South Papua

South Papua is an Indonesian province located in the southern portion of Papua.

It follows the borders of the Papuan customary region known as Anim Ha. The province was officially established on 25 July 2022. It includes four southern regencies that were once part of the larger Papua province. Before 2002, these areas were part of the single Merauke Regency. Today, South Papua covers a land area of 117,849.16 square kilometers. This is about the same size as the US state of Pennsylvania.

The geography of South Papua is defined by its lowlands and water. Most of the region consists of low areas with extensive swamps. Massive rivers like the Digul and Maro flow through this landscape. These rivers originate in the New Guinea Highlands, which are the highest mountains in Indonesia. The land contains two main ecoregions. These are the Southern New Guinea freshwater swamp forests and the Southern New Guinea lowland rain forests. Sago trees grow abundantly in these wet environments. Local indigenous groups rely on sago and fish as their staple foods.

One of the most important natural areas is Wasur National Park. This park is a Ramsar wetland of international importance. It features a unique ecoregion called the Trans-Fly savanna and grasslands. This area includes swamp forests, coastal forests, and vast savannas that flood periodically. The park has rich biodiversity. You can find the agile wallaby and the bird of paradise there. You might also see musamus, which are giant termite mounds.

The wetlands also attract migratory birds, such as the magpie goose from Australia.

The history of the region involves many indigenous tribes. Groups like the Asmat, Marind, and Wambon have lived here for generations. The Marind people traditionally lived in groups along the rivers. Their way of life focused on hunting, gathering, and farming.

In the 19th century, European powers began to colonize New Guinea. The island was divided between the Dutch and the British. In 1902, the Dutch built a military base at the eastern tip of South Papua. They named this base Merauke after its location.

The Dutch also established a Catholic mission to spread their religion.

During the Dutch colonial period, the region saw significant changes. The Dutch used the remote Digul River area for a detention camp. This camp was located at the headwaters of the river, known as Boven-Digoel. The camp was called Tanah Merah. It was a densely forested area surrounded by the harsh Digul River. Malaria also made it very difficult for prisoners to escape. Notable figures, including Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir, were once detained there.

After the Dutch left in the 1960s, Tanah Merah became the capital of the Boven Digoel Regency.

South Papua is currently divided into four administrative regencies. These are Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi, and Asmat.

Merauke serves as the economic center of the province. The administrative center is the town of Salor, located in the Kurik District. South Papua is the least populous province in Indonesia. The 2020 Census recorded 513,617 people. By mid-2025, the official estimate reached 549,650 people. This population includes many different ethnic groups and migrants. Many Javanese people moved here through a government transmigration program.

Large-scale development projects have also shaped the province. In 2007, the Merauke Integrated Food and Energy Estate (MIFEE) was started. This project aimed to increase Indonesia's food security by using fertile lowlands. It focuses on crops like rice, sugar cane, corn, and oil palm.

The project has faced challenges regarding land rights and the environment. During the presidency of Joko Widodo, the Food Estate project was revived. It designates 200,000 hectares of land on Papua Island for corn and rice. These activities continue to change the landscape and the local ecosystems.