Tavolo Community Conservation Association is one success story of the future of carbon trading in Papua New Guinea.
The people living within the conservation area have benefited from school fee assistance and also household support through a family package. Thanks to benefit sharing arrangements between Tavolo Community Conservation Association, the Government of PNG and international Partners.
The Community based organization is located in East New Britain Province in the Pomio District it is the combined initiative of the people of Tavolo, Lausus and Mukus.
Chairman of the Association Peter Kikele says the association has partnered with the Government and other relevant stake holders. This is to ensure they benefit from Carbon Trading as part of their efforts in conserving large areas of forests in their area.
After the sale of their carbon credits they have a family package that they give to members of the clan. As part of a benefit sharing arrangement.
The benefit sharing arrangement involves the Government of Papua New Guinea the agencies that facilitate the sale of Carbon Credits and the clan members that have given the right for the sale of carbon from their area.
Kikele says that they are well off conserving their flora and fauna. In the past they had logging which not only destroyed their environment but also yielded minimal benefit in terms of monetary return. This time with the sale of Carbon Credits they have conserved their forests and have enough disposable income to pay for their children’s education and also build homes using modern materials. Kikele says that is a much better outcome compared to logging that happened in the past.
Conservation areas within Pirung Wildlife Management Areas in the Bougainville Region was presented through a documentary film in Port Moresby.
Following this, the PWMA documentary will be made accessible to the local communities who host the PWMA through a community viewing program starting on 23 October to 1 November 2023.
Pirung Wildlife Management Area (PWMA) is the only gazetted Protected Area in Bougainville. Located on the South-Eastern part of Bougainville island, it stretches over 60km in length and 10km in width. Making it one of the largest Protected Marine Area in the country.
The documentary is presented by ABG Directorate for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change. Under the Department of Lands and Physical Planning showcases the cultural and biodiversity conservation efforts practiced in the Protected Area.
In watching the documentary, the ABG believes it will enhance people’s understanding. Empowering the communities to protect their marine environment.
Lynette Baratai-Pokas, is the ABG Secretary for Lands, Physical Planning and Environment and Conservation & Climate Change. Her environment officers will be presenting the documentary to the communities. The planned documentary viewing in Bougainville is scheduled as;
The acquisition of a 600-watt Port Power Station by the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) is predicted to enhance operational capabilities for Conservation Liaison Officers and Rangers on patrols.
Dillian Nason, TKCP’s Research and Monitoring Coordinator, said the far-reaching benefits of this new equipment play a pivotal role in ensuring data consistency, a critical aspect for the success of the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) program.
“This equipment marks a significant leap forward for TKCP’s conservation and research efforts. It prolongs the lifespan of field equipment, enabling extended data collection periods, which is vital for scientific research,” said Nason.
The Port Power Station ensures a reliable power source for phones, laptops, devices like Blackview, cameras, and various tools used by Conservation Liaison Officers.
Previously, TKCP used Goal Zero stations, but it was too costly and depended on other power sources. TKCP then relied on solar-generated power to charge essential devices and allowed officers to operate in remote or off-grid locations where there was no traditional power source.
However, TKCP experienced operational delays and that hindered the efficiency of their conservation efforts. Hence with the aquisition of the 600-watt port power station, TKCP aims to continue its efforts towards the conservation of tree kangeroos.
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Associate Director, Modi Pontio says the conservation program is committed to the long-term survival of tree kangaroos and their habitats.
“We work towards achieving this through research, community engagement, habitat protection, and conservation education. We envision a future where tree kangaroos thrive in the wild. And their habitats are protected and well-managed. Our aim is to achieve this by fostering a sustainable coexistence between communities and wildlife. Ensuring the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem health”, Pontio explains.
Conservation Officers and Rangers in Morobe province were participants in a program targeted at enhancing conservation efforts using a special software called SMART.
Known as Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) Application, this software plays a unique role in monitoring wildlife, identifying threats, and optimizing patrol operations.
The participants in this training are from Yopno, Uruwa and Som River (YUS) Conversation area of Kabwum District. Which covers 162,683 hectares.
Robson Soseng, a Ranger from Lower Uruwa Range said, with the knowledge on how to transfer patrol data, they don’t have to travel to Lae to send data.
“I am very happy with the current addition and introduction of SMART Patrol Plans. I learnt earlier this year during a refresher. When I went away and practiced and now with the debrief, it helps even more to correct my mistakes and become better,” said Ranger Soseng.
The software training primarily focuses on tracking, analyzing, and reporting spatial data. It will provide critical insights for informed decision-making regarding specific locations.
Conservation officer of Upper Uruwa, James Jio says he now understands how SMART works. And also how the data rangers collect, will benefit the system as a whole.
“I am so glad as I get to learn how to deal first hand technical issues. Re-installing SMART Application, editing SMART packages and transferring it into my Rangers phone. Transfer data from their phones into our field laptop and above all, I can also do monitoring in the livelihood area as I have installed SMART into my phone,” said Jio.
Dillian Nason, the Research & Monitoring Coordinator of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, facilitated a week-long training on the “Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool” (SMART).
“I believe this approach will reduce the long-term issue of communicating field data and devices with the Lae office. If all CO’s start attending SMART debriefs it will be better results ahead,” Jio continued.
Established in 2019, YUS remains Papua New Guinea’s inaugural conservation site.
It derives its name from the Yopno, Uruwa, and Som rivers. These rivers traverse the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province. Predominantly situated in Morobe’s Kabwum District, the area is inhabited by approximately 15,000 residents across 50 villages.
This locale serves as a vital habitat for one of Papua New Guinea’s endangered tree kangaroo and the Huon or Matchie’s. A central focus in the Lukautim Graun Program.
PHOTO FILE: A tail of a humpback whale breaks the water in Niue in this 2018 photo. (Richard Sidey/Galaxiid via AP)
By NICK PERRY (Associated Press)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue has come up with a novel plan to protect its vast and pristine territorial waters — it will get sponsors to pay.
Under the plan, which was being launched by Niue’s Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi on Tuesday in New York, individuals or companies can pay $148 to protect 1 square kilometer (about 250 acres) of ocean from threats such as illegal fishing and plastic waste for a period of 20 years.
Niue hopes to raise more than $18 million from the scheme by selling 127,000 square-kilometer units, representing the 40% of its waters that form a no-take marine protected area.
In an interview, Tagelagi said his people have always had a close connection with the sea.
“Niue is just one island in the middle of the big blue ocean,” Tagelagi said. “We are surrounded by the ocean, and we live off the ocean. That’s our livelihood.”
He said Niueans inherited and learned about the ocean from their forefathers and they want to be able to pass it on to the next generation in sustainable health.
Most fishing in Niue is to sustain local people, although there are some small-scale commercial operations and occasional offshore industrial-scale fishing, according to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
“Because of all the illegal fishing and all the other activities at the moment, we thought that we should be taking the lead, to teach others that we’ve got to protect the ocean,” Tagelagi said.
Niue is also especially vulnerable to rising sea levels threatening its land and freshwater, and the island is at risk of more intense tropical storms charged by warmer air and waters.
With a population of just 1,700 people, Niue acknowledges it needs outside help. It’s one of the smallest countries in the world, dwarfed by an ocean territory 1,200 times larger than its land mass.
Under the plan, the sponsorship money — called Ocean Conservation Commitments — will be administered by a charitable trust.
Niue will buy 1,700 sponsorship units, representing one for each of its citizens. Other launch donors include philanthropist Lyna Lam and her husband Chris Larsen, who co-founded blockchain company Ripple, and U.S.-based nonprofit Conservation International, which helped set up some technical aspects of the scheme.
Maël Imirizaldu, marine biologist and regional leader with Conservation International, said one problem with the conventional approach to ocean conservation funding was the need for places like Niue to constantly seek new funding on a project by project basis.
“The main idea was to try and switch that, to change the priority and actually help them have funding so they can plan for the next 10 years, 15 years, 20 years,” Imirizaldu said.
Simon Thrush, a professor of marine science at New Zealand’s University of Auckland who was not involved in the plan, said it sounded positive.
“It’s a good idea,” Thrush said, adding that as long as the plan was thoroughly vetted and guaranteed over the long term, “I’d be up for it.”
“We must start talking about increasing the number of coffee bags instead of the price of coffee bags,” said Yayuna.
These coffee farmers, however, have faced challenges that have led to their reluctance in participating in coffee production.
These challenges primarily revolve around the mode of transportation in particular the airline services to airlift coffee bags and the lack of market demand that is affecting the sale of coffee. Another challenge is the fluctuations in coffee prices at the world market that deters farmers’ interest in coffee production.
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Livelihood Coordinator, Sharon Erick, says the coffee production records from 2020 to 2022 reveal an impressive trajectory of progress. In 2020, 25,500 kilograms of parchment were sold, fetching a revenue of K114, 404.40.
The following year, due to the adverse impacts of Covid-19 and flight restrictions within the NCA, production experienced a drop, with 11,850 kilograms of parchment sold for K89, 901.00. However, 2022 marked a resounding comeback, as 23,400 kilograms of parchment were sold, generating an income of K118, 245.12.
This upswing demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of YUS coffee farmers in the face of adversity. To address these issues and reignite the interest of coffee farmers in the area, The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) has implemented several key initiatives.
TKCP provided training to coffee farmers to help them better understand the intricacies of the coffee supply chain. This training aims to improve their knowledge of the entire process, from farming to export.
In addition to supply chain training, financial literacy programs have been conducted for coffee farmers. These programs empower farmers with essential financial skills, enabling them to manage their resources effectively.
Farmers have collectively developed a coffee calendar to streamline the logistical process. This calendar helps farmers delegate their roles and responsibilities while providing a clear timeline for various tasks, including TKCP’s involvement.
Farmers have agreed to set specific coffee production targets for the year. One initiative TKCP has implement to revive coffee production is YUS Conservation coffee co-operative planning workshops that are run prior to coffee production.
One major advancement to facilitate these payments is the establishment of a MiBank agent in the YUS Conservation Area.
This development not only ensures the timely and secure payment of farmers but also addresses the safety concerns associated with officers carrying cash to the field. Pontio emphasizes that this process helps minimize risks and ensures timely payments, enabling parents to cover their children’s school fees at the beginning of the academic year and during festive seasons. Furthermore, the MiBank agent who is currently at YUS conservation is opening individual accounts with the bank.
This significant development of the MiBank agent was made possible through the support of the Lukautim Graun Program, funded by USAID. These initiatives and the establishment of the MiBank agent mark important steps towards revitalizing coffee farming in the YUS Conservation Area, addressing safety, and ultimately benefiting the livelihoods of the local farmers and eventually contributes to the sustainability of the program.
The heart of this success story lies in the vast expanse of YUS coffee farming communities. A staggering total of 117,800 coffee trees thrive across the area, sustained by the nurturing hands of the dedicated farmers. These trees are spread over 42.5 hectares of prime coffee farming land, a testament to the dedication and passion of the community.
The YUS Conservation Area has witnessed a remarkable transformation, with its coffee industry emerging as a beacon of success and sustainability.
The unwavering spirit of 512 coffee farmers, combined with strategic partnerships and a commitment to quality, has propelled this region into the global spotlight.
As the aroma of YUS coffee wafts through markets far and wide, it carries with it the story of a community that dared to dream big and succeeded in turning those dreams into reality.
The Australian Government has announced it will support research work towards Papua New Guinea’s Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policy.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Jon Philp said this will be through the form of grants offered to the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA)
These funding support will is aimed at emerging cohort of climate researchers from PNG to deliver evidence-based research in support of PNG’s climate goals.
The grants will support eligible Master’s and Doctoral students in a one year program of research and the findings during the study which will be presented at the Third National Climate Change Summit next year.
It will be delivered in partnership with CCDA, the National Research Institute (NRI), and the PNG Science and Technology Secretariat.
This joint initiative between PNG and Australia is one component of Australia’s dedication to support PNG implement the climate national adaptation and mitigation goals.
Part of this partnership included the facilitating of a team of international experts from the Australian National University to attend the National Climate Change Summit in Port Moresby.
Presentations made by climate change specialists from Australia included topics on climate challenges faced by communities in the Pacific Region and how to identify solutions.
The topics covered blended finance options for climate adaptation, climate justice and social inclusion, and new research to trial carbon trading through coffee farming.
Meanwhile the application information for the climate research grant opportunities will be available on the Climate Change and Development Authority website following the conclusion of the Summit.
Papua New Guinea has some of the largest areas of forest in the world, but measures to conserve the environment through the sale of carbon credits has been unfair for local land owners in the country.
Recent media reports and investigations have uncovered that most in rural areas in Papua New Guinea have little to no knowledge of the complexity of carbon credits and Carbon trading. In turn they are being taken advantage of by those in the business.
Debra Sungi, the acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) at the Climate Change Development Authority, says the absence of proper regulatory framework has allowed for the exploitation of landowners in rural Papua New Guinea.
(Left) Debra Sungi – Acting General Manager Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), Climate Change Development Authority and (Center) CCDA Acting Managing Director William Lakain attending a stakeholders meeting on Friday.
A moratorium on the PNG REDD+ Voluntary Carbon Market Project has the Climate Change Development Authority and stake holders pushing for the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Market) Regulation 2023 to be approved by the Government.
The document was rigorously debated since 2022 and is the answer to the problem. It will aid in the process of carbon emissions trading in domestic and international approach. Guided by international rules under the Conference of Parties COP 26 Article 6.
CCDA and Stake holders meeting held at Hilton Hotel on the 18th of this month.
A stake holders meeting was held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby on Friday to debate and present the final draft of the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023. And also to Validate the Climate Change (Management) (Carbon Markets) Regulation 2023.
The amendment of the regulation has gone into the second stage and as the national designated authority responsible for Carbon Markets, CCDA is certain that the regulation will help make sure maximum benefit goes to the land owners.
A determined effort to safeguard their coastal areas and promote environmental sustainability, David Bai, a respected community elder and landowner from Alexishafen, has announced plans to plant mangroves along the offshore region.
The strategic decision to plant these vital trees is anticipated to yield numerous benefits for both the local community and the surrounding ecosystem.
David Bai emphasized that the initiative to plant mangroves is born out of the recognition of their multifaceted advantages.
Situated along the coastal areas, the community acknowledges the significance of mangroves in preventing erosion and fostering a nurturing environment for reproduction.
He elaborated that the mangrove planting endeavour will be executed over a six-month period, with an ongoing commitment to continue this effort thereafter.
The benefits of mangroves are manifold. Notably, the decaying leaves of mangrove trees play a pivotal role in preventing soil erosion and fortifying the land.
These trees also contribute to the enhancement of aquatic life by providing a suitable habitat for various species of fish and other marine life. Moreover, mangroves serve as a reservoir for a diverse array of species such as mud shells, mud crabs, and more. An intriguing aspect of the initiative involves the sustainable use of mature mangrove stems. These stems are selectively harvested for their exceptional strength and durability, making them an ideal material for constructing houses.
This practice not only demonstrates the resourcefulness of the community but also highlights the symbiotic relationship they maintain with their natural surroundings. Mangroves reproduce through a fascinating process, involving the cultivation of seeds.
Presenting a seed as an example, David Bai explained, that after germinating for one or two months, these seeds are released and eventually find their way into the surrounding water bodies. While some seeds are transported by currents to distant offshore areas, others settle in their immediate vicinity. This natural process plays a significant role in rebuilding soil quality through the decomposition of fallen leaves. Regrettably, the flourishing mangrove ecosystem in the vicinity of Alexishafen has suffered setbacks due to pollution originating from various sources. Manufacturing companies, particularly oil spills from fishing vessels, have contributed to the decline of mangrove populations.
Furthermore, infections from the environment have also contributed to the diminishing numbers of these vital trees. In cases where suitable soil conditions are lacking for optimal growth, certain mangrove species have been pushed to the brink of extinction. The success of the mangrove planting initiative hinges upon the recognition of various soil types, including mud, sand, reefs, and other substrates that can sustain different mangrove species. This acknowledgment underscores the community’s commitment to restoring and preserving their local environment for generations to come. As David Bai and the community of Alexishafen embark on this transformative journey, their efforts stand as a testament to the power of collective action in preserving ecosystems, mitigating erosion, and promoting biodiversity.
Helping Hand Honey Producers is the name of the establishment founded by Kelly Inae in 2006. The location is always buzzing with life and Kelly prides himself with sharing the knowledge of bee keeping and honey production.
Located at Fimito Kafana Road in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, is the site of a bee farmers training area where honey is produced and packaged.
Plant life is important in the honey making process and for Kelly, he has amassed some hectares of land for a habitat that provides the bees with the pollen they need for honey production.
Kelly is a conservationist at heart and his habitat is a testament to that. He ensures the habitat is well looked after for trainees to see the different plants that aid in honey production.
Whilst it is a marvel to taste sweet honey straight from the hive, its a bitter sweet tale for the workers of the hive, with bees in the region falling short of a sweet finish. Production has declined in the past two years with climate change being a big challenge for the bees. But Kelly and his colleagues continue to figure out and innovate ways to improve the situation.
Honey from Papua New Guinea is much desired overseas and remains a high priced commodity both locally and globally but honey production is still at a small scale in country.
Kelly is working to export honey to Australia and is certain he will meet requirements before his first export date in November.
Kelly continues to pursue improvements in the industry and has written books and guides about bee keeping and continues to provide valuable statistics to the relevant Government bodies to help in conservation and honey production.
More info and contact information about Helping Hand Honey can be found at https://www.facebook.com/helpinghandhoney/ and more links to stories about Kelly and Honey production and training can be found there.
