By: Irianto Stef Amir (Forest Coordinator Biak & Yapen)

The Government of Supiori Regency, Papua and WWF-Indonesia started the partnership program by holding a joint meeting to equalize perceptions in the management of the Supiori Nature Reserve area and sustainable development in Supiori Regency. The meeting took place in Supiori last Friday (25/05).

Based on the map of forest areas and water areas of Papua Province, most of Supiori Regency is a nature reserve forest area. About 65% of the area of Supiori Regency is a forest area of 69,547 hectares. This forest area consists of 38,287 hectares of nature reserve forest area, 12,858 hectares of protected forest area, 2,448 hectares of production forest area, and 15,954 hectares of other use areas (GIS Analysis, 2018). Meanwhile, the need to implement development programs in this relatively new district continues to increase. A development program that is sustainable and in harmony with the management of the nature reserve area is a challenge for the district government, partners and the community.

The activity which was held in the meeting room of Bappeda Supiori Regency was attended by Assistant II of Supiori Regency, representatives of Bappeda, Environmental Agency, Village Community Empowerment Agency, Head of BKSDAE Region II Section, and Director of WWF-Indonesia Papua Program. The activity aims to identify various priority programs and activities that will be carried out, both at the policy level to the implementation of activities at the site level as well as the preparation of cooperation in the development of the management of the Supiori Nature Reserve area and sustainable development in Supiori Regency.

The Regent of Supiori in his speech delivered by Assistant II of Supiori Regency, Carla Theodora Karubaba, S.Hut, M.Si, welcomed the cooperation between the Supiori Regional Government and WWF-Indonesia Papua Program because of his belief that this activity will produce formulations and concrete efforts that are useful to be followed up for development in Supiori Regency.

Meanwhile, in the same place, the Director of WWF-Indonesia Papua Program, Benja Mambai, explained that this activity is the first step taken by WWF to inform the parties in Supiori Regency about the objectives of this project and identify challenges, opportunities and potential partners.

This meeting is also expected to build synergy between stakeholders in an effort to find the best solution so that the interests of preserving the Supiori Nature Reserve and the development that will be carried out by the local government do not sacrifice one of the interests. This is important considering that 65% of this area is a conservation area.

For this reason, WWF supported by UKCCU (UK Climate Change Unit) from the British embassy hopes to synergize with the local government and the parties in working together for forest conservation efforts and supporting the effectiveness of the management of the Supiori Nature Reserve area and sustainable development in the region. One of the initial initiations of the program in partnership between the Supiori District Government and WWF-Indonesia is the participatory mapping of important places training program that is currently underway in Supiori District.