Paniai – Paniai Regency has officially been designated as the pilot region for the Go Green Papua Tengah 2045 Program, a long-term environmental initiative that aims to plant 30 million trees across eight regencies in Central Papua over the next 20 years.
The program is the result of a collaboration between the Paniai Regency Government, the Papua Green Technology Foundation, and the Faculty of Forestry at Gadjah Mada University (UGM). The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Jayapura on Monday (July 13, 2026).
Chairman of the Papua Green Technology Foundation, Otopianus P. Tebai, explained that Paniai Regency was selected as the program’s starting point due to its strong commitment to environmental conservation and its representative ecosystem, making it an ideal model for implementing the initiative.
According to Tebai, the experience and best practices developed in Paniai are expected to serve as a reference for expanding the program to the remaining seven regencies across Central Papua.
Carrying the slogan “Protect Papua, the Lungs of the World,” the initiative focuses on restoring degraded land, protecting customary forests, and promoting a community-based green economy with active participation from local residents.
To ensure the program is implemented according to scientific standards, the Faculty of Forestry at UGM will provide technical and academic support throughout every stage. Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Sigit Sunarta, will lead the development of the research roadmap, identify priority conservation areas, determine suitable endemic tree species, and oversee the monitoring and evaluation of tree growth.
Paniai Regent Yampit Nawipa reaffirmed the local government’s full commitment to supporting the initiative. He emphasized that the program represents an important step toward preserving the environment while addressing the growing threats of deforestation, illegal logging, and illegal mining activities that endanger forest ecosystems and local water resources.
Beyond its ecological benefits, the initiative is aligned with Indonesia’s national environmental agenda, particularly the Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target under Presidential Regulation No. 98 of 2021, while also contributing to the country’s goal of achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060.
Tebai stressed that the program’s success will not be measured solely by the number of trees planted, but also by the long-term commitment to maintaining and nurturing them. He highlighted the vital role of Indigenous communities, whose active participation is considered essential to ensuring the sustainability of the initiative and safeguarding Papua’s natural heritage for future generations.
