Late last month the West Papuan government approved legislation that establishes the eastern Indonesian province as the country’s first ever conservation province. This legal framework will ensure that sustainable development and conservation are placed at the forefront of any economic activity or development.
West Papua is one of the last bastions of unexplored wilderness on the planet. The 120,000 square kilometre province is one of the most biodiverse regions of the globe, both on the land and below water, and as such has been considered an area of global priority for conservation.
The province is also home to the Raja Ampat islands in the Coral Triangle, which is home to the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet and regarded as the epicentre of global marine life. The area is home to more than 1,300 species of coral reef fish, 600 species of hard coral,700 species of mollusc, five endangered sea turtle species and much more.
The establishment of West Papua as a conservation province aims to ensure marine and terrestrial ecosystems remain intact, the development of sustainable livelihoods is promoted, and the rights of indigenous peoples are recognised. It was drafted with input from local communities, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and academics.
With a high percentage of the population living in poverty, those involved hope that West Papua can provide an example to the world of how development and conservation can be achieved simultaneously.
“In vital biodiverse places like West Papua, the stakes are high and the margin for error slim, so reconciling development and conservation is something we must get right,” said Pieter Kodjol, Chairperson of the West Papua Regional Representative Council, in a statement.
“This legislation helps demonstrate that protecting Earth’s ecosystems unlocks value for sustainable development and livelihoods.”
Positive Action
- Help conservation efforts in Australia by planting a native tree as part of National Tree Day 2019! Schools Tree Day will be held on July 26th, 2019 and National Tree Day on July 28th, 2019.
- Marine plastic pollution is a huge issue for many marine and coastal mammals such as turtles, tortoises, dolphins and whales. Avoid single-use plastics where possible and find out how to recycle the unavoidable stuff at RecyclingNearYou.
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