Papua's BBKSDA Encourages Students to Care for the Environment Through School Visits

Timika (ANTARA) - The Balai Besar Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BBKSDA) Papua, through the Timika Section for Conservation Area II, has implemented a “visit to school” programme as an effort to encourage students to care for the environment from an early age. Head of the Timika Section for Conservation Area II, Paulus Baibaba, in Timika on Saturday, stated that in this school visit programme, the section provides materials on the types of wildlife specially protected in the Mimika region. “This programme is part of raising awareness among schoolchildren, especially in schools where students or teachers live near protected wildlife conservation areas,” he said. The programme has received an enthusiastic response due to the high interest from children at school. Through this programme, it is hoped that students will participate in monitoring, maintaining, and protecting the wildlife in their living environment. He added that in 2023, the Timika Section for Conservation Area II has visited one school in Mimika to provide education and encourage students to play an active role in protecting and preserving the wild animals in Mimika. “This year, we have visited one school in Mimika. We plan to visit eight schools,” he said. The protected wildlife in Mimika includes species such as the yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), black-capped lory (Lorius lory), palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), cassowary (Casuarius), tree possum (Marsupial), tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus), pig-nosed turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), and several types of snakes.