By: Natalia Trita Agnika

After sailing since last Saturday (04/06), KM Gurano Bintang ended its journey in the series of Saireri Expedition on Tuesday (21/06) in Biak. The expedition, which was attended by a team from WWF-Indonesia, representatives of government officials from Nabire Regency, Yapen Islands Regency, and Biak Regency, as well as the media team, has collected data on education, socio-culture, and the potential of natural resources in 11 villages that became the expedition route.

The closing ceremony of the Saireri Expedition was also attended by the Deputy Regent of Biak Numfor Regency, Danlanal, Danlanud, Dandim, Wakapolres, SKPD leaders in Biak Numfor Regency, Chairman of LMA Papua, NGO leaders, and 300 representatives of elementary to high school students in Biak City. In his speech, Benja V. Mambai as acting CEO of WWF-Indonesia revealed that the Saireri Expedition was carried out to initiate a program in the Teluk Cendrawasih National Park (TNTC) area to provide an initial overview of Teluk Cendrawasih which has tremendous potential. "We hope that with the intervention of WWF, we can preserve nature and at the same time improve the welfare of the people who live there," he added. After giving a speech, Benja V. Mambai introduced several WWF-Indonesia staff working in Papua.

One of the representatives of SKPD (Regional Work Unit) of Biak Numfor Regency, Seitske Krisifu from the Forestry Service expressed his impression during the Saireri Expedition. "This expedition is very memorable because we can see the potential of Padaido's natural resources directly. Hopefully, this potential can be further developed. Thank you to the head of SKPD for assigning us and to WWF for giving us the opportunity to join the team," he said.

The Saireri Expedition was officially closed by the Vice Regent of Biak Numfor Regency, Herry Ario Naap with the beating of tifa. Herry gave high appreciation to the captain and crew of KM. Gurano Bintang and the entire Saireri Expedition team who have dared to sail the sea to collect various data. "Hopefully this (data from the expedition -Red) can be a contribution of writing from each SKPD to become a reference for the regional government in developing the tourism and fisheries sectors in Biak Numfor Regency," he hoped.

On the occasion, the Deputy Regent of Biak Numfor Regency also inaugurated the opening of the new office of WWF-Indonesia Papua Program Site Biak. The opening of the 31st office of WWF-Indonesia was marked by cutting the ribbon. Herry Ario Naap hopes that the presence of WWF-Indonesia in Biak can bring something good in Papua, especially in Biak Numfor Regency. He hopes that WWF is ready to work together, especially to preserve nature and improve the welfare of the community.

After inaugurating the WWF-Indonesia Site Biak Office, the Deputy Regent of Biak Numfor Regency accompanied by several Biak Numfor regional officials visited KM Gurano Bintang which was docked at BMJ Pier to review the facilities on the monitoring and education ship owned by WWF-Indonesia. The students present also had the opportunity to go on board. In addition to looking around the ship, they gained various knowledge about the environment and were able to try out the diving equipment used during the Saireri Expedition.