Nature Resources Contestation Between Native Papuans: Establishing a Collaborative Management of the Cyclops Mountain Nature Reserve Area in Papua, Indonesia

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Collaborative natural resource management (co-management) has become a prevalent method to maintain the sustainability of the environment. In co-management, it is crucial to involve several related parties to ensure a precise distribution of responsibilities and authority among all parties. Natural resource management and biodiversity protection in conservation areas require the involvement of local communities. Conflicts in resource use among the population, including the indigenous people, often hinder these efforts. In this regard, this study examines the contestation of the management and utilization of natural resources between local indigenous Papuans and indigenous Papuan migrants in the Cyclops Mount Nature Reserve (CMNR). Using a mini-ethnography method, the study qualitatively explored a wide range of information relevant to this issue. The study conducted in-depth interviews with informants from local and migrant communities, as well as observations from both participants and non-participants. The study reveals that the local indigenous Papuans utilized the area in a relatively sustainable manner. However, the indigenous Papuan migrants were unable to prevent the use of natural resources in the CMNR, leading to environmental damage. To avoid further environmental damage to the CMNR, this study recommends the need for collaborative management in the area by involving both local indigenous Papuans and indigenous Papuan migrants with support from the government.