A Natural and Cultural Uniqueness Harmonization and Amazing Local Culture on Bird's Head Seascape of Papua

A Natural and Cultural Uniqueness Harmonization and Amazing Local Culture on Bird’s Head Seascape of Papua © Cipto Aji Gunawan / WWF-Indonesia Cendrawasih Bay, PAPUA

In 2002, Indonesia declared Papua’s Cendrawasih bay as marine national park Total Cendrawasih bay based on forestry ministrial decree No. 8009/Kpts-II/2002. The bay is located in marine national park area Wondama Regency, West Papua Province and Nabire Regency, Papua Province. is 1.453.500 hectares, Total Cendrawasih bay marine national park area is 1.453.500 hectares, located precisely covering five districts and two provinces, Wondama Bay Regency located precisely covering and Manokwari Regency of West Papua Province, and Nabire Regency, Yapen five districts and two Regency, and Waropen Regency of Papua Province. The National Park area provinces, Wondama Bay consists about 12.400 hectares (0.9%) of coastal plains and land area of 55.800 hectares, whereas the waters amounted to 1.305 million hectares (89.9%) with a Regency and Manokwari stretch of coral reef up to 80.000 hectares (5.5%). Regency of West Papua Province, and Nabire With almost 100% of waters area, the bay is rich with sea resources, species, and unique characteristics. This is why, the people of Wondama and Nabire Regency, Yapen Regency, interact intimately with the National Park. There are over than 22,293 people live in and Waropen Regency of Wondama Regency, whilst Nabire Regency has 106,468 people, and most of their Papua Province. livelihoods are as fisherman.

The Wealth

The wealth of Cendrawasih Bay National Park is astonishing. Here is some of it:

a. Hard corals for more than 502 kinds: – 456 kinds are confirmed, 32 kinds are possible additions of known species, and 14 new kinds that are undescribed & endemic – Two sites: Purup Island and Numamurang strait has the highest “within-site Diversity” that ever recorded in the world – There are about 178 kind of corals per site – this is also the highest in the world compare with Raja Ampat, West Papua with 131 kinds/site – The covers of living corals is about 35.38% at 6, 12, and 20 meters depth.

b. About 1.156 kinds of reef fish. Includes endemic species: • Chirrhilabrus cendrawasih, (Allen and Erdman 2006) • Paracheilinus Walton, Allen and Erdman 2006 (found surround Yapen to Purup) • Apogon Oxygrammus, Allen, 2001 (found at Raja Ampat & Cendrawasih Bay) Calumia sp (Goby species founded at Cendrawasih Bay and Fak-fak) • Chrysiptera pricei, (Allen and Adrim, 1992) (damselfish)Yapen to Purup-TC • Chromis unipa, (Allen and Erdman, 2008 by UNIPA and team of BBTNTC) • Pterocaesio monikae, (Allen and Erdman 2008) • Pictichromis caitlinae, (Allen, Gill and Erdman, 2008) • Hemiscyllum galei, (Allen and Erdman, 2008) c. 37 Crustaceae/Stomatopoda, includes 5 new species (4 of it is endemic), compare with Raja Ampat (37 kinds) and Wakatobi (34 kinds) d. And one of unique species is the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

Threats

Some of the threats to sustainability of the marine park include: • Utilization of bomb, poison (potassium, cyanide, etc), and other hazardous equipments. • Insufficient patrol and law enforcement in the core zone. • Coral Damage caused by bombs, cyanide, and others • Oil Pollution from boats • The Sea as a Giant Garbage Bag for uneducated and unaware people. • Fish Platforms (Bagan) that affects the locals trade • Development on the mainland such as logging companies and palm oil plantations will have an impact to the sea resources. • Diminished source of income from the sea resources. • Public awareness on integrated conservation is very limited.

Early Successes & WWF Work Programs

Cooperation and excellent support from the West Papua and Papua Province as well as local government of Wondama and Nabire in the design and setting of: a. Cendrawasih Bay National Park Zoning (2009) b. Cendrawasih Bay National Park Management Plan (2009) c. Harmonious integration Cendrawasih Bay National Park process in Wondama spatial zoning (2010) d. Zoning Socialization in six Wondama District that fully funded from Wondama Bappeda Work Program (2010)

WWF-Indonesia Marine Programs has goals to mitigate down the threats by: a. Biological surveys and monitoring to obtain adequate data and scientific information; b. Management of Cendrawasih Bay National Park collaborative model development c. Support infrastructure and operational management of Cendrawasih Bay National Park d. Building Cendrawasih Bay National Park management cooperation and partnership

For more information:

Wawan Ridwan Beny Ahadian Noor Marine Program Director Project Leader Teluk Cendrawasih Phone : +62 21 576 1070 [email protected] Fax : +62 21 576 1080 [email protected]