Illustration of West Papua Province – papuabaratprov.go.id
Manokwari, Jubi – West Papua Province succeeded in collecting overseas aid funds of 18 million US dollars to preserve the environment in the area of coral reefs in this area.
This cannot be separated from the status of West Papua as a conservation province and the existence of the world’s coral reef triangle in Raja Ampat, Kaimana, and Teluk Wondama.
Head of West Papua Research and Development Agency Charley Heatubun, in Manokwari on Sunday (October 29), said the West Papua Provincial Government has partnered with Kehati Foundation following the launch of the conservation province.
“The Kehati Foundation will be managing the foreign aid fund, and now there are some foreign donors and funds raised about 18 million US dollars,” Charley said.
He expressed that cooperation with Yayasan Kehati was conducted to optimize the management of Raswan Bloe Abadi area.
It is expected that the presence of Kehati and donor assistance can optimize the efforts of environmental conservation and community empowerment in the area of the world’s coral reef triangle in the area.
“The world’s coral reef triangle is located in Raja Ampat, Kaimana and Teluk Wondama, and we are entrusted to Kehati to manage the relief funds,” he said.
Charley said that in 2018 there will be an international conference. It is hoped that Kehati can create new innovations on biodiversity conservation and community empowerment in the area.
He added that as many as 18 million US dollars of foreign aid funds are currently stored in Singapore. Interest from the fund will be used to finance conservation activities in West Papua.
“Funds are managed by Kehati, if there are proposals related to conservation efforts can be submitted to Kehati, who will select and determine a feasible one,” he said.
According to him, all elements such as universities and community institutions can submit proposals for activities to support conservation programs in this area. (Antara/Zely)
