Jayapura, August 8, 2018 - The Governor of Papua and the CEO of WWF-Indonesia inaugurated the Holey Narey Building which functions as a Conservation and Ecology Learning Center in the WWF-Indonesia Papua Program Office complex, Jl. Pos 7 Atas, Kampung Sereh, Sentani, Papua.

This Learning Center is an environmental education center that is open to the public, where the public can take part in learning activities and gain interesting experiences through direct practice both indoors and outdoors. Various activities can also be participated in, including gardening and identifying forest plants, making recycled paper, learning the working scheme of solar panels, freshwater laboratories and other conservation knowledge.

"Papuans need to get the right knowledge about natural resource management and conservation, so that we can protect Papua's natural wealth and can get the maximum benefit for the prosperity of Papuans themselves," said the Governor of Papua in his speech read by Ani Rumbiak. "In this Learning Center, we can learn how we can conserve the earth in our daily lives, in our activities at home and school, even to how we should do good business so that our natural resources are maintained."

This Learning Center is also a center for capacity building and learning for communities and groups assisted by WWF-Indonesia, among others in terms of participatory mapping, geographic information systems and remote sensing.

"The activities carried out by the WWF-Indonesia team in Papua are a form of our commitment to prepare the next generation who have the sensitivity of knowledge and commitment in protecting Papua, as a small paradise that fell to earth," said Rizal Malik, CEO of WWF-Indonesia in his speech. "This also proves to the local government, the community and the public, that WWF has a long-term commitment in the Land of Papua." added Rizal.

The Holey Narey Building is the fourth newly constructed building in WWF-Indonesia's office complex in Sentani. The name Holey Narey comes from the Sentani language, and was given by Mr. Amos Ondi, a tribal chief or Ondoafi, as well as an indigenous community leader of Kampung Sereh. Holey means a good and comfortable living environment, while Narey means the living creatures that live in the environment.

Besides being a learning center, the building also has a Kima meeting room with a capacity of 100 people and an Echidna room with a capacity of 30 people, while part of the building is used as a workspace for around 30 employees. The Holey Narey Building also applies green building principles, among others in the use of energy, paper utilization and minimizing the amount of garbage and waste.

The ribbon cutting to mark the inauguration of the building was done by Mrs. Anni Rumbiak and Vice Regent of Jayapura, Special Staff for Government Affairs of Papua Province, witnessed by the Regent of Jayapura Regency, CEO of WWF-Indonesia and Community Leader, Mr. Amos Ondi. Invited guests were the relevant Government Offices that are partners of WWF, representatives of Provincial, City and Regency SKPDs, Wakapolres Jayapura, NGO partners, 7 BUMNs that support Rheang Muaif ecotourism activities; private sector, school principals from kindergarten, elementary, junior high school levels in Jayapura Regency, environmental activists, and Indigenous Leaders.

-FINISH-

For more information, please contact:

Ade Erawati Sangadji | Communication Coordinator for Papua Program, WWF-Indonesia

Email: asangadji@wwf.id | HP: +6281338332440

Dewi Satriani | Communication Manager, WWF-Indonesia | Email: dsatriani@wwf.id |

PHONE: +62811910970