About YAPPENDA Research Center
YAPPENDA Research Center is being developed as the research-focused branch of YAPPENDA, or Yayasan Pelayanan Papua Nenda. Based in Papua, Indonesia, YAPPENDA works to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage while strengthening education, sustainable livelihoods, customary land rights, and Indigenous-led stewardship.
The Research Center will provide a dedicated platform for YAPPENDA’s field research, biodiversity monitoring, research partnerships, publications, data management, and research training. It will connect Papuan leadership and Indigenous knowledge with scientific collaboration, ensuring that research responds to local priorities and contributes to practical conservation and community wellbeing.
YAPPENDA’s name combines Bahasa Indonesia and Yali languages, and is translated as
“Foundation for the Love and Service of Papua.”
Organisation: Yayasan Pelayanan Papua Nenda
Location: Sentani, Papua, Indonesia
Registration: AHU-0006309.AH.01.12.Tahun 2022
Our Mission
Research that protects, strengthens, and serves Papua
Our mission is to connect Papuan leadership, Indigenous knowledge, community priorities, and scientific research to protect Tanah Papua’s natural and cultural heritage and strengthen the capacity of Papuans to lead research about their own lands, communities, and futures.
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Support research that improves understanding and protection of Papua’s species, ecosystems, landscapes, cultures, and knowledge systems.
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Create opportunities for Papuan researchers, students, field practitioners, and community knowledge holders to develop skills, lead projects, and communicate their work.
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Ensure that research recognises customary rights, community decision-making, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and the protection of sensitive Indigenous knowledge.
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Produce and share research that supports conservation, restoration, education, policy, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term community wellbeing.
Why the Research Centre?
YAPPENDA’s work has always depended on knowledge. Protecting forests, restoring landscapes, monitoring biodiversity, supporting communities, and educating young people all require careful observation, reliable information, and a deep understanding of local environments.
Over time, YAPPENDA’s conservation programmes have increasingly involved biodiversity surveys, camera-trap monitoring, field documentation, community knowledge, ecological restoration, institutional partnerships, and the training of Papuan students and field practitioners.
The YAPPENDA Research Center is being developed to bring these activities together within a clearer academic and institutional framework. It will help YAPPENDA manage research responsibly, strengthen scientific collaboration, publish and preserve its outputs, develop Papuan researchers, and ensure that knowledge collected in Papua contributes to the communities and landscapes from which it comes.
WHAT WE DO
Building the Foundations for Papuan-Led Research
The YAPPENDA Research Center will bring together research, data, publication, training, and collaboration within one dedicated institutional platform.
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Develop and support ethical research in biodiversity, conservation, restoration, climate resilience, Indigenous knowledge, education, and community development.
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Document, organise, preserve, and share research data while protecting confidential information, threatened species, customary land information, and sensitive Indigenous knowledge.
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Make YAPPENDA’s research outputs easier to discover through reports, publications, presentations, repositories, academic profiles, and permanent digital identifiers where appropriate.
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Provide practical training in research ethics, field methods, data management, scientific writing, publication, presentation, and project leadership.
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Connect Indigenous communities and Papuan institutions with Indonesian and international universities, government agencies, conservation organisations, researchers, and funders.
The Research Center will help ensure that knowledge gathered through YAPPENDA’s programmes is responsibly managed, shared, and used to support conservation and community priorities.
Forest Protection and Indigenous Stewardship
YAPPENDA supports Indigenous communities in protecting primary forest through recognition of customary land rights, community-led management, and cooperation with government and conservation partners. This work creates opportunities for participatory mapping, biodiversity monitoring, and research into community-based conservation.
Research Built on Practical Experience
The YAPPENDA Research Center grows from years of conservation, education, restoration, and community partnership across Tanah Papua. These programmes provide the experience, relationships, and field knowledge that shape our developing research work.
Biodiversity Research and Field Exploration
YAPPENDA supports biodiversity surveys, species monitoring, camera trapping, field documentation, and collaboration between Papuan students, communities, and scientific institutions. Expedition Cyclops demonstrated how locally led partnerships can produce significant scientific discoveries while strengthening Papuan research skills.
Restoration and Sustainable Landscapes
YAPPENDA operates tree nurseries and supports reforestation, mangrove restoration, agroforestry, erosion control, and watershed protection. These activities provide opportunities to monitor ecological recovery, improve restoration methods, and understand how conservation can support sustainable livelihoods.
OUR FUTURE DIRECTION
Building a Lasting Research Institution in Papua
YAPPENDA Research Center is being developed as a long-term platform for Papuan-led research, responsible knowledge management, and ethical scientific collaboration.
As the Center grows, we aim to strengthen the systems needed to support researchers throughout the full research process—from community consultation and fieldwork to data management, publication, training, and the practical application of findings.