04 August 2010

Jayapura, 04 August 2010 – In a collaboration with Papua Regional Government, WWF-Indonesia Papua Program (Papua and West Papua) organized a workshop of conservation funds and sustainable development in Papua.

The workshop aimed at sharing information related to sustainable fund mechanism for conservation and sustainable development and building up consensus and joint commitment among stakeholders regarding the importance of trust fund in supporting sustainable natural resources management in Papua.
Papua’s Governor in his keynote speech delivered by Asistant III Drs. Ibrahim Is Badaruddin, M.Si said that the institution managing funds for conservation and economic development in Papua was urgently needed. This was in line with one of the outcome of International Biodiversity Conference in Papua which was conducted in 2009. Sustainable financing for biodiversity conservation is a key element for sustainable natural resources management in Papua.
Tha participants were Regional Working Unit in Papua Regional Province and West Papua Province, Papua community council, NGOs, private sectors, Donors Institution, academics, and religious figures. There were speakers presenting sustainable financing for conservation and how it has been implemented at international, local, and national level. They were Nazir Foead from WWF-Indonesia and Gustaf A. Lumju from Kehati foundation. Moreover Peter Kamarea from Conservation International Indonesia delivered a presentation regarding trust fund development through debt for nature swap.
In the final session, WWF-Indonesia Director for Papua Program Benja Mambai concluded that the commitment among government and other stakeholders toward sustainable financing and good management of natural and human resources were urgently needed to succeed this initiative.
Some important steps will be carried as the workshops outcome. First, developing trust fund mechanism for conservation in Papua. Second, socializing recommendation produced from the workshop to relevant stakeholders and advocating the recommendation through an ad hoc team which will work for 5 months.
Notes for the Editor:
About WWF-Indonesia
WWF-Indonesia is an independent member of WWF, the global conservation organization, a network of WWF organizations and affiliates operating in close to 100 countries worldwide. It is an independent foundation registered under Indonesian law. In carrying out its conservation work, WWF-Indonesia has 25 project offices in 17 provinces. This organization works with local governments through practical field projects, scientific research, advising local governments on environmental policy, promoting environmental education, empowering communities, and raising awareness on environmental issues. More info about WWF-Indonesia, visit www.panda.org; or our local sites www.wwf.or.id and WWF-Indonesia supporter website in www.supporterwwf.org
In Papua, WWF-Indonesia has started working since 1980. Since then, WWF has been helping the government initiate significant conservation areas in Papua. WWF’s conservation works in Papua are coordinated under WWF-Indonesia Sahul Region (West Papua and Papua Province). Forest and Freshwater Conservation are also conducted in this region. WWF-Indonesia Sahul Region works in six sites:

• Sorong Site for Abun Regional Marine Conservation Area Project
• Wasior Site for Cendrawasih Bay NP. project
• Merauke Site for Transfly landscape conservation program and Ecoregion
• Mapi Site for Indigenous people based-conservation program
• Wamena Site for Lorentz NP. program
• Jayapura Site for pilot project of community based-sustainable forest management

Those six program sites are coordinated and supported under Coordination Program Office in Jayapura. In a collaboration with the government and development partners, WWF-Indonesia Sahul Region supports sustainable development by focusing ecological and social aspects in Papua.
Further information:

• Yoseph Watofa, WWF-Indonesia Papua Sustainable Financing Coordinator. Mobile: +62 967 593840, Fax: +62 967 593815, email : cepotfoja@yahoo.com
• Lie Tangkepayung, WWF-Indonesia Region Sahul Communication Officer. Mobile:+62 967 574205 Fax: +62 967 574204, email : njtangkepayung@wwf.or.id