Bidadari and Longgos. The total area of West Manggarai Regency is, with a land area of and a sea area of. The population as at the 2015 Census was 251,689 inhabitants, but the latest official estimate is 256,491.

Administration

West Manggarai Regency is divided into twelve districts, tabulated below with their areas and their 2010 and 2015 Census populations.
NameArea in
sq.km
Population
Census 2010
Population
Census 2015
Komodo763.2941,25848,812
Boleng456.5116,56718,834
Sanonggoang555.1825,11314,441
Mbeliling--13,058
Lembor395.5149,73232,753
Lembor Selatan
--23,538
Welak299.4819,10021,533
Kuwus208.4440,36524,788
Ndoso--19,579
Macang Pacar269.0529,56834,353

Notes: The area and 2010 Census population quoted for Sanonggoang district includes the figures for the new Mbeliling district, cut out of it between 2010 and 2015. Similarly, the area and 2010 Census population quoted for Lembor district includes the figures for the new Lembor Selatan district, cut out of it in the same period; and the area and 2010 Census population quoted for Kuwus district includes the figures for the new Ndoso district, cut out of it in the same period. Two further districts have subsequently been created - Kuwus Barat and Pacar.

Development issues

Rural development
The West Manggarai Regency, along with other nearby regencies on Flores, has a long and hot dry season. Programs of tree-planting have been initiated in recent years which are helping improve the local environment. These activities include efforts to promote continued attention to the cultivation of sugar palms.
Education
Education facilities in the region are limited, especially in the outlying areas. Some non-government organisations help, for example, with the provision of books for children to isolated villages.
Tourism
Various local community groups in different parts of the regency work to promote the local tourist industry through, for example, the development of local dance troupes and foods from local areas. In Liang Ndara village, which has been designated as a tourist site, there are programs to teach English in the local community to support the tourist industry,
Mount Mbeliling, one of the highest peaks in the regency is a well-known destination for climbers and tourists to the regency. The area around Mt Mbeliling, which is rich in bird life, attracts bird-watching groups

Sano Nggoang

Sano Nggoang is 513 hectares of volcanic crater lake with depth of around 600 meters, the deepest lake of its kind in the world.

Shark and manta ray sanctuary

In late August 2013, the local authority designated that all regency's marine and coastal water up to 12 nautical miles offshore occupied 7,000 square kilometer area as a shark and manta ray sanctuary.