New York City (20/09) – New York Climate Week 2024 provided a crucial opportunity for Rekam Nusantara Foundation to place Papua on the global stage. Yokyok Hadiprakarsa (Yoki), the Director of Forestry Programs at Rekam Nusantara, represented the foundation at this international forum, which brought together global leaders and environmental activists. Yoki emphasized that Papua is not merely a local issue—it plays a critical role in the global fight against the climate crisis.
Papua is blessed with vast tropical rainforests, rich marine ecosystems, unique and endemic flora and fauna, and indigenous communities practicing sustainable traditions. As one of the world’s last biodiversity strongholds, Papua holds tremendous potential to become a front-line force in climate change mitigation. However, less than 30% of Papua’s expansive forests currently fall under conservation areas, posing a significant challenge to their preservation.
During the panel discussion titled “Preserving Biodiversity and Indigenous Wisdom”, Yoki shared insights into the shift in forest management practices in Indonesia. He explained how the Social Forestry initiative has empowered indigenous peoples and local communities to directly manage forest areas.
“Recognizing indigenous communities’ rights to manage these areas is a crucial first step. But that alone isn’t enough. Capacity-building is essential to ensure these communities can sustainably protect and utilize their natural resources,” Yoki stressed.
Rekam Nusantara's presence was further amplified by the screening of the documentary film “Dance of Paradise”, produced by INFIS (Indonesia Nature Films Society), the foundation's documentary film unit. The film showcases the beauty of birds-of-paradise while highlighting urgent issues such as deforestation, resource exploitation, and the threats facing local communities. With its compelling visuals and thought-provoking narrative, the film sparked meaningful discussions among attendees, raising awareness that protecting Papua is integral to global climate solutions.
Rekam Nusantara’s participation at New York Climate Week not only spotlighted Papua on the international stage but also emphasized the importance of global collaboration in safeguarding biodiversity-rich regions like Papua. This engagement reinforced the message that the future of global sustainability depends on our collective success in protecting forests, oceans, and the indigenous communities that serve as their guardians.
