"A strong civilization is built not only with roads and bridges, but also with knowledge that paves the way for the future."

This emphatic statement was delivered directly by the Regent of Pegunungan Bintang, Spei Bidana, ST., M.Sc. It is a statement that embodies the spirit of a concrete initiative at the heart of Papua. Amid the majestic landscape of the Pegunungan Bintang—a region rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage—WWF-Indonesia’s Papua Program, together with Okmin University of Papua, officially reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a culture of literacy.

Behind its natural splendor, the Pegunungan Bintang region faces geographical and logistical challenges that are not easily overcome. The rugged topography, surrounded by high mountain ranges and steep valleys, leaves the area quite isolated. The lack of road infrastructure makes the community heavily reliant on air transportation, the reliability of which is heavily dependent on the region’s unpredictable mountain weather. Given these challenging terrain conditions and extremely high logistics costs, access to physical books has become a luxury that is difficult to attain. It is precisely this limited access that makes the availability of physical reference books a crucial necessity for breaking through the information isolation in the region.

This initiative was marked by the handover of 139 scientific and practical reference books covering various critical topics. These range from conservation, indigenous peoples’ rights, biodiversity, and climate change to sustainable natural resource management—all in line with WWF-Indonesia’s vision for sustainability.

This meaningful moment was witnessed in person by Regent Spei Bidana, the Head of the Pegunungan Bintang Regency Education Office, and the entire academic community of Okmin Papua University, including the Rector and Vice Rector II. The book donation was symbolically accepted by the Rector of Okmin Papua University as a manifestation of a shared commitment to strengthening academic capacity and human resource development in remote areas.

The hundreds of books were handed over directly by Dr. Wika A. Rumbiak, Head of the Forest and Wildlife Program for Papua at WWF-Indonesia. For her, this action was more than just a ceremonial gesture. This handover serves as a powerful symbol that the best investment in the world of conservation is made not only through the protection of landscapes in the field but also through capacity building and fostering critical thinking among the younger generation.

Welcoming this initiative, Vice Rector II of Okmin University of Papua, Hendrikus Hada, S.S., M.Sos., expressed his deep appreciation. “We extend our gratitude to the WWF-Indonesia Papua Program for its commitment to supporting the education of children in the Bintang Mountains within the Okmemin cultural region through a donation of 139 books to Okmin University of Papua,” he stated.

He emphasized that this donation holds immense historical and strategic significance. “This gift is particularly meaningful because this is the first university founded by a Papuan son in the Papua Pegunungan region—which is also a national border area—where infrastructure is severely lacking and access to information and transportation is limited. "These books serve as a window to knowledge that students and faculty can use to enrich their understanding in various fields of study," he added.

Furthermore, Hendrikus expressed his hope for the continuation of this program in the future. “We hope this support is not the last but rather the beginning of strengthened collaboration between WWF-Indonesia and Okmin Papua University. Additionally, support for strengthening the three pillars of higher education is highly anticipated for future cooperation.”

More than just library shelf fillers, this book collection is expected to spark an interest in reading, broaden intellectual horizons, and strengthen the academic culture on campus. These books will serve as primary references for students, faculty, researchers, and the general public to delve deeper into critical issues surrounding nature conservation and sustainable development.
 

This collaborative initiative also strengthens the partnership with the Holey Narey Learning Center, a WWF-Indonesia-owned learning center that has long served as a hub for literacy development, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in Papua. Now, through a partnership with Okmin Papua University, this learning initiative has officially expanded to the Pegunungan Bintang region.

Through this synergy, WWF-Indonesia and Okmin Papua University are sending an important message: that conservation doesn’t just begin in the forest, but in the classroom. Every page of a book read is a seed of knowledge. And from that nurtured knowledge, research, innovation, and new leadership will emerge—ready to safeguard and preserve the sustainability of Papua for future generations.