PNG communities protect 80,000 hectares of rainforest
26 Oct 2006
Three major rainforest Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), protecting some of PNG's most threatened wildlife habitat, have been declared at a series of colourful launch ceremonies on Mount Bosavi.
The protected areas were launched at separate festivals held on the slopes of Mount Bosavi, a 2,400 metre extinct volcano in Kikori Basin in PNG's Southern Highlands [1]. Hundreds of local tribal people gathered in Musula and Wabimisen to celebrate the protection of more than 80,000 hectares of highly threatened pristine tropical rainforest by holding a magnificent traditional singsing.
"Today we recognise the Bosavi people's efforts in protecting their land and heritage, including the source of the Kikori River, for future generations," said WWF-PNG Country Programme Manager, Michael Avosa.
"We acknowledge that they are leaders in protecting their land and developing alternative sustainable income opportunities."
Mr Avosa also acknowledged the role of Oil Search and its joint venture partners [2], as well as the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and community organisations in PNG in supporting the establishment of these protected areas.
The event was witnessed by Dr Gae Gowae, Deputy Secretary of DEC and WWF-Australia's Chief Executive Officer, Greg Bourne.
The island of New Guinea has the largest remaining rainforest in the Asia Pacific region. The three new WMAs (Hose, Arisai and Sulamesi), established on the customary lands of the Kosua and Orogo people, will together protect more than 80,000 hectares of this pristine rainforest.
The Kikori Basin has a variety of forest habitats that are home to some of PNG's most threatened species, as well as dramatic landscape features that include the cockpit and needle karsts of the extensive Darai limestone, the remarkable Hegigio Gorge and the spectacular Wassi and Wawoi waterfalls.
The animals of the region rank amongst the most spectacular found anywhere on earth and include the world's longest lizard, largest pigeon, largest moth and one of the world's largest butterflies. Rare species of plant-life can also be found here, and recently WWF reported that eight new species of orchid had been discovered in the area with around 20 further species are being verified [3].
"The declaration signifies a commitment by local landowners to conserve and safeguard their land and to protect it against destructive development such as unsustainable logging. In future, any development in these areas should respect WMA rules," said Saina Jeffrey, WWF's Protected Areas Officer. "Today's announcement is an important milestone in strengthening the system of protected areas in PNG and gives a boost to the efforts of WWF and its partners in achieving big conservation results in the Kikori region."
Editor's notes
WWF, the global conservation organisation, works to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Established in 1961, WWF operates in more than 100 countries around the world - funding around 2000 conservation projects and employing almost 4000 people.
WWF has been working in PNG since 1995. Our work focuses on linking community action, science and effective policy to ensure the protection and sustainable use of forests, freshwater and marine resources across the island of New Guinea.
In 1993, with the PNG National Executive Council's approval, WWF Kikori River Program established a model Integrated Conservation and Development Project in a tropical rainforest of 2.3 million hectares in the Southern Highlands and Gulf Provinces of Papua New Guinea.
[1] The three protected areas include Sulamesi (70,159 hectares), Hose (4,830 hectares) and Arisai (4,661 hectares). Launch festivals were held at Musula (for Arisai and Hose) and Wabimisen (for Sulamesi).
The areas were among 12 WMAs that were submitted by landowners to Environment and Conservation Minister William Duma during the South Pacific Leaders Forum last October.
[2] Oil Search is lead operator of the Kutubu Joint Venture Partnership, a consortium of companies managing oil and gas fields in the Kikori Basin. WWF has a decade long engagement with the partnership to demonstrate best environmental practice in oil and gas operations in the area.
[3] See WWF press release, 'WWF discovers new species of orchids in Papua New Guinea' (16 October 2006):
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/asia_pacific/news/index.cfm?uNewsID=82840
For further information:
Lydia Kaia
Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
t: +675 320 0149
f: +675 320 0519
e: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg
w www.wwfpacific.org.fj/where_we_work/png
