WWF America’s Visit to Waninggap Nanggo Village

The welcoming ceremony for the representatives of WWF America took place at Ave Maria Park, Arem Beach, Wendu Hamlet, Waninggap Nanggo Village, Merauke Regency, South Papua, on Friday, March 14, 2025. The event was attended by local residents and church officials and featured artistic performances by kindergarten students from Samb Kai.

WWF America’s visit to Wendu Hamlet was part of a restoration and waste management project. The representatives who attended included Stiv, Ali, and Wika. The visit lasted for one day, during which they donated trash bins and symbolically planted ketapang and coconut trees at Arem Beach.

The restoration and waste management project in Waninggap Nanggo Village is expected to help mitigate coastal erosion and address waste issues in the area. Wika, the Head of WWF Indonesia’s Papua Region, stated that coastal erosion in Waninggap Nanggo Village has been increasing by 7-8 meters per year.

Pastor Andi Fanumbi Pr emphasized the significance of the beach for the coastal community of Waninggap Nanggo Village. He stressed the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem, as waste pollution and coastal erosion have been damaging the environment and driving marine life away.

Andi expressed his gratitude to WWF America and WWF Indonesia’s Papua Region for their support in helping the people of Waninggap Nanggo. As a token of appreciation, the local community presented the WWF representatives with a souvenir—a replica of the Bird of Paradise (Cendrawasih). Additionally, they gifted Stiv, Ali, and Wika with local produce, including bananas and sugarcane.

Kunjungan WWF Amerika ke Kampung Waninggap Nanggo

Suasana penyambutan kedatangan perwakilan WWF Amerika oleh masyarakat dan pengurus gereja di Taman Ave Maria, Pantai Arem, Dusun Wendu, Kampung Waninggap Nanggo, Kabupaten Merauke, Papua Selatan pada Jumat, 14 Maret 2025. Acara penyambutan diisi dengan pentas seni dari para siswa Taman Kanak-kanak Samb Kai. 

Kunjungan WWF Amerika ke Dusun Wendu tersebut terkait proyek restorasi dan pengelolaan sampah. Perwakilan WWF yang datang antara lain Stiv, Ali, dan Wika. Kegiatan kunjungan ini berlangsung selama satu hari. Mereka memberikan bak sampah dan menanam pohon ketapang dan kelapa secara simbolis di Pantai Arem.

Proyek restorasi dan pengelolaan sampah di Kampung Waninggap Nanggo diharapkan bisa menjadi mitigasi abrasi pantai dan persoalan sampah di sana. Wika, Ketua WWF Indonesia Wilayah Papua mengatakan bahwa abrasi di kampung Waninggap Nanggo naik hingga 7-8 meter per tahun. 

Pastor Andi Fanumbi Pr mengatakan bahwa pantai penting bagi masyarakat Kampung Waninggap Nanggo yang berada di daerah pesisir. Karena itu, ekosistem laut harus dijaga. Sampah dan abrasi merusak ekosistem laut dan menyebabkan banyak biota laut pergi menjauh.

Andi berterima kasih kepada WWF Amerika dan WWF Indonesia Wilayah Papua yang membantu masyarakat Kampung Waninggap Nanggo. Sebagai ucapan terimakasih, masyarakat Waninggap Nanggo memberikan cinderamata berupa replika burung Cendrawasih. Masyarakat juga memberi mereka berbagai hasil alam berupa buah pisang, tebu kepada Stiv, Ali dan Wika.