Indonesia’s Papua region is home to 34.2 million hectares of primary forest, covering 85% of its land area and representing 32% of Indonesia’s total forests. As the largest intact rainforest in the Asia-Pacific, it plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation, storing approximately 11 gigatons of carbon. Its vast mangrove forests, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems further strengthen its ecological significance.

However, land-use changes driven by agriculture, logging, mining, and infrastructure projects pose increasing threats to these vital ecosystems. Nearly 30% of Papua’s land is allocated for large-scale industrial activities, impacting both biodiversity and the livelihoods of Indigenous communities. With nearly six million people—many of whom rely on forests and natural resources for their survival—Papua faces a delicate balance between economic development and environmental sustainability. Read more…