Exploring Conservation Practices and Economic Empowerment Through a Journey at Isyo Hill’s
SAGU Foundation team decided to do an outing to Isyo Hill’s for leisure as well as educational purposes. The outing was done in early June 2024 at Isyo Hill’s in Rhepang Muaib, Nimbokrang, Jayapura Regency, Papua.
About the Destination
Papua, with its rich cultural and natural heritage, is home to over 250 languages and tribes, each with its own valuable traditional knowledge essential for environmental preservation efforts. The indigenous people of Papua have long-standing systems for protecting their environment, which have proven effective in maintaining biodiversity. Their involvement plays an important role in conservation because their knowledge of cultural and natural heritage is a key strength in preserving the environment.
One place where this harmonious relationship between culture and nature can be found is in Isyo Hills, located in the Nimbokrang area of Jayapura Regency, Papua. Isyo Hills is an ecotourism destination that offers a unique opportunity to understand and appreciate the importance of conservation and the economic empowerment of local communities. Isyo Hill’s is owned by Mr. Alex Waisimon, a Genyem native, born and raised in the region. In 2018, Mr. Alex received The Asean Biodiversity Heroes award from the Asean Center for Biodiversity for his dedication to save the forest and also the local community that lives in this region through this ecotourism business. Visitors to Isyo Hills can witness firsthand the benefits of integrating traditional knowledge and modern conservation practices.
Ecotourism
The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES, 2015). Education is meant to be inclusive for staff and guests.
According to the UN Tourism definition, there are several principles of ecotourism. The table below summarizes how Isyo Hill’s ecotourism business has met these principles.
| The principles of ecotourism | Isyo Hill’s |
| All nature-based form of tourism | The birdwatching activity is done through observation of Papuan endemic bird species in their natural habitat. |
| Contains educational and interpretation features | The owner and the guide teach about the life of these Papuan endemic bird species at Rhepang Muaib through group discussion and bird watching activity. |
| Organized by small group of locally owned business | Isyo Hill’s is owned by Mr. Alex Waisimon who is a Genyem native, born and raised in the region. All the employees at Isyo Hill’s are his family members and the local youth. |
| Minimizes negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment | The guidance visitors get when doing the birdwatching activity includes not wearing contrasting colors, being silent, and not being seen, so that visitors do not disturb the birds in their natural habitats due to their high sensitivity with foreign colors and sounds. |
| Generating economic benefits for host communities managing natural areas with conservation purposes | The locals used to be involved in logging activities in the woodland until this business was established in 2015, offering a more sustainable income for the local community without damaging the woodland. |
Conservation efforts
Isyo Hill’s woodland is home to various Papuan endemic flora and fauna. These unique species can be observed through forest exploration and bird-watching activities based on guidance from local experts in avian behavior and life. The forest also supports essential ecological processes such as photosynthesis, hydrology, and forest regeneration. These processes are not only vital for the local ecosystem balance but also for global environmental health as forests absorb CO2 and produce O2.
Additionally, one of the significant ecological values lies in the relationship between the indigenous Papuans especially community surround Isyo Hill’s and the forest, which they regard as their “mother”, highlighting its crucial role in sustaining their lives. The journey at Isyo Hill’s reminds us of the importance of conservation practices, which can be supported through simple actions like “use paper wisely”.
Conservation efforts in Isyo Hill’s demonstrate that preserving biodiversity and improving economic well-being can coexist, proving that nature and humans can live harmoniously together. As expressed by Mr. Alex, biodiversity is an incredibly valuable asset.
Experience and Activities
Dialogue with Mr. Alex Waisimon
Upon arrival, an important moment during our journey was a deep discussion with Mr. Alex, a local conservationist and the owner of Isyo Hill’s. He emphasized safeguarding Papuan’s forests and the need for actions to support the region’s ecological integrity as well as providing local communities with new economical values that can sustain their lives.
Mr. Alex combines the traditional ecological knowledge he gained from his childhood memories, hunting for food in the forest with his father as a part of his parental training, and from what he refers as “additional knowledge” he gained from years of many traveling and working experiences outside Papua and in numerous countries. He came up with the idea of “hunting with cameras” to be introduced to the local community in his village as a substitute for income that they used to receive from logging activities in the forest. The challenging part for Mr. Alex is to face not only the external forces but to face his own community to stop destroying the forest.
Initially in 2015, he independently built this business in the midst of pressure from his community. Until foreign officials and more tourists and activists started to visit Isyo Hill’s. This scenery convinced the community that the solution Mr. Alex offered really works and also answers their need for financial stability but also sustains their income resources and ultimately all their life resources, which is the forest. Today, his family members alongside the youth from the local community are working as a part of Isyo Hill’s team. Moreover, the tribes around the Unurum Guay village are now adapting and getting involved in ecotourism programs development such as forest and lake exploration, camping and more.
Staying at Isyo Hill’s Lodge
Mr. Alex described that the garden in the lodge is planted with local flower species, emphasizing the feeling of Genyem presence at first glance at Isyo Hill’s upon arrival. The lodge was mostly built with local materials by Mr. Alex and the local youth. The bedrooms have wooden floors and walls. The dining room was an open area under sagu-leafed roofs or in native language is called Sbua. There are several dining tables that were designed like the bark of a tree with a flat surface and not a typical rectangle-shaped wooden table that is often seen in other places. In addition to that, during our 2D1N stay, the menu for the meals were the common local dishes such as sayur lilin, genemo santan, deep-fried fish and chicken. On the whole, the stay at Isyo Hill’s lodge gives prominence to a true Papuan ecotourism experience.
Birdwatching
The birdwatching activity was done two times during our stay. Both times were arranged around the bird’s playing time. The afternoon session was done from 13.30 to 16.30 and the morning session started at 5.00 and finished at 8.30. The trekking covers a 6 km track, with the start and the finish point is the lodge. The path was fairly easy for us to follow, it was not extremely steep. The other challenge was only the muddy and slippery ground. The first spot of birdwatching is only a few hundreds meters away from the lodge.
As visitors, we are given instructions to wear outfits that are blendable with the woodland (Dark green, brown, black or gray colored) when heading to see the birds. In addition, we were told to keep being silent when coming near the spots.
Visitors need to do all these instructions to adjust with the bird’s high sensitivity to foreign colors and sounds as we enter their habitats.
Daud Wouw, our guide, also shared that the shelters and the net walls that were built near the spots took 5 weeks to create because the work had to be paused every time the birds were coming out to play or when their sound was heard.
We were able to witness three bird of paradise species which are lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor), greater bird of paradise (Paradisaea apoda), and twelve wired bird of paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus). And also lesser black coucal (Centropus bernsteini), rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), yellow crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), meyer’s friarbird (Philemon meyeri).
The numerous types of bird sound was heard clearly throughout our trekking journey. And we get to learn and identify which sound belongs to which bird as we get more educated by Daud, our guide.
Authors’ Personal Reflections
Lucia Runggeari
During my recent visit to Isyo Hill’s for ecotourism, returning to the forest after six years felt like revisiting a cherished place. The gentle rain and the sounds of birds brought me a deep sense of peace. It was like the forest itself was saying, “Welcome back, Lucia.” Memories of past trips to Papua’s forests came back, but this time, I felt more significant. I have learnt several important aspects from Mr Alex Waisimon, the lodge owner, and our local guide, Daud Wouw. Mr. Waisimon discussed the balance between nature conservation and supporting local communities, stressing the importance of grassroots efforts (bottom up approach of conservation practices). Daud emphasized preserving ancestral knowledge and natural treasures, highlighting the critical task of protecting local plants and animals for future generations. And he also dedicates himself as Forest Tutor for Sekolah Alam. Being in Isyo Hill’s reignited my love for nature and inspired me to learn more about the surrounding ecosystem. It prompted a desire to contribute to its preservation for the future.
Romibo Rumaikewi
The design of the lodge, the food that was served for us, the surrounding nature with all its elements and the local operators truly give an overall Papuan tourism experience for us. It did not seem and feel like the tourism in other parts of the world that I have been to. It fulfills its leisure purpose as well as being educational to us Papuans who are from other regions in Papua about life in Rhepang Muaib. Mr. Alex and the Isyo Hill’s business that he created is a wonderful example of a Papuan who honors and embraces where he came from, takes all the knowledge from life experiences outside of Papua with him, cleverly manages to create world-class product and service without taking away its originality, while at the same time conserve and preserve it for sustainability. This is the ultimate benefit of having Papuan generation to go study outside Papua and come back with the knowledge they gain and use it to contribute to the development of Papua. This is what SAGU Foundation ought to contribute to the development of human resources in Papua, by helping them bridge the gaps that are the necessity to the ones that want to go study abroad, such as their English language proficiency. We salute Mr. Alex Waisimon for his love and dedication for his village. And for being inspiring and bringing us hope that our jobs at SAGU Foundation is never vain. And to convince us that our dreams for Papua are very much tangible and achievable with a lot of prayers, hard work and good education.
Lastly, preserving the natural beauty and rich socio-cultural heritage of Papua is not just a responsibility but a privilege we must embrace. By actively participating in conservation efforts and supporting sustainable practices, we can ensure that the diverse ecosystems and vibrant cultures of Papua thrive for future generations. Let us commit to making mindful choices, supporting local initiatives, and spreading awareness about the importance of safeguarding this unique region. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and secure a prosperous, harmonious future for both the environment and the people of Papua. Join us in this vital mission to protect and cherish the treasures of Papua.
For more information on Isyo Hill’s, visit their website at https://isyohills.com/ or reach their team via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/isyohills
