Maulita Sari Hani: Protecting Marine Ecosystems, Empowering Coastal Communities

For more than two decades, Maulita Sari Hani has worked at the intersection of tourism, conservation and community development. Driven by the belief that protecting nature should also improve people’s livelihoods, she has dedicated her career to helping coastal communities develop sustainable tourism that protects marine ecosystems while creating economic opportunities.

Known professionally as Lita Hutapea, she began her career in tourism in 2000, working on community-based cultural tourism through traditional dance and music performances. She later joined a Norwegian company as an ecotourism officer, managing sustainable tourism initiatives in several parts of Indonesia, including Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Riau and Jambi.

‘Since I already had experience working with terrestrial and forest ecosystems, I wanted to broaden my knowledge by exploring Indonesia’s vast marine environment,’ she said.

That motivation led her to undertake a Masters of Tourism at James Cook University (JCU) through the Australian Development Scholarship in 2006, specialising in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism.

A Foundation for Marine Conservation

Studying in Australia transformed the way Lita approached both research and development.

‘The education system in Australia pushed me to think critically, a skill that continues to benefit me to this day,’ she said.

Determined to make the most of every opportunity, Lita also attended short courses at The University of Queensland during semester breaks, exposing herself to different academic perspectives and expanding her professional network.

James Cook University’s internationally recognised expertise in marine science also gave her the opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef.

‘Having the chance to visit the islands, dive and study the Great Barrier Reef firsthand helped me understand how the Australian Government manages marine protected areas, and how local communities can participate in conservation while also developing tourism activities,’ she shared.

The experience would later become the foundation of her career in marine conservation and community-based tourism.

Research with Community Impact

A defining moment came in 2007 when officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries visited Australia. Through that visit, Lita connected with representatives from the Raja Ampat Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, who encouraged her to conduct research in Arborek Village.

‘Back then, there was no tourism activity at all in Arborek, so I collaborated with the local government,’ she recalled.

Living alongside residents for several months, Lita worked closely with the community to identify the island's tourism potential while assessing environmental conditions, infrastructure and governance. The residents actively participated in discussions on how tourism could be developed without compromising their cultural and natural environment.

Her fieldwork included extensive diving and direct observation of manta rays, with sightings recorded manually before advanced digital monitoring technology became widely available. The research formed part of her minor thesis and later became baseline information for tourism planning by the Raja Ampat Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office.

Turning Knowledge into Development Outcomes

Lita described studying in Australia as the turning point that opened doors throughout her career.

‘Studying in Australia gave me the opportunity to engage in discussions with many people, and over time, the accumulation of those experiences led international organisations to take notice of my work,’ Lita said.

Her research experience in Raja Ampat led to her appointment as Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Atlas Pearls, an Australian company, where she spent eight years overseeing community development programs across eastern Indonesia.

She introduced marine conservation education programmes and developed pearl farm tourism experiences that enabled local women to share stories about pearl cultivation, local culture and marine conservation with visitors.

In 2016, Lita began a PhD in Fisheries Science at Universitas Hasanuddin while simultaneously working as a consultant for organisations including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Across projects in Wakatobi, Morotai, Lombok and other parts of eastern Indonesia, she consistently applied an evidence-based approach to community development.

She credits her Australian education with strengthening her ability to communicate research findings to policymakers and translate scientific evidence into practical development initiatives.

Advancing Whale Shark Conservation

In 2018, Lita joined Conservation International Indonesia as a Sustainable Tourism Specialist, leading research on whale shark conservation.

Recognising the opportunity to link conservation with community livelihoods, she initiated the development of a community-based whale shark ecotourism model in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa.

To strengthen her expertise, she joined the Australia Awards Short Course on Sustainable Tourism Development in 2019, delivered by Griffith University and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

‘Together with tourism expert Professor Noel Scott from Griffith University, I discussed the development of whale shark ecotourism in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara,’ Lita explained.

Following the course, she continued socio-economic research in Saleh Bay, contributing to the development of Indonesia’s National Plan of Action on Whale Shark Conservation and the National Code of Conduct for Whale Shark Watching Tourism in collaboration with Conservation International and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

The Australia Awards network also became an important platform for collaboration. Together with fellow short course participants and Australia Awards alumni, she organised community training programmes, conducted joint research and explored creative approaches to conservation advocacy.

Empowering Women Through Sustainable Tourism

After leaving Conservation International in 2022, Lita continued her work with the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) while volunteering with Women in Tourism Indonesia.

One of her priorities has been supporting women in coastal communities to become active participants in local tourism. In Saleh Bay, she helped mentor local women in establishing Bale Pakek, a women-led tourism operator that provides visitor services while promoting marine conservation.

‘While many fishers are men, women have a significant role in managing natural resources. They also play a crucial part in educating the younger generation at home,’ Lita explained.

She believes local knowledge should be recognised alongside scientific research, particularly in regions such as Raja Ampat, where communities have practised traditional conservation long before the concept of marine protected areas became widely recognised.

Inspiring the Next Generation

After 25 years of working across government, international organisations and academia, Lita embarked on a new chapter as the Regional Manager for Asia Pacific at Planeterra, a global non-profit organization that transforms travel into positive impacts for local communities. In addition, she continues to teach occasionally as a lecturer in ecotourism at Universitas Budi Luhur.

‘It’s time to pass on what I have learned and inspire the next generation to continue this journey,’ she said.

She sees education as another way of creating long-term impact by equipping future practitioners with the knowledge, values and practical skills needed to address increasingly complex environmental challenges.

Looking ahead, Lita hopes to collaborate with fellow Australia Awards alumni on long-term initiatives that strengthen community leadership, create opportunities for women and young people and protect Indonesia’s marine ecosystems.