Indonesia: Forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods, Papua

Conservation Value:

The island of New Guinea is the most floristically diverse island in the world (Cámara-Leret et al. 2020).  An estimated 10% of the planet’s biodiversity is found there.  This is Asia Pacific’s largest area of primary  forest; an estimated 92% of its original forest cover is still intact (amounting to 33.8 million hectares).

Threats:

Logging (illegal and legal), mining and other forms of natural resource extraction threaten rare and endemic species of Tanah Papua. Over the past two decades, the Papua region lost 663,443 hectares (1.6 million acres) of natural forest cover. Aside from forest loss, deforestation can increase the likelihood of erosion and landslides. Deforestation is being perpetuated by a lack of viable alternative economic opportunities.

Actions & Results:

We are taking measures that will protect biodiversity, provide sustainable livelihood opportunities, and reduce unsustainable resource extraction:

• reforestation in Yahukimo Regency and Jayapura Regency, with forests owned and managed by the local community
• establishing tree nurseries and composting facilities in scattered locations throughout highland Yahukimo and coastal Jayapura regencies
• establishing a Learning Center in Sentani, Jayapura Regency. The facility will be a hub for conservation-related research and public education.
• developing a satellite research station in Yahukimo Regency

Scientific field research is vital for developing human capacity for biodiversity conservation in Papua, as was demonstrated in Papua New Guinea. Locally hired field assistants end up as researchers and decision makers. A mission-critical advance for YAPPENDA was the signing of an MoU with the National Research and Innovation Agency. This affords YAPPENDA the legal framework for its research operations, including the ability to arrange research permits.