14 highlands based Community Based Organizations (CBO)s that do work on nature conservation received two weeks training on capacity building and media recently.
The participants from across the highlands region, converged at Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, at the Research and Conservation Foundation (PNG) conference center.
The training was facilitated by Conservation Forum PNG with trainer John Ericho taking lead in the training.
The NGOs and CBOs are funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants program which is implemented by the United Nations Development Program. The GEF SGP provides grants of up to USD 50,000 directly to CSOs and community-based organizations (CBO’s) to undertake local projects that contribute to the global environment while generating sustainable livelihoods.
Managing and sustaining these projects is part of the training for these grantees.
It was fulfilling for most of the attendees that took part. Peter Kaman from Jiwaka works with Bridging Gap a drug addiction rehabilitation center in Jiwaka Province.
They substitute their income through honey production and his community is planting trees to preserve bees that in-return produce honey in the Waghi Valley in Jiwaka. Peter like many of the attendees are hoping to benefit from their conservation work, which in turn provides sustainability for their community.
Peter Kaman of Bridging Gap, Jiwaka Province, attending the training.
Like most the need to preserve nature is a choice that communities have taken up.
Interest in learning how to manage a change project within the community requires a wholistic approach and many participants were excited to take part in the training.
Trainer John Eriko says there is a desire for conservation and the Government is helping in terms of providing funding avenues for Community Based Organizations to take part in conservation work.
Research Conservation Foundation (PNG) manages one of the largest Wild Life Management areas, found in Eastern Highlands province, the Crater Mountain Wild Life Management Area.
Papua New Guinea is one of the last frontiers and has large amounts of its forest and vegetation still intact with unique native flora and fauna, clearing of forest and vegetation for infrastructure and development, coupled with an increase in population has put our unique flora and fauna at risk of being over-exploited.
Environment Conservation is everyone’s choice, and those that continue to uphold conservation, find it rewarding in preserving PNGs remaining plants and animals deep in the jungles of rural Papua New Guinea.
RCF PNG Director Dr Sangion Tiu and her team are based in Goroka town, since 1993. RCF PNG have overseen and facilitated in managing the Crater Mountain Wild Life Management Area and with the help of international organizations like the GEF Small Grants, they continue the good work of conservation.
Director of Research and Conservation Foundation (PNG) Dr. Sangion Tui
While development is inevitable and is certainly part of a developing nation, managing land to cater for conservation and other activities is a must.
The crater mountain area remains protected, and species of plants and animals thrive in their eco-system with some thought to have been extinct, have found refuge in the mountains.
Conservation allows for the study of our flora and fauna and continued research helps us establish a fair understanding of the species that are endemic to Papua New Guinea.
Dr Sangion Tiu says there are policies in place by Government to support conservation.
The Pacific Leatherback turtle, an awe-inspiring species, now faces critical endangerment due to numerous factors, including industrial fishing, nestling and egg harvesting, and water pollution. Despite these challenges, leatherback turtles hold immense cultural significance for indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea.
Villages such as Karkum, Tokain in Sumkar, and Mur, Yamai, and Male in the Raicoast region of Madang Province, have a rich heritage of legends, songs, dances, and rituals associated with sea turtles. These communities have a profound connection with these gentle giants, reflecting their historical ties and traditional practices.
Indigenous lore celebrates the leatherback turtle’s influence, evident in traditions like the Dalal song, which imitates the turtles’ movements during nesting, symbolizing the deep bond between the communities and these majestic creatures. For instance, the Dawang clan of Mur traces its origins to the sacred leatherback turtle, believing they can catch and utilize them as food or currency through sacred rituals. Karkum’s Legend, a captivating tale of transformation, highlights the cultural significance of leatherback turtles by narrating the tale of a woman who morphs into a turtle and embarks on a journey of resilience.
The population of Pacific Leatherback turtles has dramatically declined by over 90% in just two decades, primarily due to industrial fishing, nestling harvesting, water pollution, and plastic accumulation in the ocean.
Additional factors, including chemical use in agriculture, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, and predation by dogs and feral pigs, have contributed to the irreversible decline of other nesting species like green turtles, hawksbill, and loggerhead varieties.
Preservation efforts should focus on safeguarding the areas where leatherbacks nest, forage, and migrate.
Papua New Guinea’s Huon coast, near the industrial city of Lae in Morobe province, along with sporadic sites in Madang and islands such as New Britain and Bougainville, have been identified as critical nesting sites. To prevent leatherback turtles from the brink of extinction, it is crucial to recognize their vital role in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities and work collectively to ensure their conservation.
The Sea Turtles Restoration Project: Wenceslaus Magun, an ardent advocate for environmental protection in the Western Pacific, has dedicated his life to educating Papua New Guineans, particularly in Madang and across the country, about preserving endangered species like the leatherback turtle.
Collaborating with the Turtle Island Restoration Network, Magun has spearheaded the Sea Turtles Restoration Project in Karkum village. This project aims to protect endangered sea turtles, preserve cultural heritage, safeguard marine habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity, restore food sources, stimulate alternative economic opportunities, and promote integral human development.
The primary objective of the Sea Turtles Restoration Project is to create a conducive environment for marine and near-shore resource management plans through the participation of the resource owners.
By empowering indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea, the project aims to preserve their environment, benefitting both the endangered species like leatherback turtles and the people who rely on them for sustenance. Recognizing the importance of preserving cultural practices, the project seeks sustainable solutions that harmonize community needs with environmental protection.
Through the Sea Turtles Restoration Project, Magun and his team strive to raise awareness about preserving endangered species and their habitats while fostering alternative sources of income for local communities.
Group posing with large leatherback turtle. (Picture courtesy of Wenceslaus Magun)
By adopting a holistic approach to conservation, the project aims to create a sustainable future, empowering communities in Papua New Guinea to take charge of their environmental welfare.
To ensure the project’s long-term success, Mr. Magun collaborated with the Turtle Island Restoration Network to establish the local NGO, Mas Kagin Tapani (MAKATA) association, which sustains the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
On November 17, 2008, three representatives from each of the four clans in Karkum village signed a conservation deed, granting them greater control and power over their resources. The deed preserves customary practices and enables the villagers to become direct custodians and stewards of their resources. This landmark event empowers them to assert their customary rights, respond to threats, assist in land and sea management, identify crucial protection areas, and preserve and safeguard their traditional knowledge.
Protecting the leatherback turtles of Papua New Guinea requires a concerted effort to balance environmental conservation with the cultural significance bestowed upon these majestic creatures. By acknowledging the integral role of leatherback turtles in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities, we can work together to ensure their preservation. Through initiatives like the Sea Turtles Restoration Project and the dedication of advocates like Wenceslaus Magun, Papua New Guineans are striving to create a sustainable future that respects both their cultural heritage and the delicate ecosystems that support these endangered species.
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Reporting for this story was supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network
Nestled in the heart of Goroka in Eastern Highlands Province is the Research and Conservation Foundation (RCF). It was established in 1986 first as a facility to manage the Crater Mountain Wildlife area, the second largest conservation area in PNG bordering Eastern Highlands, Chimbu and Gulf provinces. It is second to the Tonda Wildlife Management Area in Western province.
The Crater Wildlife Management Area was created in 1992 and through donor funding, the operations of RCF was moved to Goroka from Port Moresby. Enabling work to progress with locals especially those interested in conservation work.
An RCF officer holding a rare Bird of Paradise Species, one of many found in the Crater Mountains Conservation Area.
For over 20 years the Foundation has been collaborating with educational institutions providing learning and research aimed at protecting unique species such as the Bird of Paradise as well as several species of mammals and birds in the Crater Mountain Wildlife area.
Research and Conservation Foundation currently has two main programs, the National Resources Management Program and the Conservation Education Program.
RCF’s passionate environment educator is Dr Sangion Tiu. As a secondary school teacher back in 2000, she joined RCF to help set up the Resource Centre and create educational programs. Dr Tiu is the Director of RCF together with a dedicated team of 20 staff they manage the day-to-day affairs of the organization. As an NGO, Research Conservation Foundation relies on donor funding however it also has a guest house and conference facilities to help sustain its operations. Local and international scientists as well as tourists are regular visitors where information on PNG’s biodiversity can be sourced.
RCF Director Doctor Sangion Tiu at work in her office.
In partnership with Balob Teachers College, Simbu Teachers College and the University of Goroka, RCF is able to take the message of conservation from the field into the classrooms. This week in Goroka, RCF together with Conservation Forum of PNG and the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program hosted SGP grantees from the Highlands region. The participants received training on management and leadership, project designing, proposal writing and effective communication strategies.
RCF is a current recipient of the Small Grants Program, implementing a project and assessing the effects of climate change on biodiversity in the Crater Mountain Wildlife area.
