By: Wayne A. Klockner

I always enjoyed spending time with him during my 3 years in Jakarta. Please accept the following as my remembrance of Pak Beni, and let me know if you want me to post this on the blog or elsewhere.

From 1996 to 1999, I spent three eventful years in Jakarta as Senior Adviser and Acting Country Director for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an international conservation NGO. Of course, this was also an eventful time politically and economically for Indonesia. TNC was not immune to the changing political directions in the country, and we needed and relied on the guidance and support of influential people in the country to guide our conservation efforts there during some truly historic times.

Pak Beni Wahju was one of my closest advisors and a valued friend during this period. His wisdom, perspective, and good humor were much appreciated when a particular difficulty arose or I needed guidance on a challenging decision. Pak Beni was instrumental in the launch of a new NGO, YPAN, and served as its first chairman. He and I spent long hours with staff and some of his peers developing YPAN’s bylaws, structure, and operating principles, a complex task at any time, but accomplished by Pak Beni as Indonesia’s government completely changed!

I never tired of swapping stories with Beni; he enjoyed telling me about his times as a student exploring the geology of the American West and as a professional geologist developing his countries mineral resources. He loved the “field”…getting out in the wild and experiencing nature. I’m sure that was why Beni cared so deeply about conservation and the work of TNC and YPAN. I wish I had thanked him more for his dedication and commitment. Pak Beni was a true conservation pioneer in Indonesia.

Best regards,

Wayne

VP/State Director