West Papua to Hold International Conference on Biological Resources

Manokwari,(Antaranews West Papua)-The provincial administration of West Papua plans to hold an international conference on biological resource varieties, eco-tourism, and creative economy to optimize utilization of natural resources and empowerment of the local people.

Head of the West Papua Research and Development Center Charley Heatubun said delegations from a number of countries, local and foreign non government organizations are expected to take part in the conference from October 7 to 10 this year.

The conference is to show the Central Government and other countries that West Papua is serious in applying environmental conservation program, Charley said here on Monday.

Currently the West Papua Development and Research Center is coordinating with a coalition of local NGOs, Wolrd Wild Life (WWF), International Conservation, Asia Fondation, and other NGOs , the embassy of Norway and Britain as the donor countries for the conference.

"The targets we would like to achieve are to revise area and layout plan to reflect West Papua as conservation province," Charley said.

In addition the Center wants West Papua to have national park or new preserve area and to create intensive scheme of fiscal and fund transfers as an incentive for conservation of forest and varieties of biological resources in West Papua.

Charley said he wants change in the paradigm especially in the Central Government that tropical forest conservation both in West Papua and Papua is a capital for development.

Thereby the size of virgin forests, which is still well maintained and preserved in the two provinces, would be included in as an indicator in calculating general allocation fund and special allocation fund for the provinces, he said.

"This would be a fiscal incentive to be given to the regional administrations by Jakarta to support sustainable development, as we know that sustainable development goals have been ratified and have become commitment of all countries in the world," he said.

The results of the conference would be reported by the governor to the Central Government and would be presented at the forthcoming meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to be held in Bali in October 12-13, he said.(*)