By: Moses Walker )*
Optimal government preserves Papua’s nature. This is indicated by the extensive forest cover in Papua which is currently the largest forest cover in Indonesia.
Besides Mount Jayawijaya, Papua is also known for its pristine forests. Papua’s natural shade makes it one of the lungs of the world, besides Kalimantan. The natural conditions on Earth of Cendrawasih are unique, with green nature, hills and mountains, and beautiful beaches.
Natural conservation in Papua must be maintained so that it is not damaged and makes its citizens cry. If nature is not maintained, it can bring 1001 disasters, such as landslides, floods, and so on. The government ensures that Earth of Cendrawasih is preserved and that there is no illegal logging or other actions that destroy the forest there.
Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Papua has a forest cover area of 34.4 hectares. This area is the largest when compared to Kalimantan or other islands in Indonesia. The forest cover area increased by 4% compared to last year.
In a sense, the government has succeeded in preserving Papua’s nature because there has been an increase in forest cover. This means that there is reforestation and other programs to make Papua more green, because apart from being the lungs of the world, forests are also a source of livelihood for some of its people. They can take some of the produce in the forest and sell it to the market.
Protecting Papua’s nature is a manifestation of the sustainable development program on the Earth of Cendrawasih. In a sense, development in Papua will continue for years to come and it is certain that it will not damage the natural beauty and beauty there. Forests in Papua will not be deforested because of rapid development.
Indeed, there were concerns when various infrastructures were being built in Papua, such as the Youtefa Bridge and the Trans Papua Road. However, the government guarantees that there will be no forest damage due to the construction, because before starting the project, experts from the Environment Agency have consulted.
The government will not have the heart to destroy the natural beauty of Papua because destroying the forest is a crime. The forests on Earth of Cendrawasih will be highly guarded, because they can become a tourist attraction as well as prevent us from the effects of global warming. The temperature in Indonesia must be maintained, the way is by continuing to hold programs for nature conservation.
Don’t let Papua’s forests be deforested and only become history, because the government is taking care that there is no illegal logging there. Security is also tightened so that no rogue elements steal wood and intend to clear the forest. Do not let the birds of paradise and other animals in the forest become homeless.
Preserving nature certainly requires a lot of funds and village funds given by the central government can be used partially to cover it. If there is money from the village fund, it can pay forest guards, replant damaged plants (because they are old or have been hit by a natural disaster), etc.
The community is also encouraged to participate in preserving nature by not cutting down trees carelessly. Even if a tree is cut down, it’s because it’s too tall and so worried that it will fall and damage the surrounding buildings, or because the roots are too big to damage roads.
Natural conservation on the Earth of Cendrawasih is really guarded by the central government and local governments. Some village funds are allowed to be disbursed so that the protection of Papua’s forests and nature is getting tighter. There is no illegal logging that will harm, because the people are very protective of nature there.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Semarang
