During the recent visit of the FORCLIME Programme Director to Tanah Papua, attending a coordination meeting with the Papua Forestry and Environment Service (Dinas KLH) was on the agenda. The meeting chaired by the Head of the Forestry and Environment Service, Mr Jan Jap L. Ormuseray, S.H., M.Sc., and was held on 23 May 2022 in the Dinas KLH meeting room in Jayapura, Papua Province.

The meeting discussed strategic programmes that will be implemented by Dinas KLH and FORCLIME in the jointly determined supported village, namely Babrongko.

The work programmes were simultaneously prepared based on the potential of the village, as determined during a recent field visit. The village of Babrongko has potential in ecotourism and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), including Kombow (a basic material used for carving, painting bark and sculptures). Currently, some 5 hectares of Kombow trees originally planted as part of the Dinas KLH planting programme are ready to be harvested. Moreover, the community already has the ability to produce handicrafts from this important tree. However, these products need to be further refined in order to achieve greater economic value and to increase market demand. For this reason, it will be necessary to increase the capacity of the craftsman group. Kampung Babrongko is also famous for the abundant potential of its tilapia fish. In addition to being sold as fresh fish, tilapia can be processed into other products that are more durable, including shredded tilapia. Meanwhile, Production Forest Management Unit (KPHP) Unit XXIII also has ecotourism potential in relation to special interest tourism, including fishing and the observation of sea turtle nesting. As a result, expert support is needed to create successful ecotourism and FORCLIME is an integral part of this plan.

During the recent coordination meeting, FORCLIME confirmed its support for various activities, including the following:

• Support for KPHP XXIII, in addition to capacity building and support for bio-geophysical studies relating to the preparation of forest management plan documents (RPHJP). FORCLIME is also supporting the preparation of an ecotourism master plan through the provision of needed experts.
• Support for the sale of community products through the KPH Gallery and through digital marketing training, as well as leadership training at the management level through the Forest Management Unit (KPH) and KPH Gallery.

Other topics that were also discussed at the meeting and that will require support from FORCLIME included Papua’s hosting of the Green Climate Fund Task Force (GCFTF) 2023, strengthening the capacity of the REDD+ Working Group, development of NTFPs (particularly in relation to food safety certification) and the utilization of sago processing waste in relation to sago mushroom farming.

In his speech, the Head of the Dinas KLH affirmed that the most important programme involved increasing the capacities of the human resources available to the community, so that the potentials around them can be developed.

“FORCLIME's support for Dinas KLH is highly strategic because FORCLIME's programmes are in line with programmes being run by Dinas KLH and are also consistent with the Vision and Mission of the Governor of Papua,” explained Mr. Jan Jap L. Ormuseray, S.H, M.Sc., Head of the Dinas KLH for Papua Province.

During the coordination meeting, it was also agreed that a Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process should be implemented in the assisted village in the near future.

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