7 June 2011

Mataram –WWF-Indonesia and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Government, represented by CEO of WWF-Indonesia Dr. Efransjah and The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Dr. TGH. M. Zainul Majdi, signed a partnership agreement on natural resources and environmental management today (07/06). Taking place in the Governor’s office in Mataram, the commitment aims at improving the quality of natural resources and environment through spatial plan program in the region, integrated forest resource and watershed management, ecosystem conservation, and climate change mitigation.
“This partnership is essential to build a harmonious synergy between WWF-Indonesia and local stakeholders—local government in particular—to support natural resources and environmental management in the province,” Dr. Efransjah said. Furthermore, the partnership is projected to support planning and policy implementation on natural resource and environmental management in the region based on transparency, participation, and accountability principles.

The signed document will be valid for three years (2011-2014). This is an extension agreement of the one signed in 2009 which is about to expire in 2011. The partnership covers synchronization of spatial plan, its utilization and control mechanism both at provincial and district level; forest rehabilitation and mobilization for partnership with private sectors through NEWtrees program; implementation of green development road map for West Nusa Tenggara; development of community-based business through an accelerated program for timber and non-timber products; development of environmental service mechanism; formulation of the integrated watershed management plan; and development of model area for adaptation strategy and climate change mitigation.

“WWF has a great concern toward sustainable development in West Nusa Tenggara. As an archipelagic province dominated by group of small islands, West Nusa Tenggara is also considered vulnerable due to its limited natural resources,” Efransjah added. Water scarcity, decreasing forest coverage, and the issue of natural resources and environmental management sustainability have become critical matters as well as great challenges for this Dry Forest Eco-region province.
WWF-Indonesia has been working in West Nusa Tenggara Province since 2000, started with a series of study on ecology, social, and economics problem and its relation to natural resources management within the region.
For further information, contact:
Muhammad Ridha Hakim, WWF-Indonesia, Project Leader Nusa Tenggara, +62 8123778055, rhakim@wwf.or.id;
Notes to Editor
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a global non-governmental conservation organization, with active networks in almost 100 countries worldwide. WWF-Indonesia is a part of this 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