Manokwari (01/23/2020), - Head of the West Papua Province Regional Research and Development Agency, Prof.Dr. Charlie Heatubun, S.Hut., M.Sc, representing the Head of the Government Administration Bureau of West Papua Province, conveyed the progress of the Sustainable Development initiative in West Papua in the Interactive Sustainable Development Talkshow between the Government of West Papua Province and Development Partners, in Manokwari, Thursday (01/23) / 2020).

"It has been identified partners who helped the Government guard 14 items including local NGOs which are detailed in this full report, including OPD in West Papua. Of the 14 items, there are items about spatial planning, where most of the partners support us, "said Prof. Charlie.

Whereas the ninth and twelfth items were only one or two supporting partners. So Prof. Charlie hopes that it needs to be well regulated so that there is no overlap by development partners and local governments, so that resources can be used effectively and efficiently.

(Item ninth of the 2018 ICBE Declaration: Encouraging the establishment of an independent institution for the resolution of environmental disputes in accordance with the mandate of article 64 of Law 21/2001, and committed to carrying out oversight functions of sustainable management of natural resources and access to benefits by indigenous peoples who are also mandated by Law 23/2014 on Government The two provinces are also committed to encourage the synchronization and synergy of development policies in the Land of Papua through active consultation efforts between the central government and the provincial government as mandated by Presidential Instruction 9/2017.

While the twelfth item, which is committed to encouraging and facilitating the acceleration of governor regulations related to food security in the Land of Papua with the full involvement of the government, Parliament, MRP and indigenous peoples.)

From the available information data, said Prof. Charlie, for 2019 the development support from partners is quite large, the details have been conveyed to the Governor of West Papua. It was also identified from the partners that there were currently a number of things that would be prioritized, especially in the completion of the spatial revision document which had to be resolved. "According to logic, if the RTRW is completed, then development activities will become more controlled, more appropriate to the carrying capacity and the environmental capacity," he said.

This Professor in the Field of Forestry Science hopes that the disaster in Wasior, Jayapura and even the recent flooding in Jakarta could be a lesson. "Hopefully such things do not happen (in West Papua). If floods, landslides occur, regional leaders will later blame each other between one Regency and another. This concerns the overall spatial planning that cannot be separated, "he explained.

Said Prof. Charlie, green investment in West Papua is also a priority. Because by determining the goals of sustainable development, of course, by limiting the extraction of natural resources. Like it or not, economic improvement in West Papua must be done in more environmentally friendly ways.

"Surely the road map and a grand design for green investment have been prepared and in a not too long time. Next month there is a high-level meeting in Sorong, we hope it will bring fresh air especially for green investment in West Papua. The Governor has ordered us to prepare all of it. So that the support of this development partner is highly expected for the success of the meeting in Sorong later, "said Prof. Charlie.

Prof. Charlie also presented dozens of actions and follow-up plans that will be focused on 2020. "Many things will be done, how to support KLHS for the West Papua RTRW and RPJM, as well as regulations derived from the Perdasus sustainable development, strengthening institutional capacity and individual capacity both in the government and existing institutions including traditional institutions are priorities to be done immediately, "he said.

He continued, as well as the development of leading commodities in non-deforestation areas that could bring economic improvement and also welfare for the community would be a common concern.

 Also reviewing existing licenses so that from concessions or inactive forest land use, it can be handed over to indigenous peoples and used for things that are more useful, both in terms of the economy and in terms of environmental conservation of natural resources.

Also related to fiscal transfers for fiscal strengthening in West Papua in supporting sustainable development will be a priority going forward.

"Surely it has become our commitment that if commodity development is possible there should be no further development of palm oil commodities. But the commodities that we categorize as non-deforestation commodities and have high economic value," he said.

Written by: Ab Yomo