"Papua has a unique biodiversity."Biak (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Environment Minister Balthasar Kambuaya is scheduled to inaugurate the Eco-region Management Center (PPE) in Biak regency, Papua province, on Tuesday.
"I appreciate the establishment of an Eco-region Management Center in Papua," Biak Numfor Regent Yusuf Melianus Maryen said here on Tuesday.
He said the main objective of establishing the centre was to ensure the conservation of the region's biodiversity.
The centre in Papua will be the sixth PPE in Indonesia, with the five others being located in Riau, Balikpapan, Makassar, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar.
"Previously, Papua was covered by the Eco-region Management Center in Makassar," Yusuf stated.
He urged the Papuan community to "actively cooperate in preserving the natural environment".
Henri Bastamana of the Environment Ministry said the management centre was aimed at discovering the unique natural characteristics of the region.
"Papua has a unique biodiversity, with its coral reefs, seagrass beds, mountains, savannahs, glaciers and herbal medicines," he noted.
"The management centre will help map Papua's natural wealth," Henry continued.
"The main thing is how we can manage the environment by applying the center's concepts," he said.
Henry stated that the establishment of the centre would not only help preserve the environment but also benefit the economy.
"The concepts used to develop areas in Java cannot be directly implemented in Papua," he pointed out.
(Uu.B019/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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