Sausapor, 3 March 2015

Parliament (DPRD) members of Tambrauw are committed to supporting the government and community's agenda to facilitate customary community meetings and boundary mapping in Tambrauw. They also announced their commitment to developing a District Regulation for customary rights recognition and protection. Taking a concrete step, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Parliament of Tambrauw and civil society partners Samdhana Institute, Epistema Institute, JKPP, WWF, Aka Wuon. The MoU states Parliament's commitment to develop a district regulation this year about establishing Tambrauw as a conservation district and second district regulation about customary rights protection and recognition.

On the day before the MoU signing, Samdhana Institute -- in collaboration with Papua State University, WWF, Paradisea and the Government of Tambrauw -- facilitated a one-day workshop in Sausapor. The workshop provided the opportunity for leaders from five tribes in Tambrauw, government officials and Parliament members to discuss customary boundary mapping and the customary community organizing program that will support the Government's development agenda. In his presentation the Legislative commission chief said these issues are enormously important in Tambrauw since the government needs to pursue development in ways that will benefit the community. Customary right recognition and protection must progress alongside the acceleration of district development. “Parliament will always ready to push the legalization process if the community joins with the same voices” he noted.

In the workshop, experts from Papua State University (UNIPA) presented the progress in conservation district design. Sepus Fatem, a professor from UNIPA presented the feasibility assessment of Tambrauw as a Conservation District and Jonny Marwa presented an institutional analysis and public perception of Tambrauw as a conservation district.