PALMOILMAGAZINE, PAPUA – The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia / Walhi) in Papua has underscored the importance of the Papua Province’s commitment to safeguarding its forests and environment, particularly to support the livelihoods of indigenous communities in the region.
Maikel Primus Peuki, Executive Director of Walhi Papua, highlighted the significant degradation of Papua’s forests due to activities such as palm oil plantations, mining, extractive industries, and other ventures authorized by the central government.
According to Peuki, Papua’s forests cover approximately 94.1 million hectares, accounting for around 50.1% of Indonesia’s total forest area. These forests are of paramount importance, boasting unparalleled natural diversity worldwide, with thousands of species including hundreds of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
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“The forests are crucial for the livelihoods of indigenous Papuans, serving as their primary sources of sustenance. Therefore, it is imperative for the government to protect the province’s forests through genuine commitment when formulating policies,” Peuki stated in an official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com on Monday (22/4/2024).
He also raised concerns about the decentralization and new autonomy in Papua Province, which has sparked controversy across various sectors. Peuki emphasized the province’s obligation to prioritize the protection of the environment and forests in its long-term development plans.
In this context, he emphasized it would be significant to involve every related party including civil organizations, environmental organizations, indigenous people of Papua to formulate policy and development plans.
“We hope that every indigenous people in Papua would immediately map and document their region before it is too late from ecology disasters and climate crisis. We would keep encouraging the government to acknowledge and protect the regions where the people cultivate around the forests and small islands’ coasts. We would propose scheme of rescue to solve the bad impacts from climate crisis,” he said.
Walhi Papua wanted to maintain environmental sustainability and the indigenous people’s lives in Papua as part of natural conservation and man’s life globally. (T2)
