Jayapura, Jubi – The Head of the Environmental Quality Management of the Papua Forestry and Environmental Office, Yaconias Maitindom, stated that out of the 35 rivers spanning the Cycloop Mountains Nature Reserve, only seven rivers remain flowing.
“Since the Cycloop Mountains were designated as a nature reserve in 1978, there were 35 rivers, but today only seven rivers are still flowing,” said Maitindom during the public discussion on ecological crisis in Papua organized by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) at the Cenderawasih University on Wednesday (2/21/2024).
“Out of these seven rivers, only five rivers are currently providing water smoothly for all of us living in Tanah Tabi. If these five rivers stop flowing or are damaged, then we cannot survive in Tanah Tabi,” Maitindom further explained.
“The ‘batteries’ are in the Cycloop Mountains, and the wellsprings are there. So, if the valves are leaking, then we will get nothing,” Maitindom added.
He recalled and lamented the major natural disaster in 2019, the flash floods that struck Sentani, Jayapura Regency at that time. According to him, this was because the Cycloop Mountains was encroached upon.
Therefore, he urged the community living in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency to participate in preserving the Cycloop Mountains Nature Reserve. “Do not indiscriminately cut down trees, and do not litter. Also, sort out the waste from its source,” he added.
The decrease in the number of flowing rivers in the Cycloop Mountains, Maitindom said, indicated that one of the ecological crises in Papua is currently occurring. (*)
