Jayapura - Ten ecoforestry groups assisted by WWF-Indonesia in Papua Province made a cross visit to the Rhepang Muaif Bird Watching Ecotourism Area, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency. 35 participants represented 6 groups of indigenous community sustainable forest management cooperatives (KSU), namely 2 KSUs from Yapen Islands Regency, 1 KSU in Jayapura Regency, 2 KSUs in Sarmi Regency and 1 KSU in Merauke Regency. 4 groups of organic cocoa farmers from Jayapura Regency and one Rhepang Muaif Bird Watching ecotourism group in Jayapura Regency for 3 days from December 13 - 15 at Rhepang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency, met to share experiences, successes and failures in each assisted group.

They were also given material from government agencies from Papua Province, namely the Forestry Service which delivered material on technical guidelines for timber business administration through the Timber Forest Product Collection Permit scheme for indigenous peoples in Papua province, the Environment Service delivered material on government policies in the creative economic development of indigenous peoples and the Papua Province Village Empowerment Service which delivered material on government policies in the development of tourism villages in Papua Province.

In addition to the delivery of the material above, participants who attended were also given training to increase knowledge about Timber Business Administration including recording and reporting on the Timber Forest Product Collection Permit scheme for KSU groups and training on sustainable funding management through the Credit Union (CU) scheme. Until now, of the 13 permits that have been prescribed by the Governor of Papua, KSU will manage and utilize timber forest products with a total management area of 25,750 Ha. The activity was also attended by four cocoa farmer groups in Jayapura district who currently manage organic cocoa plantations of Pato farmer group, Srukumani, Cipta Mandiri and Nembu Farmer group with a total area of 185 ha.

According to Roki Aloisius, Northern New Guinea Leader WWF-Indonesia, this cross visit activity is very useful in motivating KSU members in building potential in their respective working areas. "With good management, the community can receive direct economic benefits, both through the utilization of timber forest products through furniture production, as well as environmental services such as ecotourism" explained Roki Aloisius when giving directions to KSU members who attended.

WWF-Indonesia Papua Program together with the Papua Provincial and District Forestry Service, since 2006 has actively assisted community groups in forest management through several stages. These stages start from institutional preparation, licensing, group capacity building through several trainings, preparation of management plans, namely the Business Plan for Utilization of Timber Forest Products of Indigenous Peoples and the Annual Work Plan. Customary law communities are now ready to play a role in the implementation of sustainable forest management in Papua Province.