By: Blandina Isabella Patty (Communication and Environmental Education Officer WWF-Indonesia Papua Program)

The Merauke Regency and surrounding areas are ecologically known as the TransFly Ecoregion which stretches from the monsoon forest area in Merauke to Papua New Guinea. The TransFly is a unique lowland area with good accessibility that also poses a threat to the clearing of protected forest areas and surrounding water source areas. The ecosystem types present in the region consist of mangrove, riparian, savanna and monsoon forest ecosystems. The monsoon forest is one of the only ecosystem types found in this region in Papua.

Since establishing its presence in southern Merauke in 1993 to date, WWF-Indonesia has built a wealth of experience and data with indigenous communities and local government. These include the TransFly ecoregion initiative, Corridor initiative, Watershed initiative, eucalyptus oil assistance, important place mapping, community assistance in sustainable forest management based on indigenous peoples, and the development of local content curriculum for the environment at the elementary and junior high school levels.

The development process in Merauke Regency entered a new phase with the establishment of the Merauke Regency Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW) in 2011 (Perda No. 14 of 2011). In line with that, efforts to maintain conservation areas and protected spaces in spatial functions are steps that must be taken to realize natural sustainability. In improving conservation efforts in the flat land of Merauke, WWF-Indonesia encourages the Regional Government of Merauke Regency to contribute in establishing policies related to conservation and preservation of natural resources.

On Monday (09/10), at the office of the Regent of Merauke, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between WWF-Indonesia and the Regional Government of Merauke Regency. The basis of this memorandum of understanding is a cooperation agreement to strengthen natural resource conservation efforts through the development and implementation of environmental education, forestry, marine, and ecotourism programs to support sustainable development in Merauke Regency. The MOU was signed by WWF-Indonesia's Papua Program Director, Benja V. Mambai and the Regent of Merauke, Frederikus Gebze.

On the same occasion, there was also the signing of the Cooperation Agreement Letter (SPK) between WWF-Indonesia and the Department of Education and Culture of Merauke Regency. The letter of agreement is a commitment of the Regional Government of Merauke Regency through the Education Office to contribute to the Sustainable Development Education program to improve human resources in managing natural resources.

In the Land of Animha, the agreement letter was signed by the Acting Southern Papua Leader, M.C Watimena and the Head of the Merauke Regency Education and Culture Office, Feliex Liem Gebze. On the occasion, the Regent of Merauke expressed his support to WWF-Indonesia which has contributed to Merauke Regency and made conservation efforts.

The signing of the MOU and SPK is expected to strengthen the joint commitment to improve sustainable development in Merauke Regency.

Benja V. Mambai also expressed his gratitude to the Merauke Regional Government for the support so far for the natural resource conservation efforts carried out by WWF in Merauke. In addition, Benja V. Mambai revealed that WWF-Indonesia hopes that the Regent will issue a Regent Decree to require all elementary and junior high schools in Merauke Regency to use the Environmental Local Content book.