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Shared resources, joint solutions: strengthening community management in Papua, Indonesia

Papua, Indonesia 2016 - 2020

IUCN.NL, YADUPA


Short description
Overall goal: Indigenous communities in the Yapen-Waropen play a leading role in nature conservation and sustainable development of their communities. Facilitating Indigenous people and local communities to map the boundaries of their territory, appreciative inquiry of community assets, co-development of management systems based on traditional and ‘scientific’ knowledge, mapping of natural resources, agreement on users zones, training of youth in natural resource management and leadership, lobby and advocacy for community (land) rights, research into private sector acting as drivers of deforestation, etc.

Main purpose
Biodiversity conservation / restoration,
Land tenure equality and security,
Trust building between conflicting groups

Other expected benefits
Erosion control / slope stabilization,
Reduced environmental degradation from sustainable resource use,
Climate adaptation / resilience,
Increasing community cohesion / community building,
Strengthening indigenous culture,
rehabilitation of mangrove areas – coastal protection

The extensive forests of Yapen Island, Papua province, Indonesia, 2012. Credit: IUCN NL.

Conflict context
After its independence, Indonesia held a referendum in 1963 to decide on the rule of Papua. The choice was between Dutch rule, Indonesian rule or independence. Several representatives of Papua were chosen to cast their votes. However, according to many, they were put under pressure to vote for the Indonesian nationality. Many Papuans wanted independence and this led to armed resistance and subsequent intervention by the Indonesian military. Human rights were violated by both sides of the conflict and the environment was heavily damaged.

Peace and security contributions
While the projects were first implemented in areas with a lower conflict intensity, as positive results were seen, the projects moved to areas with more extreme violence. Positive peace impacts include improved livelihoods for people living in conflict zones, and a resulting reduction in recruitment for armed groups. Indigenous (land) rights are now better protected as is their way of resource governance. Lastly, the project also served as an entry point for dialogue between conflicting groups, where environmental protection served as a neutral or apolitical topic which all parties found important.

Reported elements of good practices

  • Establishment of ICCAs (Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas) rather than protected areas;
  • improved relations with local authorities;
  • recognition from local authorities for tribal/clan boundaries.

Reported challenges

  • Distrust of central government and central security forces;
  • harassment and intimidation of local CSOs;
  • fear for violence from central state;
  • too little resources for implementation of all needed activities (capacity building, market access, exchange visits etc.),
  • freedom of movement.
Checklist
Environmental impact evaluation: a positive impact on the environment has been identified
Peace & security impact evaluation: a positive impact on peace and security has been identified.
No consultation of peace & security expert
Conflict analysis
Community involvement
Gender and inclusive programming
Sustainability in case of increased violence

Practical details of implementation
Gender and social inclusion were addressed in the course of the project, through Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR). In case of an increase in conflict, communities are better organised, have more self-confidence, have increased food-sovereignty. Local NGOs consists of indigenous representatives who have strong ties to the communities they serve, which allows them to gain understanding of their needs and create context-specific solutions with local knowledge.

Method of monitoring environmental and peace impacts
Environmental impacts are monitored by local NGOs with GPS. They measure how many hectares of land falls under the communities’ management. They also fill out environmental indicators.

Social impacts are measured through participative monitoring and outcome harvesting. Through conversations with local communities, actors’ changes in behavior are monitored.

Futher reading
Contact details
Netherlands Committee of the International Union for the Conservation of nature
mail@iucn.nl