SAIRERI EXPEDITION EXPLORES PAPUA'S UNKNOWN MARITIME, FORESTRY POTENTIALS by Fardah

Jakarta, June 22, 2016 (Antara)- Going deep within kampongs, coastal regions, and forests of Papua is a unique experience as most areas of Indonesia's largest island area are yet to be explored.

         WWF Indonesia, in cooperation with the local administrations, recently concluded a 21-day Saireri Expedition aboard MV Gurano Bintang, which started on June 1, 2016, that explored and observed the social, economic, forest, and maritime environments in the districts of Yapen Islands and Biak Numfor in Papua.

         During the expedition, MV Gurano Bintang, with 35 people onboard, including the crew, sailed along the Cenderawasih Bay, which stretches 500 nautical miles, or 850 kilometers.

         The bay is known for the beautiful Cenderawasih (Paradise) bird and whale sharks. At least 31 tribes live in the Saireri communal area.          
    Rare flora and fauna as well as the unique cultures in areas around the bay have the potential to become tourist attractions. In fact, Cenderawasih Bay was popular before Raja Ampat was intensively promoted.

         The expedition was flagged off from Wasior and ended in Biak, according to Captain Bardin Tandiono, a Bajo sea gypsy man.

         The boat made stopovers at the beaches of Sarawandori, Ambai, Barawai, Sawendui, Aisai, and Asai kampongs in Yapen District and Samberpasi, Pasi, and Yenmanaina in Biak Numfor District.

         WWF collected data as well as documented and identified environmental issues in at least nine kampongs during the journey.

         As part of the expedition, the organization also educated the children in kampongs on sustainable development, according to WWF Indonesia Communication Coordinator for Papua Program Andhiani M. Kumalasari. 
    The results of the Saireri Expedition conducted in Cenderawasih Bay will serve as a model for an integrated terrestrial and marine program, according to WWF Indonesia.   
    The expedition selected the Yapen Islands and Biak Numfor for exploration as Yapen has terrestrial potential for a community forest program, WWF Indonesia's Papua Program Coordinator for Sustainable Forest Management, Piter Roki Aloysius, stated.

        In Yapen, WWF Indonesia has been carrying out a community forest program in the kampongs of Sawendui and Asai that have been granted concessionary rights by the Papua forestry office.

         In addition to the customary forest, Yapen has the Sawendui Beach, where various species of turtles, such as the leatherback, green, gray, and hawksbill, lay eggs.

          Besides being a preferred location for turtles to lay eggs, Sawendui is also a habitat for lobsters. 
   Based on a brief survey carried out by the team, it could be concluded that northern Yapen Islands District has forest ecotourism potential, while the southern part is maritime one.

       The Yapen Islands' forest is a habitat of Cenderawasih (Paradise) bird.

        When making stopovers in those two kampongs, the last of six villages visited during its Yapen Islands section, the team also collected data among other things on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and eco-tourism potential, Officer of the WWF Indonesia Program Papua Rianto Stev Amir said.

         Other findings included facts that several villages face shortage of teachers, lacks of road infrastructure and communication network, and have no access to electricity.

         The team also observed that local communities still maintain traditional wisdom that could help preserve and protect flora and fauna.    
    During the Biak section, the expedition traveled along the Padaido Islands, with stopovers in three kampongs --- Samberpasi, Pasi, and Mbromsi --- to collect data on the indicators of sustainable development goals, particularly with regard to education. 
   Besides, WWF Indonesia will help the Biak Numfor district administration manage the maritime potentials of Biak Island for the welfare of its people.  
    The wrapping up of the expedition in Biak coincided with the opening of the office of WWF Indonesia by acting CEO Benja Mambai of WWF Indonesia's Papua Program.    
    The NGO's environmental conservationists are ready to support Biak Numfor's conservation program in and around Cenderawasih Bay following the opening of its 32nd office.

          "The presence of the WWF office on Biak Island is a realization of the organization's commitment to becoming a partner of the district administration and sharing experiences in the marine conservation program on Biak Island," WWF Indonesia CEO Benja Mambai stated.  
     With an area of 786 thousand square kilometers, Papua Island comprises Indonesia's easternmost region and Papua New Guinea.

         Divided into Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia's Papua has seven major customary regions: Mamta in northeastern Papua, inhabited by 86 tribes; La Pago in eastern Papua, with 19 tribes; Anim-Ha in southeastern Papua, with 29 tribes; Mi-Pago in southern Papua, with 13 tribes; Doberai in southwestern Papua, with 18 tribes; Bomberai in northwestern Papua, with 52 tribes; and Saireri in Cenderawasih Bay, northern Papua, with 31 tribes. 
    Papua, the world's second-largest island after Greenland, had been called "Labadios" by Roman astronomer Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy), who had lived during 90-168 A.D., while Chinese traders in 500 A.D. had named it "Tungki."
    The name Papa-ua was given by the Tidore Kingdom, while Spanish traveler Karens de Retes, who had met indigenous Papuans in 1554, had called it Nueva Guinea. ***4***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 22-06-2016 16:01:15