Papua

Tanah Papua is home to the world’s third-largest tropical forest area after the Amazon and Congo. This region is crucial for the climate, biodiversity, and indigenous communities of both Indonesia and the world. Papua has 39 million hectares of forest, 80% of which is intact forest, storing about 15 billion tons of carbon, thereby playing a significant role as a global net carbon sink. In Indonesia, it is the area with the most tree cover and is often referred to as the last frontier for Indonesia’s tropical forests.

Papua is distinguished by its high levels of biodiversity and endemism, diverse land geography, and abundant natural resources, with many unexplored areas and numerous unknown species. This region provides essential ecosystem services and is home to 250 indigenous groups who depend on the forest, each with different ethnolinguistic backgrounds and local wisdom.

Despite its significance and great potential, the increasing pressure for regional economic development drives land ownership conflicts and deforestation due to the opening of areas for extractive activities such as plantations, food estates, mining, and infrastructure projects. The special autonomy status for Papua has resulted in the devolution of certain fiscal, political, and administrative responsibilities from the central government.

WRI Indonesia in Tanah Papua

WRI Indonesia established its regional office in Papua in 2018 and collaborates with local universities through several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), including with the Universitas Papua (UNIPA), Universitas Cenderawasih (UNCEN), Universitas Ottow Geissler Papua, and recently established a partnership with Universitas Musamus.

WRI Indonesia promotes catalytic changes at various levels, including supporting evidence-based and nature-positive economic development, accelerating efforts to resolve land-related conflicts, supporting spatial and land use planning, and improving local livelihoods. This is achieved by facilitating collaboration, conducting rigorous scientific research, developing innovative and effective tools and methodologies, and providing high-quality technical assistance to partners.

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