The Sausapor Declaration has served as a stepping stone towards convening and balancing the dynamics of governmental politics, conservation efforts, the protection of customary communities’ rights, and the sustainable management of natural resources in Tambrauw District. The Declaration supported the establishment of Tambrauw as a Conservation District, while also acknowledging the rights of customary communities in shaping political priorities of the local government, which include: a) stewardship of extensive remaining tropical forests (91.9% forest cover); b) management of protected areas, which represent 77-80% of the total area of the District; c) acknowledging the cultural traditions of five major indigenous groups; and, d) securing the active support of formal institutions for these goals. Two stages have shaped the effort to establish the Conservation District.  The first stage involved the period prior to the formal declaration, while the second ecompasses development and implementation of related policies.  Establishing local regulations and protecting local communities required extensive lobbying with the provincial and national government, as well as advocacy in various seminars, including both national and international conferences that provided strategic opportunities for securing support for the Conservation District. These steps have been instrumental in gaining legitimacy and public support for relevant conservation policies and for protecting the rights of customary communities. As one example, the review of Tambrauw spatial planning documents  (RTRW) led to prioritizing eco-tourism as a leading sector for economic development, along with the creation of an overall agropolitan and renewable energy strategy.

Abstract. Srau M, Bawole R, Marwa J, Sinery AS, Cabuy RL. 2022. Diversity, composition, structure and canopy cover of mangrove trees in six locations along Bintuni riverbank, Bintuni Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5835-5843. Mangroves provide various benefits of ecological and socio-economic aspects. Such benefits could be delivered if mangrove vegetation is in good condition, indicated by several ecological parameters. This study was conducted to investigate the diversity, composition, structure, and canopy cover of mangrove trees along Bintuni riverbank, Bintuni Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. There were six different locations representing biotic and abiotic conditions. The study only focused on the mangrove tree stage with a total of 175 plots established, of which each plot had a size of 10 × 10 m. The name of mangrove species, tree diameter, total height, and canopy cover percentage was recorded and measured. The result showed that the diversity and composition of mangrove trees varied among the six locations indicated by the importance value index (IVI) parameter. The estuary and sub-estuary areas were dominated by Rhizophora mucronata, while in the further area from the estuary toward the land, the dominant mangrove species was Avicennia sp. The highest number of mangrove trees was found in Kampung Lama 1 with 989 trees/ha (593 trees in 60 plots) with an average diameter of 18.8077 cm (SD±7.0279) and an average height of 8.9477 m (SD±2.2814). The lowest tree distribution was found in Kampung Masuhi with 940 trees/ha (94 trees in 10 plots) with an average diameter of 15.4787 m (SD±3.8205). The highest average of canopy covers was noted in the sub-river estuary with a percentage of 86.97% (SD±85) and the lowest percentage was in Kampung Masina with 59.89% (SD±124.85). Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was a significant difference in terms of average tree diameter and height among the six locations with a p-value of 0.00021 < 0.05 at 95% CI. There was a strong positive correlation between tree diameter and height, as indicated by R2 of 0.69. In addition, a statistical test of analysis of variance from each location was significantly different among these six locations.

Abstract. Murdjoko A, Djitmau DA, Sirami EV, Siburian RHS, Ungirwalu A, Mardiyadi Z, Wanma JF, Mofu WY, Marwa J, Susanti CME, Tokede MJ, Imburi CS, Sagrim M, Mamboai H, Sonbait LY, Dwiranti F, Salosa YY, Paembonan JB, Wiradyo ET, Unenor E, Benu NMH, Saragih ASB. 2021. Tree species diversity of Pegunungan Bintang, Papua, Indonesia as potency of wood supply. Biodiversitas 22: 5645-5655. The tropical rainforest is a primary global concern in many aspects. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the tree diversity in Pegunungan Bintang Forest, Papua, Indonesia. There are 10 dominant species from seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees, indicating the timber production potency. This study set systematic plots in Murkim and Teiraplu Sub-districts to collect taxonomic information, diameter, and clear bole height samples. The results showed that the forest was categorized as a tropical mixed due to diverse tree species. The leading plant families included Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Lauraceae, and Anacardiaceae, with various seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees. The potency of timber was reflected through sample distribution using the reverse J-shaped curve, identifying the merchantable trees with larger and smaller diameters as re-established. However, timber utilization management requires silvicultural treatments using selective logging by diameter limit and logging cycle for forest sustainability.

The challenge of integrating ecological, economic and social aspects of forest management is still a critical issue among stakeholders who agree on community-based forestry and the rights of indigenous peoples. In West Papua, the contrast of abundant natural resources with serious social inequalities and structured poverty is a continuing challenge for implementing a social forestry program. The process of establishing customary territories in West Papua is an important milestone in recognising its community entities. Is this scheme definitively able to answer the interests of access and management of indigenous peoples? This can help in achieving the sacred goal of protecting 70% of the forest area. This paper examines the dynamics of forest management in West Papua by the parties in customary forests. The low area designated for customary territories in West Papua, which has only reached 2,554.2 hectares, and the absence of a decree on the existence of customary forests is a form of injustice to the interests of local communities. The social forestry acceleration program intended to end the uncertainty surrounding customary forests is still in process. The roles of both on-site and off-site parties have not been optimal in realising customary forests in West Papua due to the complex and incomplete translation process at the site level. The results of the review show that interest is still focused on achieving an indicative-annual figure, which is still dominated by the village forest scheme. Hopefully, this year's acceleration of customary forests will become a milestone in West Papua, based on mutual need and desire.

This study identifies the benefits that traditional communities receive from the tropical rain forest in New Guinea, Indonesia. In this study, various benefit sharing schema developed by forest concession holder are assessed to understand the precise outcome compared to traditional welfare solutions. It further aims to identify benefit sharing schemas applied by concession investors in the forest sector and assesses these schema based on equitable principles. A questionnaire and semi‑structured interviews were used to collect data from traditional communities, concession holders, and the government. Interviews and field observations were randomly conducted and then analyzed for both quantitative and qualitative descriptions. The results indicate that there were five benefits sharing schemas i.e., those based on financial schema, based on the market, based on infrastructure, based on social management, and based on the transfer of knowledge and technology. Overall, all the schemas that were developed did not fulfil the same criteria. However, there were only two schemas that were considered to be equal and efficient: the financial based‑schema and infrastructure based‑schema. This is indicated by the larger number of criteria and requirements that they fulfil. Yet, all the schemas still present various conflicts either between customary communities and the government or between the communities and investors.