With the aim of realizing the joint activity program plan for 2023, the West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) and FORCLIME carried out a self-assessment activity on conservation areas within the scope of BBKSDA Region I Sorong from 22 - 24 August 2023 in Sorong City, Southwest Papua. Five conservation areas in total carried out the self-assessments, specifically: Pulau Misool Nature Reserve (CA), CA Pulau Salawati, CA Pantai Sausapor, CA Pegunungan Tamrau Utara and Beriat Natural Tourism Park (TWA). The purpose of this activity was to assess the effectiveness of conservation area management in order to evaluate the management efforts that have been implemented to date. The Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) was the method selected to complete these self-assessments. The event was opened by Mr Fajar F.D. Darwis S.Hut., the West Papua BBKSDA Forest Ecosystem Manager, and was attended by 35 participants, including representatives from West Papua BBKSDA, community leaders, traditional leaders, village governments from the five assessed areas and development partners (FORCLIME and FFI).

During the event, Mr. Mohamad Rizki Riadhi, S.Hut., the West Papua BBKSDA Forest Ecosystem Manager, broke down the profiles of the five conservation areas that were being assessed. Meanwhile, the self-assessment activity for conservation area management was facilitated by Dr. Ismet Khaeruddin, FORCLIME's senior advisor for biodiversity conservation.

The Directorate-General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (Ditjen KSDAE) at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry uses the METT method, which is an internationally accepted approach, to monitor and assess the overall management of conservation areas. These evaluations are carried out every two years. Assessments of the effectiveness of conservation area management are one of the performance targets for conservation area management set out under the Ditjen KSDAE's Strategic Plan (Renstra) for 2020 – 2024 and involve Activity Performance Indicators (IKK). The Directorate-General of KSDAE has determined the effectiveness values of conservation area management to monitor management effectiveness achievements within conservation areas.

The results of self-assessments will be drawn up as reports for each conservation area that will subsequently the ratified by the Director-General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. These reports will then be used as a planning guide for the West Papua BBKSDA over the next two years. In addition, these results will also serve as a reference for collaborative programmes that are undertaken with BBKSDA West Papua partners.

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 Tanah Papua