Following up on the Irian Porcupine or Echidna (Zaglossus bruijnii) identification survey, which was carried out from 17 October to 1 November 2022, the West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) and FORCLIME held a coordination meeting on 11 November 2022. The purpose of this online meeting was to discuss and analyze the results of the Echidna identification survey prior to the compiling of a survey report, and the meeting was opened by the Head of the Technical Section of the West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center, Mr. Tasliman, SP., MP.

The results of the echidna identification survey are set to be written up in journals and a book. In this regard, the meeting participants agreed to compile two journals, one of which will address the morphological characteristics and distribution of the echidna habitat within the Beriat Natural Tourism Park (TWA), South Sorong, while the other will tackle perceptions of the communities living around the Beriat TWA regarding the echidna. Writing for these journals will be compiled during the remainder of 2022. Meanwhile, discussions of the book will commence at a later date.

A Guide to the Implementation of the Irian Hedgehog Survey will also be produced in the future and will draw on the experiences of the echidna identification survey. A special meeting will be scheduled which will address the production of this guidebook.

The immediate follow-up to this coordination meeting, however, will involve the completion of the above-mentioned two journals by November 29 based on the mutually agreed outline.

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