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 in New Guinea.  This is Asia Pacific’s largest area of intact old-growth forest, of which, an estimated 92% of its original forest cover is still intact (amounting to 33.8 million hectares).  Indonesian New Guinea harbours 8.5% (1.17 Mha) of the World’s mangrove forests (13.58 Mha) (Gaveau et al. 2021), a larger percentage than the next leading nations Brazil, Nigeria, or Australia (Wilkie and Fortuna 2003).  It is home to more than 600 species of birds, including 27 bird-of-paradise species, many of which are endemic.  Our project sites have rare and endemic species like the Attenborough long-beaked echidna (Cyclops Echidna, CR) and the Sentani rainbowfish (Chilatherina sentaniensis, CR).

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 in the region 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 (BUMKAM)
• several tree nurseries and composting facilities scattered throughtout 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