Nature never truly recognizes the boundaries that humans draw on maps. Rivers flow without asking which administrative region they’re in, birds migrate following the seasons and their instincts, and sea turtles cross the ocean. It is with this understanding that PACE—Papuasia Australia Connectivity of Ecology—was launched as a WWF-Indonesia initiative to preserve the ecological, cultural, and biological connectivity across a vast region stretching from Papua, through Papua New Guinea, to Northern Australia.

The launch of the PACE Initiative was attended by a diverse range of participants: academics, institutions, local governments, and even NGOs that were also present at the 12th International Flora Malesiana Symposium in Manokwari, West Papua

PACE was established in conjunction with The 12th International Flora Malesiana Symposium & International Nature-Based Climate Solutions Conference in Manokwari on February 9–14. The Head of the West Papua Provincial Research and Innovation Agency, Prof. Dr. Charlie Danny Heatubun, added that this initiative was also launched during the Papua Biocultural and Climate Week 2026. He noted that this event represents a crucial step for the future of New Guinea’s tropical rainforest ecosystem, which is vital not only for the region but also for the globe, and therefore must be implemented without delay.

For WWF-Indonesia, PACE is strategic for the biodiversity of the island of New Guinea. Dr. rer. silv. Muh. Ali Imron, S.Hut., M.Sc., Forest & Wildlife Program Director at WWF-Indonesia, emphasized that PACE “was born out of a spirit to integrate the various conservation efforts that have emerged in Papua.” This initiative connects conservation movements in Indonesian Papua, Papua New Guinea, and the Melanesian region because forests, rivers, coastlines, oceans, and the life within them are interconnected across national borders.

PACE’s main strength lies in the convergence of science and indigenous communities. Hendrikus Hada, S.S., M.Sos., Vice Rector II at Okmin University of Papua, states, “PACE belongs to us all,” uniting concepts with grassroots realities. According to him, knowledge must be applied in villages, forests, oceans, rivers, and swamps while empowering communities to become self-reliant. Thus, indigenous communities are positioned not as beneficiaries, but as the owners of knowledge and guardians of the ecological integrity of the Land of Papua.

On the island of New Guinea, that connection feels very real. Forests are not merely collections of trees, but also living spaces, sources of food, natural pharmacies, schools of knowledge, and places where cultural identity thrives. The ocean is not just a vast expanse of water, but a lifeline for coastal communities, a home to fish, sea turtles, dugongs, and various species that move across national borders. Therefore, preserving New Guinea’s biodiversity cannot be achieved through a narrow approach. It requires collaboration across regions, disciplines, cultures, and generations.

PACE was born from the understanding that the ecology of this region is interconnected across many layers. Forests in the mountains are connected to rivers that flow to the coast. The coast is connected to the open ocean. The ocean serves as a migration route for species. Along these routes, indigenous peoples and local communities have developed ways of life, languages, values, and knowledge that are integral to the ecological system itself. The PACE document emphasizes that the island of New Guinea reflects extraordinary cultural and biological diversity, with approximately 1,000 languages spoken in the region, making it one of the richest linguistic and cultural mosaics on Earth.

That is why, PACE is not just about nature conservation, but also about recognizing cultural landscapes. Cultural landscapes transcend modern administrative boundaries and serve as vital assets for safeguarding the broader ecoregion. In this context, culture is not merely a complement to conservation, but rather a vital foundation for ensuring sustainability. When indigenous communities have the space to lead, when local knowledge is valued, and when traditional governance is recognized, conservation gains stronger roots.

As a WWF-Indonesia initiative, PACE serves as a space for collaboration among the government, academics, indigenous communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. Dr. Wika A. Rumbiak, S.T., M.Sc., Head of the Papua Forest and Wildlife Program, hopes that PACE “can evolve into an initiative that is truly owned by everyone.” Through joint learning, research, and publications, PACE is expected to generate cross-border policy recommendations that benefit both people and nature.

PACE also bridges science, local knowledge, and educational networks. Dr. Yohanes Kore, S.Ag., MA., Rector of Okmin University in Papua, hopes that PACE will strengthen research collaboration among universities in Papua, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. For him, knowledge must serve as a protective force for Papua. “If Papua is destroyed, it means the world is also destroyed,” he said. He also hopes that this research will produce more experts from Papua and serve as a driving force to build its future.

PACE also has a phased agenda: governance architecture, a working platform, a declaration on ecological connectivity and indigenous peoples’ stewardship, as well as the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent or FPIC. Prof. Dr. Charlie Danny Heatubun, S.Hut., M.Si., FLS, Head of the West Papua Provincial Research and Innovation Agency, is urging that this initiative be implemented immediately. “In the initial phase, a working group needs to be formed to immediately facilitate the development of a concept and begin its implementation,” he said. The working group is expected to design clusters covering science, policy, indigenous communities, sustainable economy, ecosystem protection, biodiversity, culture, and language.

The next phase is the development of a science and data platform. PACE promotes the assessment of ecological connectivity through the mapping of terrestrial and marine corridors across various key ecosystems, the harmonization of biodiversity monitoring protocols using technologies such as eDNA, satellites, bioacoustics, and camera traps, and the establishment of an open data repository to support data-driven management.  This approach demonstrates that protecting nature across national borders requires an accurate understanding of how species move, how habitats change, and how ecosystems are interconnected.

In the landscape and seascape demonstration phase, PACE focuses on several key areas and issues. One of these is the Papua forest-savanna corridor, envisioned as a pilot project for landscape conservation stretching from the mountains to the coast of Papua. In addition, PACE also highlights the development of mangrove-based coastal resilience zones through adaptive restoration to climate change to protect coastal ecosystems.

Equally important, PACE also views the ocean as a vast space for connectivity. The migration corridor of the leatherback sea turtle in the Bismarck-Solomon region is one of the focal points for the conservation of threatened marine species through concrete interventions. Meanwhile, the harmonization of fishing quotas and the management of transboundary fishing zones in the Arafura Sea are expected to enhance the sustainability of fish stocks.  These issues demonstrate that PACE is not only about forests, but also about the ocean, coastal areas, food, and the survival of communities.

In the phase of strengthening customary governance, PACE reaffirms the position of indigenous communities as key actors. They play a role in PACE governance through territorial recognition and co-management schemes.  Agreements between customary institutions and the government are also seen as crucial for strengthening collaboration in the management of customary territories. Thus, PACE places indigenous communities not on the periphery of policy, but at the center of the conversation about the ecological future of the region.

PACE’s long-term vision is very clear: to maintain ecological connectivity, strengthen collaborative marine management, position indigenous communities as primary stewards, and promote economic transformations that are more beneficial to nature. Under this vision, connected forest corridors allow key species to maintain their populations and natural habitats, while transboundary marine management helps preserve fish stocks and protect migratory species such as sea turtles and dugongs.

From Manokwari, PACE conveys a simple yet profound message: the future of New Guinea’s biodiversity cannot be safeguarded alone. It requires collaboration across three nations, respect for indigenous communities, scientific support, strong governance, and the courage to view nature as a single, interconnected web of life. Through PACE, WWF-Indonesia invites us to understand that protecting Papua is not just about protecting a single region. Protecting Papua means protecting the ecological heart of New Guinea, preserving Pacific connectivity, and safeguarding a shared future between humanity and nature.