With the overall purpose of preparing a plan to develop the human resources capacity of the Papua Province Forestry and Environment Service (DKLH), particularly within the field of geographic information systems (GIS)/mapping, DKLH, working in conjunction with FORCLIME and the Jayapura Region XV Sustainable Forest Management Center (BPHL), held an online meeting on the 16 May 2024. This meeting was a follow-up to a previous Training Needs Assessment (TNA) that was carried out in August 2023, with the dissemination of the results of this TNA being completed in November 2023.

During the meeting, Mr. Imam from BPHL shared his experience of conducting GIS training sessions in 2022 and 2023 with the attendees. Among the lessons learned during these sessions was the fact that two days of training were insufficient. Moreover, there had been a lack of opportunity to apply the knowledge after the completion of the training sessions. Mr. Imam also stated that in 2024, BPHL will allocate a budget for similar activities and expressed the hope that the training activities in question would be synergistic in terms of time, participants and presenters.

During the meeting, FORCLIME’s advisor for GIS/Remote Sensing and eLearning, Danan Hadi, presented the results of the TNA analysis, which recommended that Basic Level GIS training be undertaken through the use of free, open-source software (FOSS) based applications. Mr. Hadi’s presentation also addressed the training curriculum and syllabus, which include learning materials, learning methods (both theory and practice), instruction hours for training implementation and post-training follow-up plans. In addition to being designated as priority training based on TNA results, this GIS training program is also based on a request that was filed with the Head of Papua DKLH and that was submitted to FORCLIME in 2021 and 2022.

Mr. Ridwan Atmojo (Papua DKLH official) explained during his address that seven forest management units (KPHs) are currently operational in Papua. One of these KPH has to prepare a new Long Term Forest Management Plan (RPHJP) due to the fact that its RPHJP has already expired. Additionally, the other six KPHs are having to revise their RPHJP due to changes in the relevant area sizes. In order to prepare the RPHJP, KPH staff who are skilled within the field of GIS and mapping will be required and will design the forest layouts of the relevant KPH areas.

DKLH has welcomed and has expressed its gratitude for the FORCLIME and BPHL initiative, which will involve the organization of GIS training sessions for DKLH and KPH staff. DKLH hopes that every KPH will become involved in this GIS training programme and that FORCLIME will be able to provide them with post-training assistance. In addition, it is also hoped that FORCLIME and BPHL will be able to work together so that the development of DKLH and KPH HR capacity within Papua, particularly within the field of GIS, can be implemented in a structured and sustainable manner.

This meeting is set to be followed up with further discussions between FORCLIME, the Papua Forestry and Environment Service and BPHL Region XV Jayapura.

For more information, please contact:
Danan P. Hadi, Adviser for Remote Sensing/GIS and eLearning
Edy Marbyanto, Strategic Area Manager for Human Capacity Development
Anna Manyakori, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Tanah Papua