19th Blue Abadi Fund Governance Committee Meeting Reinforces Papua Conservation Commitment and Appoints 16 New Grantees for the 6th Grant Cycle

Sorong, April 16, 2026 — Blue Abadi Fund (BAF) once again convened its 19th Governance Committee (GC) Meeting in Sorong City, Southwest Papua. The meeting served as a strategic momentum for governance committee members, local governments, and conservation partners to strengthen the direction of conservation area management within the Bird’s Head Seascape (BHS), while reaffirming a shared commitment to safeguarding marine ecosystem sustainability and empowering communities across the Land of Papua.

The 19th GC Meeting was especially significant with the direct attendance of Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu and West Papua Vice Governor Mohamad Lakotani, who officially joined as new members of the Blue Abadi Fund Governance Committee. Their participation symbolized strong provincial government support for the continuity of marine conservation programs and the empowerment of Indigenous and coastal communities across West Papua and Southwest Papua.

During the meeting, Yayasan KEHATI, as the Administrator of Blue Abadi Fund, presented updates on conservation program management within the Bird’s Head Seascape region. The presentation covered efforts to strengthen marine protected area management, protect priority species, support community-based economic development, promote environmental education, and enhance the capacity of local civil society organizations serving as implementing partners at the grassroots level.

One of the main agendas of the meeting was the appointment of new grantees under the 6th Cycle of the Blue Abadi Fund Innovation Grants. A total of 16 civil society organizations (CSOs) and local foundations were officially selected as new grantees, consisting of 10 organizations from Southwest Papua and 6 organizations from West Papua. These organizations work on various strategic issues related to marine conservation, coastal resource management, environmental education, Indigenous community empowerment, and the strengthening of sustainable alternative livelihoods within the Bird’s Head Seascape region.

Dr. Rony Megawanto, Program Director of Yayasan KEHATI and representative of the Blue Abadi Fund Administrator, stated that the selection of these new partners marks an important step in expanding community-based conservation impacts across Papua.

“Blue Abadi Fund believes that successful conservation cannot be separated from the active role of local communities and organizations working directly at the grassroots level. Through the 6th Grant Cycle, we aim to strengthen local capacities and initiatives so that conservation area management in the Bird’s Head Seascape becomes increasingly inclusive, sustainable, and capable of delivering tangible benefits to communities,” said Rony Megawanto.

In his remarks, Southwest Papua Governor Elisa Kambu expressed appreciation for the role of Blue Abadi Fund, which he considers one of the key instruments supporting sustainable marine conservation efforts in Southwest Papua.

“We see Blue Abadi Fund not only as a conservation financing mechanism, but also as a collaborative platform that brings together government institutions, Indigenous communities, local organizations, and international partners to protect the future of Papua’s seas. The Southwest Papua Provincial Government remains committed to supporting conservation programs that directly benefit communities and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources,” said Elisa Kambu.

Meanwhile, West Papua Vice Governor Mohamad Lakotani emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between environmental protection and the welfare of coastal communities.

“Conservation must go hand in hand with improving the quality of life of local communities. Therefore, we hope Blue Abadi Fund will continue strengthening support for local organizations that have long been working to protect the seas, mangroves, coral reefs, and other coastal resources in West Papua. The regional government will continue to be part of this collective effort to ensure the Bird’s Head Seascape remains sustainable for future generations,” he stated.

In addition to discussing the strengthening of grant programs and conservation area management, the 19th GC Meeting also provided a strategic forum for discussions on improving sustainable conservation financing governance, expanding multi-stakeholder collaboration, and enhancing the effectiveness of program implementation at the regional level.

Since its establishment in 2017, Blue Abadi Fund — managed by Yayasan KEHATI together with international partners such as Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF Indonesia — has become Indonesia’s first sustainable marine conservation financing model. Through its endowment fund mechanism, BAF supports the protection of marine conservation areas within the Bird’s Head Seascape, widely recognized as one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity regions.

Through the implementation of the 19th Governance Committee Meeting, Blue Abadi Fund together with all partners and stakeholders once again reaffirmed their collective commitment to safeguarding the sustainability of Papua’s marine ecosystems, strengthening Indigenous and coastal communities, and ensuring that the benefits of conservation are distributed fairly and sustainably for both present and future generations.