DILI, 26 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the State Secretariat for Forestry (SEF) and in collaboration with the National Committee of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB), convened a meeting to finalize the integrated management plan for Nino Konis Santana National Park (NKS). The plan is scheduled to be submitted to UNESCO in Paris this September.
State Secretary for Forestry, Fernandinho Viera da Costa, stated that the meeting –attended by ministers from various sectors –was held to ratify the park’s management plan and present the legal documents that have been prepared over the past several months.
“This meeting aims to generate recommendations so that the document we’ve been working on for the past two years can be finalized and submitted to the UNESCO registry in Paris, France, this September. This effort is expected to support the promotion of Nino Konis Santana National Park as part of the international biosphere network,” Viera told journalist at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Forestry on Monday.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTA), the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Forestry (MAPPF), the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), the Ministry of Education (ME), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MJDAC), the Ministry of Arts and Culture, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MPRM).
Viera emphasized that the integrated management plan is built on a strong legal foundation, supported by several instruments, including the General Forestry Regime (Law No. 14/2017), the National Protected Area System (Law No. 05/2016), and the Law on the Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity (Law No. 06/2020).
“These legal frameworks provide the strength to protect and preserve Nino Konis Santana National Park, while also reinforcing the protection of other conservation areas across the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (KNTLU), Luis Nívio de Fátima Soares, highlighted the importance of finalizing the nomination format in accordance with international standards.
“We’ve mapped the transition zones, identified the diversity of flora and fauna, and developed an integrated plan. Today, we’re reviewing the completeness of the documents to ensure they’re ready for submission. Additionally, SEF has contracted a company to produce audiovisual documentation to accompany the nomination file,” Soares concluded.
Nino Konis Santana National Park is Timor-Leste’s first national park. Established on August 15, 2007, it spans 1,236 square kilometers and connects key bird conservation areas such as Lore, Mount Paitchau, Lake Ira Lalaro, and Jaco Island.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
