Lorentz National Park – Supplied
Jayapura, Jubi -Lorentz National Park (TNL) is a very large region, covering an area of 2.505 million hectares, and rich in natural resources, yet it is lacking in manpower, facilities and infrastructure.
For it is expected to have balance between economic interests and indigenous peoples rights, as well as to guarantee the effectiveness of its management.
“The management activities consist of management support and technical tasks, conservation, protection and forest protection, biodiversity conservation, forest fire control, and utilization of environmental services and natural attractions. In the aspect of management, budget management is very small compared to the operating budget, “said director of Papua Program WWF Indonesia and chairman of the Forum of Collaborative Management of Lorentz National Park, Benja Mambai, during Multifunction Dialogue for Innovation Management of Protected Areas Equitable and Sustainable (Learning from Park Management Lourentz and Initiatives National Conservation District Tambrauw) to Jubi, Grand Abe Hotel on last week.
He added the core zone is only about 19% out of the total 2.5 million hectares, while the forest zone, the utilization zone and special zone above 70%. There are differences in paradigm, in which the public interest is more accommodated.
“The purpose of collaboration forum is to coordinate the regional development plan with the aim of preserving the region of TNL, to accommodate the need for community governance and local government in line with the vision area management of TNL, to improve the welfare of the community through the empowerment of potential in and around the region, and to oversee the implementation RPTN and TNL zone in each district, “he said.
In terms of legal basis, he said this forum has been approved and had decree issued by the Governor of Papua. This forum will focus on aspect of the preservation and welfare of the community.
“Indigenous peoples play very important role in the participatory mapping process. Map is a strategic tool which people can be actively involved, “he said.
David Jimanipits, Indigenous Consultative Organization Representative Asmat, said indigenous peoples’ participation in the collaborative management of Lorentz National Park is still limited to oral tradition that developed in the community until now.
“Traditional institutions do not have a notary deed, to make sure whether there is an interest intervention or not besides the interests of indigenous peoples. The role of institution is only to facilitate communication and foster cooperation with partners. It is important to protect it so that next generations can come to enjoy it, “he said. (Roy Ratumakin/ Tina)
