The importance of forest conservation is a crucial issue, especially in the face of the climate disasters that currently threaten the Earth. As a place that harbors the third largest forests in the world, West Papua must come under the spotlight of this matter. Here are 5 reasons why West Papuan forests are important and how we can protect them.
Why West Papua’s Forests Are Important
The province of West Papua, Indonesia, is home to nearly one-third of the country’s remaining forests. The forests of West Papua have one of the most biodiverse forest ecosystems in the world. The forest is also a source of livelihood for many local communities. There are countless reasons for the importance of forest conservation in West Papua. Below, we will explain five of them.
Protecting a Source of Oxygen
Trees growing in Papua’s forests absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, thus providing clean air. One tree can provide oxygen needs for up to ten people in a day, while each hectare of forest can neutralize carbon dioxide emission from 20 motorized vehicles. Papua’s rainforests are the third-largest oxygen-contributing forest in the world, coming after only the Amazon rainforests in South America and the Congo rainforests in Central Africa.
Keeping the Air Cool
Global warming occurs because carbon dioxide emissions cause a dramatic increase in Earth’s average temperatures. This rise causes polar ice caps to melt, increasing sea levels and potentially drowning coastal cities. This rise in sea levels also causes the death of coral reefs, like those found in the Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua, Indonesia. Forests are important because each tree has an air-cooling capacity equal to an average of 5 AC units operating for 20 hours/day.
Guarding the Indigenous People
Papua is not only abundant with natural beauty but also spectacular local cultures. The importance of forest conservation is also an issue of protecting the main source of livelihood for the indigenous peoples of West Papua. They hold a wealth of cultures that are in danger of disappearing if the destruction of forests forces these people out of their homes.
Knowledge of Medicinal Plants
Research by the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2017 shows that there are 529 types of medicinal plants in Papua that are efficacious in curing various diseases. Indigenous West Papua people have profound knowledge about various species of medicinal plants found in their forests. Preserving the forests means the knowledge of medicinal herbs can be expanded to save many lives.
Preventing Erosions
The roots of forest trees can withstand soil erosion. Not only that, mangrove forests on the southeast coasts of West Papua can withstand erosion due to salty seawater. Planting mangroves can provide a natural infrastructure to protect densely populated areas around the coast and stabilize shorelines. Furthermore, mangroves are also able to sequester carbon dioxide, thus reducing greenhouse gases in the air and cooling down the temperature.
How to Protect West Papua’s Forests
Unfortunately, forests in the West Papua province are increasingly being depleted and threatened by illegal logging practices. Corporations have also cleared thousands of hectares of forest for oil palm plantations. So, what can we do to protect the forests of West Papua?
Local leaders have shown their commitment by making West Papua the first province designated for forest conservation in the world since 2015. Ordinary people like us can also contribute by using fewer products that use palm oil. This way, the demand for it will decrease and fewer forests would be destroyed for palm oil plantations. You must also continue to educate the people around you about the importance of forest conservation.
