Administratively, Fakfak Regency, West Papua, Indonesia, is in the province of West Papua. Fakfak Regency has an area of 14,320 Km² located at 131°53’03″E-133°29’19″E and 2°30’58″–3°57’51″S. In its development, Fakfak Regency has experienced expansion of districts, sub-districts and villages. Fakfak Regency has a total of 17 districts, 7 sub-districts and 142 villages.

Boundaries of the Fakfak Regency area as:

• North side : Teluk Bintuni Regency

• South: Arafura Sea and Kaimana Regency

• Northwest: Seram and Berau Bay

• East : Kaimana Regency.

History of the Development of Fakfak district

Fakfak Regency was established in 1969 at the same time as the formation of West Irian Province along with 8 other districts namely Jayapura Regency, Biak Numfor Regency, Manokwari Regency, Sorong Regency, Merauke Regency, Jaya Wijaya Regency and Japen Waropen Regency. In 1969, Fakfak Regency covered the territory of the Head of the Local Government of Fakfak, Kaimana and Mimika with the District Government Domiciled in Fakfak. Fakfak District at that time had an area of 50,542 km² covering 8 districts namely Kokas District 6,175 km², Fakfak District 6,145 km², Kaimana District 5,500 km², Teluk Arguni District 5,000 km², Etna District 8,000 km², West Mimika District 7,974 km², East Mimika District 7,738 km² and Agimuga District 4,010 km².

In 1999, Fakfak Regency split into several regions, such as Timika and Sorong. Fakfak District only covers 5 sub-districts namely Kokas District, Fakfak District, Kaimana District, Teluk Arguni District and Etna District.

In 2002, Fakfak Regency was divided into the main Regency and Kaimana Regency, which resulted in the formation of Sarmi, Keerom, South Sorong, Raja Ampat, Pengunungan Bintang, Yahukimo, Tolikara, Waropen, Kab. Kaimana, Boven Digoel, Mappi, Asmat, T. Bintuni and Wondama, so that Fakfak Regency as the main regency has an area of 14,320 km².

Residents of Fakfak District

Judging from historical records regarding the origins of Fakfak, information about the existence of the village and the indigenous people of Fakfak is very difficult to find. Most of the history of Fakfak reveals more about the entry and development of three religions, namely Islam, Catholicism, and Protestant Christianity which are considered family religions in Fakfak, so that a motto emerged which strengthened harmony among people and the well-known name, namely “One Furnace, Three Stones, One One Brother’s Heart”.

From the point of view of origin, the name Fakfak is interpreted in multiple ways by the local community. Some say that the word ‘Fakfak’ was originally not pronounced with the letter ‘f’, but the letter ‘p’ so that the real ‘Fakfak’ is ‘Pakpak’. The connotation of the name Fakfak is still confusing. Initially, Fakfak was called Pakpak, then changed to Fakfak until now. In one of the local languages, “Pakpak” is interpreted in several ways. Based on their origins, Fakfak people identify themselves into 2 (two) categories, namely native people and immigrants.

Indigenous people are people who are seen to have existed and lived in Fakfak since their early ancestors with an attached clan identity. They are referred to as ‘country children’. Migrants are people who come from various places outside Fakfak, both still from within Papua and from outside Papua who come for various reasons. Migration to Fakfak by migrants is driven by economic reasons, work reasons, and marriage reasons.

Information about indigenous people in Fakfak includes the Mbaham, Ma’tta, Mor, Onin, Irarrrutu, Kimbaran, and Arguni tribes. When broken down by language, there are around 10 languages in Fakfak Regency, namely:

• In the Karas area there are 2 languages, namely the Karas Laut language (Antalisa and Mas) or called Karkaraf and Karas Darat (Faur, Kiaba, Tuberwasak, Malakuli and Tarak).

• Patimunim language or Mbaham language with village areas including Saharei, Weri, Tunasgain, Kiriabisa, Urat, Sanggram, Waserat, Wambar, East Wambar, Kotam, Mbamdandara, Wos, Waremu Village and Mbahamdandara

• Matta language (Iha language) starting from Werba Village, Pokpok Union, Kamandu Tetar, Tips, Kwuahkendak, Pahge Nikindit, Sukuru Tuare, Porum, Purwahap Tonggo, Siboru, Sipatnanam, Wartutin, Torea, Werba Utara, Wurkendik, Sekban, Sekru, Gewerpe, Kapartutin, Lusiperi, Tanama, Wrikapal, Big Water, Brongkendik, Hambriemkendik, Kanantare, Mandopma, Nemewikarya, Pasir Putih, Pirma, Raduria, Sakartemin, Kalamanuk, East Wayati, Wayati, West Wayati, Krabelang, Kwama, Kampung Baru, Masina , Pangwadar, Patimburak, Gewab, Homorkokma, Kaburbur, Kramongmongga, Mbaham Ma Youn, Patukar, Tentreda, Ubadari, Warpa, Wargep, Kinam, Kriawaswas, Mambunibuni, Bahbadan, Kwamkwamur, Mamur, Nembukteb, Pikpik, Adora, Degen, Mawar, Offie , Puar, Sum, Tetar, Tibatibananam, Us, Kayuni, Kwagas, Manamur, Rangkendek, Tanehamur, Twookindit and Werfra.

• Onin language (Rumbati language), covering Rumbati Village and its surroundings, Tawar, Salakiti, Sengkiti, Gar, Perwasak, Werpigan and Werabuan.

• Patipi language starting from Patipi Pulau, Patipi Pasir, Bisa and Kampung Muhri.

• Sekar language (Coke language) with Kinam, Mandoni, Kimina Kra, Batufiafas, Sosar, Sisir, Sekar and Ugar areas.

• Arguni language with areas along Arguni, Taver, Andamata, Fior, Furir, Darembang, Goras and South Goras.

• Moorish languages, namely Otoweri, Mitimber, Wamosan, and Thesa.

• The Irarutu language is in Tomage and Syena Salawir villages.

The role of indigenous people or what are called ‘country children’ in Fakfak is very dominant, especially in matters of customary and customary rights. Indigenous people have control of customary rights over certain land parcels in Fakfak. Along with changes in the government system, the role of royal government was then included in the modern government system in managing social life. Meanwhile, migrant residents in Fakfak come from various areas inside and outside Fakfak. It is known that the migrants came from various other areas in Papua.

From outside Papua, migrants who are quite prominent in Fakfak are identified as coming from the regions of Java, Sulawesi, Ambon, Sumatra, etc. Based on the area of origin, these migrant tribes include Javanese, Bugis, Makassar, Buton, Manado, Ambon, Ternate, etc. In addition, in Fakfak there are residents of Chinese and Arab descent who have lived in this area for several centuries. Initially, the arrival of the Arabs in Fakfak was not only for the sake of the spice trade, but also to propagate Islam.

The arrival of the ancestors of the people of Chinese descent to Tanah Fakfak was entirely due to economic reasons, namely to trade agricultural products. Until now, the shopping/shop area in Fakfak City is dominated by these Chinese descendants, which is also a residential area for this community group. This shopping/shop area, which is no more than 1 km long, is referred to by the local community as the Chinatown area which is located on Jalan Izak Tellusa Fakfak which is currently the Old City area of Fakfak Regency.

Natural Resources

Based on the geological map and sesmic results, the mining potential in Fakfak Regency has a large potential for gas and mineral reserves, with the distribution of potential mining activities that have not been explored, including natural gas in East Fakfak District, Middle East Fakfak District, Karas, Bomberay and Kokas District, Arguni District, Mbahmdandara District while gold, iron ore and coal are being surveyed in Fakfak. Other mines are still at the sesmic and natural gas exploration stages in the Bomberay District, Kokas District and in certain blocks in the East Fakfak District and Karas District.

The dominant plantation crop commodities are nutmeg, coconut, and coffee as well as several other by-products. All types of plantation crops have been developed evenly throughout the Fakfak Regency. However, from this type of plant, the main and prominent is nutmeg, which has export value because it has a foreign market.

Nutmeg is a mainstay commodity because most of the local population owns this type of plantation, even Fakfak Regency is nicknamed the City of Nutmeg because of the abundant nutmeg yields. If you look at the graph, it appears that there has been an increase in the yield of the nutmeg crop in 2017, increasing the total area of land compared to the previous year’s results.

The total area of nutmeg plantations in 2017 is around 17,542 ha, which is expected to continue to increase with land extensification. The distribution of nutmeg plants is spread in all districts except Bomberay District and Tomage District. The production of nutmeg plants is in the form of nutmeg, mace/mace, and nutmeg meat with an annual average production rate of more than 4 thousand tons which are sent to Java Island and then exported abroad. While the secondary processing industry of this plant is in the form of candied products, nutmeg lunkhead and nutmeg syrup.

The agricultural sector is part of the priority sectors developed in Fakfak Regency. Some parts of the region have agricultural land that is quite large and has the potential to be developed to support the supply of agricultural products. Likewise supporting local food security such as root crops and food crops as well as horticulture. Areas that have the potential for agricultural development are in Bomberay District, Tomage District, Mbahmdandara District, Kramongmongga District, Kayauni District, Karas District and West Fakfak District.

The area being touched by the national program is the Bomberay District with the Agropolitan program being the flagship. Intensification and extensification of paddy fields and animal husbandry is a priority for this district. Likewise in other districts, the sub-sector of local food crops includes local crops (cassava, sweet potato, nuts) and fruits (Durian, Langsat, mango, rambutan, banana).

The potential for fishery and marine natural resources is the most prominent resource in Fakfak Regency, especially with the existence of mangrove forests, estuaries, coral reefs and seagrass meadows which are still natural which are breeding grounds for various fish and marine biota.

In the development of this sub-sector, it is divided into capture fisheries and aquaculture. There are three types of capture fisheries, namely sea, land and public water fisheries. For Fakfak Regency, it has not optimally cultivated land fisheries and public waters fisheries. Fakfak Regency only operates marine fisheries which include fisheries between islands.

Heterogeneous various types of woody vegetation, flora and fauna are scattered in almost all areas. The forest potential that is utilized significantly is still limited to the potential of timber by logging which only utilizes natural potential. Other potentials from the forest are in the form of non-timber products (rattan, resin, bark, copal, nipa, roots of medicinal plants, various exotic plants) such as ornamental plants and orchids, endemic and unique fauna such as crocodiles, various various plants. drugs have not been optimally pursued. Forest products that have been utilized are limited to logging activities by the community, other forest product harvesting.

The tourism potential in the Regency is quite hopeful for the future. With various types of tourism objects that have the potential to be developed, both natural and historical tourism are no less interesting than other regions. Its tourism potential and attractiveness has several distinct advantages and uniqueness which are addressed by the availability of natural, marine and cultural tourism potential in several places. These potentials are different from each other and have unique and distinctive legends that are still maintained by the Fakfak community. Especially for marine tourism, there is potential for marine resources that present underwater life with expanses of coral reefs, habitat for various types of coral, coral fish and ornamental fish.

Many prehistoric and ex-World War II relics provide a special attraction for visitors. However, tourism activities in Fakfak Regency have not been well developed. This is indicated by the low number of foreign tourists coming to the Fakfak Regency area. From the latest data for 2014, the most incoming tourists were from the Netherlands followed by the United States, France and Japan who came collectively by boat to see several tourist destinations but most tourists were local tourist visitors. Some of the visitors who came to Fakfak were also from families who had lived in Fakfak during the colonial era or their families who wanted to remember past events.