PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Representatives of the Papuan community in Boven Digoel Regency handed over a replica of the Korowai tree house to the Governor of West Java, Dedi Mulyadi (KDM) after the Annual Strategic Papua Analysis (APS) Conference held in Jayapura, Papua, Friday (29/5/2026).

The gift of the replica is not just a souvenir, but a symbol of respect for the indigenous Papuan people as well as a message about the importance of protecting forests, nature, and the survival of indigenous people who depend on forest ecosystems.

Franky, a representative from the Boven Digoel Regency Government, explained that the replica Korowai treehouse came from an indigenous community living in the interior of Papua. They asked that the replica be handed over to KDM as a token of appreciation for the attention shown to cultural values and local wisdom.

"They prayed for a leader who would be trustworthy and kind, and who would appreciate the gifts God has given us. God created the land, water, trees, and all the natural resources that the Papuan people still protect today," he said.

According to him, the Korowai people view trees and forests not just as natural resources, but as an integral part of their lives. "They hope this message will get through. They still live in trees, live off the forest, and the forest is both their home and their source of food," he said.

He said the indigenous community expressed their hope that Indonesian leaders would become more concerned about environmental sustainability and the continued survival of the indigenous peoples who have traditionally protected the forests. Therefore, the replica Korowai treehouse was presented as a symbol of the relationship between humans and nature, which has been passed down from generation to generation.

"They said, hopefully everyone who sees and hears this story understands the importance of protecting nature. They also pray that Kang Dedi will be given a greater mandate to serve the nation and state," he said.

He added that the Korowai indigenous people also hope that attention to Papua will not only focus on physical development, but also on efforts to preserve the forests that are the living space of the local community. "They hope that there will be a leader who is able to protect and save the forests in Papua because for them the forest is life," said Franky.

KDM attended the APS annual conference in Jayapura after previously receiving a direct invitation from the APS Chairperson who is also an International Relations academic from Cenderawasih University, Laus Rumayom and Pastor Cirenei.

Laus Rumayom said that Papua's development requires a more innovative approach by placing local wisdom or ethnoscience as the main foundation.

According to him, the development approach in Papua cannot solely rely on security and technocracy. APS considers Dedi Mulyadi's consistency in preserving the cultural heritage of West Java a relevant example to be adopted in the strategy to accelerate development in six provinces and seven customary regions in Papua.

KDM said that Papua's development requires a more innovative approach by placing local wisdom or ethnoscience as the main foundation.

According to him, the indigenous Papuan people have knowledge born from long experience of living side by side with nature and this knowledge cannot be seen as something merely traditional. Dedi believes that many of the life practices of the indigenous Papuan people are actually forms of science and technology that have developed according to local geographical and environmental conditions.

One example he highlighted was the Korowai people's treehouses, which have long been recognized as part of Papuan cultural identity. "The Korowai treehouses are actually high-level science. They can survive without damaging the ecosystem. They understand nature, understand environmental threats, understand how to survive, and this has been passed down from generation to generation," Dedi said.

According to him, Papua's development should not begin with the assumption that indigenous communities must abandon their entire way of life to become modern. Instead, development must respect and develop the knowledge that already exists within the community.

"We often view Papua through an external lens. Yet, Papuans possess perspectives, knowledge systems, and values born of their own environment. These must be part of the foundation of development," he said.

Dedi also highlighted the importance of changing perspectives on Papuan society. He argued that Papua's natural wealth shapes the way of life of its people, distinguishing them from other regions that thrive on industrial cultures.

Therefore, he said, it would be inappropriate to measure the level of progress of Papuan society only using industrialistic economic productivity indicators.

"Papua has extraordinary forests, seas, rivers, and natural resources. Its people's way of life is shaped by these natural conditions. Therefore, its success cannot be simply measured against regions that have developed through industrialization," he said.