Manokwari, W.Papua (ANTARA News) - Three international natural conservation non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Conservation International (CI), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will finance a sea conservation project in West Papua province.

The three NGOs along with fifteen local NGOs have established a sea conservation team named Bentang Laut Kepala Burung (Bird Head Marine Landscape) of West Papua, spokesperson of the conservation team Nugroho Arif stated here on Thursday.

He affirmed that the sea conservation area is spread across the three districts of Raja Ampat, Kaimana, and Tambraw.

The financial support for the project will be provided by the three NGOs until the end of 2017.

Nugroho remarked that the administration of West Papua province should seek further financial support in order to maintain the conservation project.

Nataniel Mandacan, the secretary of administration, expressed gratitude to the three international NGOs that are financing the conservation project being carried out by the locals.

The administration will continue running the project after 2017 when the financial support from the three NGOs ends.

In addition, the administration will establish West Papua as a conservation area under a provincial regulation.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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