{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1651164,
        "msgid": "econusa-facilitates-suga-kawaf-indigenous-community-in-mapping-independent-territory-1775109046",
        "date": "2026-04-02 12:24:07",
        "title": "EcoNusa facilitates Suga-Kawaf indigenous community in mapping independent territory",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Anthropology",
        "summary": "The indigenous Irarutu people in Suga and Kawaf villages, West Papua, are independently mapping their customary territories with training on GPS and Avenza app provided by the EcoNusa Foundation, aiming to secure official state recognition amid threats to their vital mangrove ecosystem from logging and surrounding pressures. Participants, including elders collecting sociocultural data and youth gathering coordinates, view this as crucial for preserving forests, food sources, and ancestral heritage for future generations. Local officials express optimism that enhanced community understanding will expedite the recognition process.",
        "content": "<p>Jakarta (ANTARA) - The indigenous Irarutu people in Suga and Kawaf\nvillages, Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua, have begun independently\nmapping their customary territories through training on GPS and the\nAvenza application facilitated by the EcoNusa Foundation on 26\u201327 March\n2026.<\/p>\n<p>One participant, Mama Otto Pina Masumbauw (58), the only woman\nattending the training despite her daily work harvesting sago, welcomed\nthe activity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think this is important, that\u2019s why I didn\u2019t go to harvest sago\ntoday,\u201d said Mama Otto in a statement received in Teluk Bintuni on\nTuesday.<\/p>\n<p>During the training, participants were divided into several groups to\nconduct participatory mapping. The youth practised taking coordinate\npoints in the field, while the customary elders gathered sociocultural\ndata, from the history of the area\u2019s origins, customary leadership\nstructures, to the identification of important sites.<\/p>\n<p>The Suga-Kawaf area is located in a strategic zone with the vast and\nvaluable Teluk Bintuni mangrove ecosystem, yet it faces threats from\nlogging activities and pressures from surrounding areas.<\/p>\n<p>Head of EcoNusa\u2019s Manokwari Regional Office, Charles Sroyer, stated\nthat the assistance aims to help the community obtain official\nrecognition of their customary territories.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are here to help the fathers and mothers so that their customary\nterritories can be recognised by the state. But this process requires\nsupport and active involvement from the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Secretary II of the Teluk Bintuni Customary Law Community Committee\n(PMHA), Lewi Widodo Budi Utomo, is optimistic that participatory mapping\nin Suga and Kawaf can be completed soon as community understanding\nincreases.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe community\u2019s understanding is getting stronger. We hope that if\nthe process goes well, recognition can be issued soon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>For the Suga and Kawaf communities, mapping customary territories is\nseen as an important step to preserve forests, food sources, and\nancestral heritage to remain sustainable for future generations.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/econusa-facilitates-suga-kawaf-indigenous-community-in-mapping-independent-territory-1775109046",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}