By: Lie Tangkepayung

Manokwari - WWF Indonesia in collaboration with Papua State University today (13/3) launched a book entitled "Merbau Wood: Between Opinion and Fact". At the same time, the results of the research collaboration between Papua State University and WWF Indonesia were also exposed at the Postgraduate Building of Papua State University in Manokwari, West Papua Province.

The book "Merbau Wood: Between Opinion and Fact" was written by a team of lecturers from Universitas Negeri Papua, WWF Indonesia and forest conservationists in Tanah Papua. It is the only book on Merbau wood written based on scientific studies and presented in a popular style. The book covers the various ins and outs of Merbau species introduction to its exploitation and trade. It also presents technical recommendations for the utilization and conservation of Merbau.

The launching of this book was filled with a brief presentation by Ir. Max Tokede, MSi as the head of the writing team and continued with a book critique by the Head of the Silviculture Laboratory of the UNIPA Faculty of Forestry Dr. Julius D. Nugroho and Former Head of the Forestry and Conservation Service of Papua Province Ir. Marthen Kayoi, MSi.Furthermore, the book was symbolically handed over by the CEO of WWF Indonesia Dr. Efransjah to the State University of Papua which was received by the Rector of the State University of Papua Dr. Suriel S Mofu, S.Pd, M.Gd, M.Phil.

The cooperation between Universitas Negeri Papua and WWF Indonesia through the Papua Regional Program has been going on for a long time but to further enhance this cooperation on December 19, 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the CEO of WWF Indonesia and the Rector of Universitas Negeri Papua (UNIPA), which was then refined through the First Amendment in July 2011 and extended on December 9, 2013, for the period 2013 - 2018.

In his remarks, WWF-Indonesia CEO Dr. Efransjah conveyed a special request to UNIPA, so that UNIPA Campus plays a greater role and becomes a leading campus that has knowledge about Cenderawasih Bay and the Papuakampus Bird's Head area. UNIPA Campus should also be a source of accurate data and information with a strong data base line. The Bird's Head area with Cenderawasih Bay is important because it has unique biota that is not found in any ocean.

"WWF Indonesia is proud to be a partner of UNIPA by helping to maintain the scientific tradition on this campus. WWF believes that the results of research conducted on this campus can be used productively in decision-making for development in Papua," said Dr. Efransjah CEO of WWF Indonesia.

Rector of the State University of Papua Dr. Suriel S Mofu, S.Pd, M.Gd, M.Phil in his speech said that what can make a scientist recognized is scientific work that is published, therefore UNIPA is grateful to WWF Indonesia for supporting the publication of scientific work in the form of books. "I express my appreciation to WWF Indonesia for supporting us. Of all the collaborations that UNIPA has done, the collaboration with WWF is the most productive. This is evidenced by the cooperation in research and scientific publications as well as the exposure of the results of cooperation that has been carried out twice. This cooperation is very important, because research is part of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education," explained the Rector of UNIPA.

The Rector of UNIPA also said that West Papua Province is heading towards a green province, which means that the province's source of income comes from environmentally friendly businesses. The development decision-making process can also be seen from an environmental review in the province.

The event was attended by UNIPA academic community, technical institutions - related UPT and stakeholders in West Papua Province. In the exposition of the results of research cooperation between UNIPA and WWF Indonesia in the period 2011-2013, 11 titles of scientific cooperation and up-date of conservation activities in the Abun and Cenderawasih Bay areas were presented.