The province of Southwest Papua was only established in December 2022, and in an effort to optimize work at the site level, the Southwest Papua Province Environmental, Forestry and Agricultural Service (Dinas LHKP) is working with Section II of the Maluku-Papua Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency (BPSKL) in order to encourage the formation of a Working Group (Pokja) for the Acceleration of Social Forestry (PPS). The Pokja PPS is ultimately aiming to support social forestry programmes in Southwest Papua Province through coordination, collaboration, synergy between stakeholders, coaching, supervision and support for cross-sector collaborations.

The Pokja PPS for Southwest Papua Province was formed through the issuance of Decree of the Governor of Southwest Papua Number 100.3.3.1/69/6/2023 last June. Following up on this decree, the Dinas LHKP held a meeting with Pokja PPS members on 28 July 2023 in the Meeting Room of the Southwest Papua Center for Conservation and Natural Resources (BBKSDA) in Sorong. The purpose of the meeting was to provide coordination in relation to the preparation of strategic and action plans, as well as to map out the distribution of roles and responsibilities among Pokja members in relation to the implementation of their activities. The meeting was opened by the Head of the Southwest Papua Province Environmental, Forestry and Agricultural Service, Mr. Julian Kelly Kambu ST., M.Sc., and was attended by Pokja PPS members and development partners from Southwest Papua Province.

During the meeting, the Head of Section II at BPSKL Maluku-Papua, Ms. Lilian Komaling, S.Hut., M.Sc., explained the Social Forestry Programme in Southwest Papua Province. Instruction was then given by the Head of the Southwest Papua Province Environmental, Forestry and Agricultural Service. In his presentation, Mr. Julian Kelly Kambu explained that Southwest Papua Province was to become a model for the acceleration of Social Forestry on the island of Papua. This Social Forestry Programme is aiming to improve people’s welfare in order to achieve and maintain sustainable forests.

For more information, please contact:
Nita Yohana, Advisor 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