Nino Konis Santana National Park (NKSNP), established in 2007, is the first national park in Timor-Leste. Located at the eastern tip, it covers an area of 123,600 hectares in the eastern part of the country, which accumulates a variety of landscapes ranging from coastal areas and coral zones to montane areas and deciduous tropical forests with geological characteristics of ash rock in the highlands. The establishment of the NKSNP underlines the country’s commitment to preserve its unique natural heritage and promote sustainable development, as well as the relationship between humans and nature.
The Timor-Leste National Commission for UNESCO (KNTLU), working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry and UNESCO Jakarta, organized a national workshop on the nomination of Nino Konis Santana National Park for registration with the United Nations World Organization (UNESCO). This activity will be held in the municipality of Lautem on August 8–9, 2024, for two days, during a visit to Nino Konis National Park Santana Tutuala to see directly the archaeological sites of Lenehara, Ira-Lalaro Lake, and Pousada. A brief presentation on management and discussion with the local community in the protected area of Nino Konis Santana National Park
President of Lautem Municipal Authority, Mr. Melio de Jesus, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry through the Secretary of State for Forestry, who has done this program, working together with the line ministerial to nominate Nino Konis Santana National Park, which is located in Lautem municipality. Registered with the World Organization UNESCO to become the heritage of the state and people of Timor-Leste. Feel proud that Nino Konis Santana National Park can represent the state of Timor-Leste to the international world through Nino Konis Santana National Park, so it brings the Lautem community all maximum support. I would like to give appreciation and gratitude to the Committee that has made this international workshop program.
The objective of this program is to establish the MAB Committee to prepare requirements according to UNESCO criteria and raise the status to nominate Nino Konis Santana National Park for registration with UNESCO so as to obtain world recognition as a world heritage of Timor-Leste. Nino Konis Santana National Park is a treasure of Timor that needs to be protected and preserved.
This activity was attended by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste, Mr. Funmi Balogun, the UNESCO representative in Jakarta, Mr. Ryuichi Fukuhara, and the Secretary of State for Forestry, among other national and international guests.
