Agats, Asmat Regency (31/7)- Climate change is a global issue and has become an important world issue. Climate change caused by global warming has an impact on various changes to the earth. To reduce the rate of climate change impacts, the Government of Indonesia has issued Presidential Regulation No.61 of 2011 concerning the National Action Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions as a basic reference for the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation by all Regional Governments in Indonesia.

WWF Indonesia - Papua Program in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indonesia Forest and Climate Support (IFACS) supports low emission strategies, climate change mitigation and adaptation through a multi-stakeholder approach with the government, community, and private sector in implementing concrete works to reduce the rate of climate change. The climate change adaptation and migration program is developed through the Multi Stakeholder Forum (MSF) approach. MSF is a means to coordinate and communicate by all parties in sustainable natural resource management. This forum was formed as a strength of all stakeholders (community, government, and private sector) in order to contribute optimally to anticipate the impacts of climate change. One of the implementations of the formation of this MSF was carried out in Asmat Regency, Papua Province.

Asmat Regency is one of the strategic areas to implement real efforts related to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Asmat Regency has an area of ± 2,760,254 ha. This area is divided into seven forest functions, namely: nature reserve and conservation forest areas (12.29%), protected forest (39.40%), limited production forest (40.31%), production forest (2.78%), conversion production forest (1.59%), and other use areas (0.23%) and waters (3.39%). When viewed based on the type of land cover, 90.05% of the Asmat Regency area is forest. In addition, the landscape of Asmat Regency also includes the Lorentz National Park area, primary land lowland forest mangrove forest, swamp forest, peatland, and savanna forest which need to be preserved in supporting sustainable development. This condition is also supported by local cultural wisdom that understands and believes that the forest is the mother of the Asmat indigenous people.

The condition of the area and cultural wisdom is the main reason as well as the basis for the importance of the establishment of MSF. On July 7-10, 2015, a workshop on the establishment of MSF for climate change impact adaptation and mitigation programs in Asmat Regency was held. In this workshop, the participants included representatives from relevant government institutions, Indigenous Peoples Institutions, representatives of the Forum Rumpun Adat (FAR) and representatives from religious institutions.

The Regent of Asmat, represented by Assistant I, Ruland Yembise, S,Sos, M.Si in his remarks stated, "We hope that this forum can really become a forum for interested parties to coordinate with each other to carry out programs related to the management of forest areas and areas for sustainable development in Asmat Regency as well as a forum for information exchange."

Meanwhile, the Director of Papua Program - WWF Indonesia, Benja V. Mambai, explained, "through this workshop, it is expected that Asmat Regency will also form MSF Asmat as well as in Mimika Regency while discussing the vision, mission, strategy, organizational structure and selection of strategic issues. There is no need to be grandiose, the most important thing is that the relevant parties are committed and actually carry out their activities later."

During the four days of implementation, this workshop has resulted in a joint agreement on the formation of MSF Asmat Regency and also agreed to determine the vision, mission, management, and work program. MSF Asmat District agreed on the formation of four task forces (SATGAS), namely: advocacy for forest and coastal area management policies; education and campaigns for forest management and conservation; development of alternative businesses to increase community income; and monitoring & evaluation. MSF has also determined 12 strategic issues of climate change adaptation and mitigation programs in Asmat Regency which include the content of local wisdom of indigenous peoples while supporting government policies in the implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation programs in the region.

For further information please contact:
- Benja V. Mambai - Papua Program Director, WWF Indonesia
HP: 0812-4809-407, E-mail: bmambai@wwf.or.id
- Jackson Umbora - Program Leader Site Asmat - WWF Indonesia - Papua Program
HP: 0852-5482-7289, E-mail: jumbora@wwf.or.id

About WWF-Indonesia
WWF Indonesia is the largest nature conservation organization in Indonesia and has started its activities since 1962. Having been incorporated as a Foundation since 1998, currently, WWF-Indonesia works in 28 regional offices from Aceh to Papua and is supported by more than 400 employees. Since 2006, WWF-Indonesia has received support from more than 54,000 supporters spread across the archipelago. Please visit www.wwf.id