By Enda Balina, World Vision Indonesia Communications

The environmental condition in Papua province is deteriorating rapidly. Papua’s ancient rain forests have come under greater threats of deforestation as a direct impact of illegal logging, forest conversion for plantation agriculture, and many other factors. In the provincial capital of Jayapura, landslides have killed at least 15 people since last January.

Papua is the largest province of Indonesia, comprising a majority part of the western half of the island of New Guinea and nearby islands. The marvellous beauty of the rainforests in Papua has been threatened by illegal and increasing deforestation activities.

In the urban city of Jayapura, reservoir areas have been turned into shopping centres, protective forests as the main source of water has been threatened, and the excavation of pit sand and mountain stones have been carried out on the sides of the main roads. The condition has been made even worse by the rapidly rising population of Jayapura.

“After more people started to inhabit the mountains, opening the intact lands and cutting the trees, the quality of water that flows into the community is deteriorating,” said Mrs. Yuliana Auperay of Jayapura. The mother of seven was delighted with the reforestation program conducted by World Vision.

“The whole community is pleased that World Vision distributed the seeds to help recover the environment,” she said. Her village is vulnerable to flood and landslide.

Since 2008, World Vision has planted more than 7,200 trees in Jayapura. Implemented by Port Numbay Area Development Programme, the reforestation programme was intended to protect and restore the environment from ecological threats such as erosion, landslide and flood in the mountainous area, as well abrasion along the shoreline.

The seeds were planted in 21 locations, including Muara Tami sub district, close to the border of Papua New Guinea. Different varieties of seed were distributed to the community, including pines, cocoa, teak, and rambutan.

Working together with the community since 2006, World Vision identified a number of vulnerable sites in Jayapura. In 2009, 16 monitoring groups were formed, each consisting of 7-10 people from the community. Their main task is to coordinate and monitor the reforestation programme and other related programmes.

“We all need to cooperate in safeguarding Indonesia’s forests. Without the participation of all stakeholders, any programme conducted will not be sustainable. The government’s and community’s participation is the key to make this effort works out,” says World Vision Papua Regional Manager, Roriwo Karetji.