Organized by the Technical Implementation Unit of Taman Burung and Taman Anggrek (TBTA) of the Environment and Forestry Services of Papua province, with additional support from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and UK Climate Change Unit (UKCCU).

Indonesia is recognized as the world’s richest country in orchid species, not only in terms of genera, but also in varieties and types. The island of Papua, in particular, has a high diversity of orchids. Around 2500 species are estimated to grow on Papua, and nearly half of the country’s species are found there. Most orchids are still wild and some of them are endemic to Papua such as Paphiopedilum glanduliferum (Blume) Stein, Grammitis ceratocarpa, Grammitis coredrosora and Grammitis habbensis. One well-known species is the Irian giant orchid known as Grammatophyllum papuanuum.

Similarly, Indonesia’s Papua also harbors many bird species. As of 31 December 2019, around 716 bird species have been recorded on the island. They include 61 West Papua endemics, 289 regional New Guinea endemics, 243 widespread residents, 84 regular migrants, 33 vagrants and 6 recently introduced and yet poorly established species. [i]

Unfortunately, this orchid and bird wealth has not been fully understood or appreciated by the public, including the Indonesian people themselves. The species have also been subject to serious threats such as illegal hunting, trade, deforestation and other environmental damage. At best, they become hard to find; at worst, they become extinct.

The government has continued attempts to conserve and protect these plant and animal species in situ. In addition, through the Environment and Forestry Offices, the government has made efforts to designate a specific park area, Taman Burung dan Taman Anggrek (TBTA) in Biak. It plans to assign a Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) to manage the park and carry out ex situ conservation activities. These efforts have two primary goals. First, they would collect, protect and conserve orchid and bird species as well as endangered species (particularly those endemic to Papua). Second, they would develop the park to become the center for eco-tourism and eco-education (i.e. an eco-park) in Papua. With the help of consultants, the UPTD has prepared a master plan outlining strategies and actions for the development and management of TBTA.

The Project

The CIFOR project, “A Scientific Advocacy Support Mechanism for Sustainable Development in Papua and West Papua,” is financed by UKCCU. Through this project, CIFOR has been supporting the governments of West Papua and Papua provinces to realize/implement the commitments in the Manokwari Declaration through evidence-based and tested policies and measures. To contribute to biodiversity conservation and the protection of endemic species (No. 6 and No. 10 of the Manokwari Declaration), this project complements efforts of the Papua government to conserve orchid and bird species (i.e. preparing a master plan for the TBTA). To that end, it promotes the importance of conservation measures through this ex situ model, shares lessons on similar efforts by other organizations and in other provinces, and ensures the process for developing any strategy and actions for ex situ conservation is inclusive and participative.

This seminar will be held offline in Asana Hotel, Biak, and a webinar will be held simultaneously. Both will be attended by national key resource persons and participants relevant to the development of ex situ conservation, governments, academics, researchers, non-governmental organisations, local community groups and students.

The seminar event will feature a number of speakers from the management of TBTA, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah/TMII, PT. Tranadi Tata Utami (a consultancy firm assigned to develop the master plan), Ministry of Environment and Forestry and key scientists from Universitas Papua (UNIPA), Universitas Cendrawasih (Uncen) and Universitas Ottow Geissler (UOG).

The Project

The CIFOR project, “A Scientific Advocacy Support Mechanism for Sustainable Development in Papua and West Papua,” is financed by UKCCU. Through this project, CIFOR has been supporting the governments of West Papua and Papua provinces to realize/implement the commitments in the Manokwari Declaration through evidence-based and tested policies and measures. To contribute to biodiversity conservation and the protection of endemic species (No. 6 and No. 10 of the Manokwari Declaration), this project complements efforts of the Papua government to conserve orchid and bird species (i.e. preparing a master plan for the TBTA). To that end, it promotes the importance of conservation measures through this ex situ model, shares lessons on similar efforts by other organizations and in other provinces, and ensures the process for developing any strategy and actions for ex situ conservation is inclusive and participative.

CIFOR supported the first seminar on the master plan for TBTA on 14 November 2019. At that seminar, CIFOR scientists shared research findings and lessons learned on the cultivation of orchids in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan. 

REGISTER NOW

Further information, please contact:

John H. Mampioper, GdipDevPrac., M.Eng, Head of TBTA, Environment and Forestry Offices of Papua province, jhmampioper@gmail.com

Heru Komarudin, Researcher, Value-chains, Finance and Investment Research Team, CIFOR, h.komarudin@cgiar.org

[i] https://www.bird-watching-papua-adventure-travel.com/listbirdspapua.html

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