Jayapura - Seven SOEs consisting of PT Telkom Indonesia, PT Garuda Indonesia, PT Bank BNI Tbk. PT Housing Development, PT Wijaya Karya, PT Bank Mandiri Tbk. and PT PLN, agreed to provide support for the development of Ecotourism "Bird Watching Isio Hill's" located in the Rhepang Muaif area, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency.

The "Bird Watching Isio Hill's" ecotourism area is a form of ecotourism management by indigenous peoples in a sustainable manner. As a Birdwatching or bird monitoring location, this area meets two important criteria as a requirement for Important Bird Areas (DPB), namely the presence of endangered bird species such as the Single Crested Cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus), Papuan Rajawali (Harpyopsis novaeguineae), Victorian Mambruk (Goura victoria), in addition there are species of White-beaked Cenderawasih (Epimachus bruijnii) which are near threatened. There are also limited distribution bird species that are characteristic of a particular biome / Regional Bird Endemic (DBE) area, such as the Yellow-cheeked Nuriara (Psittaculirostris salvadorii) with a limited distribution in the northern lowland forest area of Papua so that this species is included as an endemic species.

Currently, tourist visits for bird monitoring, both local, national and international, have increased significantly from time to time. Visiting tourists can directly monitor four species of Birds of Paradise at the Isio Hiils location, namely King of Paradise (Cincinnurus regius), Little Bird of Paradise (Paradisea minor), Dead Wire Bird of Paradise (Celecoudis melanoleuca) and White-billed Crescent Bird of Paradise (Epimachus bruijnii). The current ecotourism development is expected to be able to build supporting infrastructure for ecotourism activities and develop the capacity of indigenous peoples as managers.

This support is a form of BUMN's commitment to the development of tourism as one of the priority sectors of economic drivers in line with government policies.

BUMN representatives who were present provided support for the development of ecotourism "Bird Watching Isio Hill's" to the Isio Hill community group represented by Mr. Alex Waisimon as the initiator of bird monitoring ecotourism in Rhepang Muaif. Through this support, it is hoped that it will be able to encourage the management of ecotourism villages and empowerment of indigenous peoples in Rhepang Muaif towards a pilot tourism village in the first customary forest area in Jayapura and in Papua.

According to Rizal Malik, CEO of WWF Indonesia who was also present at the event, the development of ecotourism is expected to provide direct benefits to indigenous peoples in Rhepang Muaif. "WWF Indonesia appreciates the support of SOEs, because through ecotourism initiatives, the local community and government are committed to protecting natural resources, especially birdlife, so that it continues to be sustainable because these birds are regional assets that will have long-term value if preserved," Rizal Malik explained further.

The Papua Provincial Forestry Service, together with the customary rights owner and WWF Indonesia Papua Program, has laid 8 permanent boundary poles for the location that will be proposed to be the management area of the Yawadatum customary forest in the Grime area of Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, covering an area of 19,000 ha for ecotourism management of Rhepang Muaif bird monitoring. For the Jayapura Regency government, ecotourism activities provide space for indigenous peoples to manage their forests and provide welfare and direct economic benefits for the community. To support these efforts, WWF Indonesia through the Community Forestry Program in collaboration with the Jayapura Regency Environmental Management Office has provided assistance to the Isio group in managing bird monitoring ecotourism. The management of this area is important in realizing forest management by indigenous peoples in a sustainable manner.

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For more information please contact:

- Ade Erawati Sangadji - Learning Center, Marketing and Communication Coordinator
HP: 0813-3833-2440, E-mail: asangadji@wwf.id
- Benja V. Mambai - Papua Program Director, WWF Indonesia
HP: 0812-4809-407, E-mail: bmambai@wwf.or.id