Wasur National Park Management prepares field guidebook on reptiles in the national park area and surroundings

In an effort to improve knowledge management regarding biodiversity within the Wasur National Park (Wasur NP), the Management of the Wasur National Park, supported by FORCLIME, is currently preparing a field guidebook on reptiles living within the national park area and its surroundings. The collection of data for inclusion in the book was initiated by Wasur National Park staff member, Mr. Zaenal Arifin, A.Md, the park’s senior forest ranger. This data was subsequently reviewed by a herpetofauna expert, Burhan Tjaturhadi, S.Sc., M.Sc.

In order to finalize the book, the Wasur National Park Management held a meeting on 10 January 2023 at the Wasur National Park Meeting Room in Merauke, South Papua Province. During the meeting, Mr. Burhan presented the results of his review of various types of reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards), which were produced from the data collected by the Wasur National Park. Said results encompass the distribution of species, as well as comparisons with the distributions of other species and their statuses.

“This reptile guidebook should prove highly useful because, to date, a significant amount of data has been collected by the Wasur National Park and is set to be documented in the publication of a book that should become a vital source of information, not only for the Wasur National Park but also for Merauke and its surroundings,” stated the Head of Wasur National Park, Yarman S.Hut, M.P., in his opening remarks at the meeting.

During the meeting, Mr Burhan also offered technical guidance to the Wasur National Park staff regarding the identification of various reptile species, including various poisonous and non-poisonous species of snake, as well as the types of data that must be collected in order to identify reptile species. In addition, knowledge of various types of reptiles and their distributions was also disseminated. Staff from the Wasur National Park also presented several findings relating to the identification of various species of frog.

In the wake of this meeting, the Reptile Field Guidebook for the Wasur National Park Area and its surroundings will be finalized and should soon be available to relevant stakeholders.

For more information, please contact:
Theodora F. Resubun, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Papua’s Natural Resources Conservation Center holds Workshop on the Development of the Utilization of Wild Plants and Animals

In an effort to ensure the conservation of wildlife (flora and fauna), the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) in Papua, supported by FORCLIME, held a workshop on the Management of Wildlife Utilization on 6 January 2023 in Jayapura, Papua Province. The hybrid workshop was opened by the Head of the BBKSDA, A.G. Martana, S.Hut., M.P.

The workshop was attended by officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), specifically the Director of Conservation for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Drh. Indra Exploitasia, M.Sc., and representatives from the Directorate of Environmental Impact Prevention, Business and Activities, as well as the Head of KLHK Technical Implementation Units in Papua Province (The Center for Employment of Ecoregion Development, The Mamberamo Watershed Management Center, The Forest and Environmental Area Center, The Center for Sustainable Forest Management), and also the Heads of various Papuan National Parks (Wasur, Lorentz, Teluk Cenderawasih). In addition, the Head of the Jayapura Agricultural Quarantine Center was also in attendance, as well as various private sector players that are currently engaging in the use of natural resources within Papua Province.

“There are three pillars that are the basis for the management of the conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems, specifically: the protection of life support systems; the preservation of the diversity of wild plants and wild animals and their ecosystems; and the sustainable use of living natural resources and their ecosystems,” the Head of BBKSDA explained in his remarks. “The implementation of these three pillars, if carried out consistently, can support efforts to improve people’s welfare and improve the quality of human life,” he added.

During the workshop, participants received information and knowledge relating to the following areas and from the following sources:

1. Management of wildlife flora and fauna (TSL) through protection, preservation and utilization from the Director for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, KLHK, drh. Indra Eksploitasia, M.Sc.
2. Prevention and handling of wild animal diseases from the Head of the Jayapura Agricultural Quarantine Center, drh. Muhlis Natsir, M.Kes.
3. Licensing for businesses that utilize wildlife (flora and fauna) from the Head of the Sub-Directorate for Species Utilization and Genetics, Directorate of Conservation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, KLHK, Ratih Listyo Rini, S.hut, M.Ec., M.E.
4. Services for licensing and the evaluation of wildlife businesses from the Head of the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Technical Division, Julius Palita, S.Hut.
5. Opportunities and challenges relating to the business of wildlife utilization in Indonesia from the Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Flora Fauna Entrepreneurs, Mashur MA, S.H., M.Sc.
6. The Online Single Submission (OSS) licensing service from the Directorate for the Prevention of Environmental Impacts, Businesses and Activities, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Nugroho Indra Windardi, S.Hut.

As these were a series of workshops, the following day (7 January 2023) saw the BBKSDA Papua, in conjunction with related partners, releasing 19 wild animals in a forest close to the village of Dosai. The released animals included two white-lipped pythons (Leiopython albertisii), three green tree pythons (Morelia viridis), one Papuan ground boa (Candoia aspera), two Papuan monitor lizards (Varanus salvadorii), eight black-capped lories (Lorius lory) and three Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita). Some of the released animals had been translocated from the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Center, while others had been handed over by the Jayapura Agricultural Quarantine Center, Papua Regional Police Headquarters and local communities.

As a follow-up to this workshop, help for forest farmer groups in supported villages will be provided, particularly help relating to the utilization of orchids in order to secure permits through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system.

For more information, please contact:
Theodora F. Resubun, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

West Papua Forestry Service and Faculty of Forestry at the University of Papua coordinate in support of preparation of forest management plan

To commence activities for the new year of 2023, the West Papua Provincial Forestry Service held a coordination meeting with the University of Papua and FORCLIME on 5 January 2023 in Manokwari, West Papua. The meeting was aimed at the development of a work plan for 2023 that will encompass coaching clinics for Forest Management Units (KPH) operating within the province in an effort to adjust the Long Term Forest Management Plan (RPHJP) to bring it into line with Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 8 of 2021 on Forest Management, the Preparation of Forest Management Plans and Forest Utilization in Protected Forests and Production Forests, as well as with Decree of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 113/MENLHK/SETJENT/PLA.2/2/2022 on the Designation of Areas for Management Units for Protection Forest Management and Production Forest Management Units for the Province of West Papua. Through the issuance of this decree, the management area of the FMU is no longer based on watersheds (DAS) but is instead now based on administration. This means that the area and number of FMUs in West Papua Province have also changed and now number 14 units.

The coaching clinics for the preparation of the West Papua Province KPH RPHJP will be held from 19 – 21 January 2023 in Sorong, West Papua and are the result of a collaboration between the West Papua Forestry Service, the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Papua and GIZ FORCLIME. Moreover, each of these three parties will contribute to the implementation of this technical development.

During the meeting, the Head of the Forestry Service, Mr. Ir. Runaweri F., MM., also incorporated a number of activities that relate to capacity building into the 2023 work plan, including Training on Tree Species Identification and Dendrology. The training is intended to improve skills relating to the identification of species of forest tree among Forest Service and KPH staff. In addition, a further activity that has been incorporated into the work plan is the taking of an inventory of the various bio-geophysical, social, economic and cultural potentials that are present within the Tambrauw KPH area.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces