In 1938, the American Richard Archbold, saw a valley from his Catalina seaplane. The view from above filled him with great excitement and amazement. A network of little gardens, bordered by stone walls along the banks of the Baliemriver, testified of a developed agriculture. The valley was opened in 1951 and a few years later an administrative post was located in this valley.
Since then, the Baliem been in a process of change. Tradition has to give way for modernity. With all the disruptive consequences for local communities. It is unlikely that within ten years time a picture taken like this will be able in the Baliem valley. A goal of Hapin is to, together with the local communities, ensure balance between habitat, tradition and development as much as possible.
