The province of Papua has established a Working Group on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest and Land Degradation (Pokja REDD) and is currently in the stages of establishing a secretariat, selecting personnel, developing activities and proposing financing for the project. As the focal point of Pokja REDD, the Papua Province Forestry and Environment Service (DKLH) needs the support and cooperation of all of the relevant parties in terms of initiating Pokja's operations, including exchanges of knowledge with other provinces that have undergone similar experiences. As a result, FORCLIME decided to organise a study visit to West Kalimantan for DKLH Papua and related parties in order to explore forestry issues and learn about the working system of the REDD+ Working Group in West Kalimantan.

The visit was held from 22 - 27 November 2021 and saw participation from representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Papua Province DKLH, the Papua Province Regional Development Planning Agency, the University of Cenderawasih and the Natural Resources Conservation Centers (BBKSDA) in Papua and West Papua. Participants arrived in Pontianak on Sunday, 21 November 2021 and were greeted by the Head of the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) for West Kalimantan Province, Ir. H. Adiyani, MH, before a visit to the Equator Monument, which is one of Pontianak’s best-known landmarks.

During the study visit, the participants held discussions with their West Kalimantan partners about the activities being implemented by the REDD+ Working Group, as well as forest management initiatives being run by various parties, including communities, universities, customary forests and forest management units (KPHs). The participants also visited KPH Kubu Raya in Rasau Jaya Village, which was the location of the previous phase of FORCLIME activities. The participants also received information on forest-fire prevention programmes at the site level, including land clearance without burning, the development of productive plantation businesses on peatlands and the practice of making wood acid (a liquid substance that is produced through the precisely controlled pyrolysis of biomass).

‘This study visit has been useful as it supports my work, particularly as it relates to forestry development planning within Papua Province, the establishment of a REDD+ working group and strategies for the protection of the environment and forests and that involve the combining of the livelihoods of local communities living around the forest,’ explained Dr. Estiko Tri Wiradyo, a representative of the Forestry and Environment Service of Papua Province.

During the study visit, participants also visited the Gunung Palung National Park Office in Ketapang and the Alam Sehat Lestari Foundation (ASRI) in Sukadana, where they were addressed by various relevant parties and got to observe firsthand the health and conservation programmes being implemented by ASRI within the Gunung Palung National Park area. A similar programme is set to be implemented by ASRI within Papua. A feasibility study is currently being carried out, supported by FORCLIME, which will gather information on the best location for the implementation of a health and conservation programme within Tanah Papua. This programme will ultimately be developed by ASRI.

For more information, please contact:
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces
Jumtani, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Value Chains, Focal Point Green Climate Fund
Nurdita Rahmadani, Junior Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting