Issue 01, 2022
USAID EMPOWERS LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTION OF CONSERVATION AREA IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has vast tracts of pristine forest containing unparalleled biodiversity, contributing to its classification as one of three major tropical wilderness areas left on Earth after the forests of the Amazon and the Congo Basin. However, PNG’s development threatens this biodiversity by increasing pressure on natural resources.
The YUS Conservation Area—located on the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province of PNG and named after the Yopno, Uruwa, and Som rivers that flow through it—is helping to preserve the country’s biodiversity in the face of development. The YUS Conservation Area was established in 2009 as PNG’s first official conservation area and covers 158,000 hectares (390,000 acres), ranging from coastal reefs to 4,000-meter peaks [1]. Its landscape contains large tracts of rainforest and is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna.
Securing the future of the YUS Conservation Area and its diverse environments depends on ensuring that the people who live within it are empowered to use its resources sustainably. In PNG, customary landowners control over 90 percent [2] of the land, making them vital for any effort to manage the environment effectively. Although the YUS Conservation Area has been in existence for over 20 years, many new local leaders and clan members do not understand their legal rights to their natural resources, leading to misunderstandings of their roles in the protected area.
The USAID PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) aims to protect PNG’s rich biodiversity; Lukautim Graun means “protect the environment” in the local Tok Pisin language. To this aim, the project works to expand the knowledge of traditional landowners through community legal education training workshops that improve people’s understanding of land rights, human rights, and resource rights for communities in conservation areas.
Led by Cardno International Development, LGP works in partnership with PNG governments, the private sector, and a core consortium of implementing partners, including Care International, The Nature Conservancy, Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Woodland Park Zoo, and Wildlife Conservation Society. LGP's implementing partners, Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and the PNG Center for Environmental Law and Community Rights conducted training in Worin Village within the YUS Conservation Area together with local-level government (LLG) representatives during March 21–25. Thirty-four community members from across the YUS landscape attended the training.
(So what?): By improving people’s understanding of community rights and responsibilities in protected areas, community members are empowered to play an active role in protecting and contributing to the effective management of the YUS Conservation Area. USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program works in partnership with the Government of PNG to empower traditional landowners to manage resources effectively, allowing them to meet their current needs while protecting the country’s unique biodiversity so that future generations can also meet their needs.
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USAID SUPPORTS WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUITY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Progress toward gender equality remains a challenge in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with the United Nations Development Programme’s 2021 Gender Inequality Index showing PNG ranked 160 out of 161 countries [3]. While the Government of PNG is making progress, women’s participation in decision-making is low, levels of violence against women remain high, and cultural attitudes and practices continue to disadvantage women.
USAID is working in partnership with the Government of PNG, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based groups to address this problem by supporting the development of family-centered livelihoods in key geographies. Through the PNG Lukautim Graun Program, USAID supports improving gender equity in PNG by partnering with groups like Momase Faith Family Voice to conduct women’s leadership training. The most recent training was conducted in Madang Province for five days from March 28 to April 1 and involved 82 participants from the Eastern Highlands, Madang, and Western Highlands provinces.
The women’s leadership training teaches participants to understand better the importance of equal rights and responsibilities to avoid the potential for violence at home. Participants learn to maximize the potential of their skills, resources, and time to achieve individual and family goals, which also has benefits for the broader community. This training helps families think through potential issues and problems prior to engaging in developing micro-enterprises to support themselves and their families financially.
(So what?): USAID is making a positive difference in the lives of women and girls in PNG and by promoting a more gender-equitable and harmonious society. Led by Cardno International Development, USAID’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program is working in partnership with the Government of PNG to achieve meaningful change in the lives of women. Over 86% of people in PNG depend directly on the country’s unique biodiversity. USIAD is ensuring this biodiversity is sustainably used by current generations so that future generations can still meet their needs.
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[3] United Nations Development Programme: Gender Inequality Index (GII)
USAID HELPS COCOA FARMERS IN MOROBE PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), cocoa is an important crop that contributes an estimated 300 million PNG Kina per annum (about US$85 million) to the national economy. This economic contribution helps sustain around 151,000 families, equating to about two million people in the country [4]. The crop is also grown across PNG in 14 of the 22 provinces, with the Morobe Province one of the major producers.
However, PNG’s cocoa industry was severely impacted by a serious outbreak of Cocoa Pod Borer in 2008, decreasing export levels and revenue for several years following the outbreak. While the cocoa industry rebuilt to pre 2008 production levels, it also faced problems with low and stagnant yields and inconsistent quality. In Morobe Province, a contributing factor to the decrease in cocoa production was the lack of knowledge among small-scale farmers about best farming management practices to increase their production yields and quality of cocoa.
Recognizing these problems, USAID’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program’s (LGP) implementing partners, Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program and Outspan PNG Limited, identified 50 model farmers and 18 fermentary owners from the coastal sards of the YUS Conservation Area in Tewai Siassi District, Morobe Province. They provided training to help the farmers and fermentary owners increase their production yields and produce consistently better-quality beans. The training was conducted over two weeks, from March 14 to 24, and included topics such as good agricultural practices, cocoa quality and improvement, integrated pest and disease management, and nursery management. Training included building awareness of Outspan’s supply chain and providing cocoa farmers from Wasu the opportunity to access more lucrative markets.
Farmers who attended the training now have the knowledge and skills to improve the quality and production yields of their cocoa plantations. They can also share this knowledge with other farmers, thus benefiting the broader community.
(So what?): Teaching local cocoa farmers better agricultural practices enables them to increase productivity and quality, therefore enabling selling to more lucrative high-end markets. USAID is helping improve the lives of people whose livelihoods depend on cocoa. It is also decreasing their reliance on forest resources, which helps to reduce the threat to biodiversity in PNG. Led by Cardno International Development, LGP is working in partnership with the Government of PNG and a consortium of implementing partners to make a positive difference in the lives of the PNG people and protect the country’s unique biodiversity for future generations.
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[4] Papua New Guinea Department of Agriculture and Livestock
USAID FACILITATES PROGRESS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOREST CERTIFICATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
In Papua New Guinea (PNG), pressure on forest resources is currently a major problem that stems from various sources, including illegal logging, conversion to commercial and subsistence agriculture, and commercial farming operations. To address this problem, USAID is supporting the PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) in developing and testing PNG’s new Timber Legality Standards that will eventually be compulsory for all industry participants. With the support of USAID’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP), PNGFA implementation of the Timber Legality Standards will provide a new level of assurance that PNG forest products and forest operations support responsible forestry.
In cooperation with other organizations, such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), LGP is supporting PNGFA in conducting a field testing of the completed Timber Legality Standards to inform the Government–private-sector–nongovernment organization working group, who are responsible for developing the roadmap for effective implementation of the Timber Legality Standards. These groups are working together to ensure the establishment of an effective PNG Timber Legality Verification System, paving the way for sustainable forest resources management in PNG.
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(So what?): USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program supports the PNG Forest Authority in the development and testing of PNG’s Timber Legality Standards and the PNG Timber Legality Verification System. Developed with inputs from civil society, government agencies and other stakeholders, the PNG Timber Legality Standard directly addresses illegal logging and unsustainable forest practices that are major threats to biodiversity conversation in PNG. LGP support focuses on early testing of the PNG Timber Legality Standards to generate information that will support full implementation in the future.
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USAID CONTRIBUTES TO DEVELOPMENT OF PNG’S ACCESS BENEFIT SHARING POLICY AND LEGISLATION FRAMEWORK ON THE UTILIZATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES
USAID’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) is contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) policy and legislation framework of genetic resources in PNG under the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is a global agreement that implements the access and benefit-sharing obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Led by PNG’s Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), USAID’s LGP participated in the Fourth National Stakeholders’ Workshop on the Development of the PNG ABS Policy and Legislation Framework in Port Moresby during April 12–14.
Genetic resources from plants, animals, and microorganisms are increasingly valuable in the development of specialty enzymes, enhanced genes, and small molecules. These substances have applications in many areas, including crop protection, drug development, the production of specialized chemicals, and industrial processing. The fair and equitable sharing of these benefits is a priority for biodiversity-rich countries and the international community.
The development of PNG’s ABS framework creates the pathway to conserve biological diversity, promote its sustainable use, and further enhance the contribution of biological diversity to sustainable development and human well-being.
Development of PNG’s ABS framework creates incentives to conserve biological diversity, promote its sustainable use, and further enhance the contribution of biological diversity to sustainable development and human well-being.
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(So what?): USAID supports fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity. USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) supports formulation of PNG’s Access Benefit Sharing policy and legislative framework as part of fulfilling PNG’s obligations as a signatory to the convention. This creates the pathway to conserve biological diversity, promote its sustainable use, and further enhance the contribution of biological diversity to sustainable development and human well-being of the people of PNG.
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USAID GRADUATES FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINERS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
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Through the PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP), USAID works in partnership with the Center of Excellence for Financial Inclusion (CEFI) to deliver financial literacy training in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The training reaches people in rural and remote communities across six provinces in PNG, including Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, Madang, Milne Bay, Morobe, and Simbu.
PNG has vast tracts of pristine forests containing unparalleled biodiversity. Much of this rich biodiversity is under threat from PNG’s development, which is putting pressure on natural resources. Many people in rural and remote communities in PNG depend on forest resources for their livelihoods, well-being and community integrity. Without other livelihood opportunities, these communities are more likely to overuse or convert their current natural resources to meet current needs at the risk of the needs of future generations. And a lack of financial literacy only reduces the chance of developing new livelihoods.
On April 22, 2002, LGP and CEFI teamed up to graduate 21 new financial literacy trainers through a five-day financial literacy “training of trainers” program in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. The graduate trainers learned the basics of teaching rural and remote community members about saving, budgeting, and online digital finance. These skills are the foundation for creating new enterprises and increasing household and personal financial security, particularly for women.
The same week, LGP and CEFI delivered similar training in Jiwaka Province, graduating 20 trainers. Soon, LGP and CEFI will roll out financial literacy training in the Madang, Milne Bay, Morobe, and Simbu provinces, with an estimated 150 trainers graduating across all provinces. In return for the training, each trainer commits to train at least 50 other individuals in their respective provinces and communities, resulting in an estimated 7,500 people across the six provinces learning new skills in household and personal financial literacy.
The graduates received training on assisting trainees to access online banking services and open bank accounts after each training session. Support for this training included one of LGP’s private sector partners, MiBank, a nationwide bank specializing in micro-credit for rural and remote populations. MiBank, USAID, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation recently signed a new Loan Guarantee Program agreement specifically targeting women and men in rural and remote areas. Women’s groups, female leaders, small- to medium-sized enterprises, faith-based organizations, and community-based conservation organizations now receive training through LGP’s alliance with CEFI and MiBank. As a result, they can register as banking agents for specific communities to facilitate access to new digital financial services through mobile phones.
Bethel Benson, assistant marketing coordinator for Mama Bank, a national micro-finance bank focused on supporting women, said, “This training has made me a better trainer, and the training manuals make it simple to understand how saving and budgeting can be taught. With this material, I can easily teach the members of my communities. Through my work, I plan on teaching people from my women’s group, local church group, Mama Bank customers, and my work colleagues.”
“I think this training has made me a better trainer and the training manuals make it simple to understand how saving and budgeting works. With this material I can easily teach my members of my communities and through my work. I plan on teaching people from my women’s group, local church group, Mama Bank customers, and my work colleagues.” - Bethel Benson
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Damien Paul, a local farmer who operates a small organic grape farm in Eastern Highlands Province, said, “Thank you to USAID and CEFI for this training. It has helped build my confidence and knowledge to teach others in my village and help them improve their business and their lives.”
(So what?): Economic empowerment of people in rural and remote communities decreases their reliance on destructive natural resource use and reduces threat to biodiversity in PNG. With support from USAID and the American People, LGP is introducing new skills and opportunities to avoid negative impacts now and in the future. Led by Cardno International Development, LGP works in partnership PNG governments and a range of implementing partners and private-sector, faith-based, and civil society organizations. The objective of LGP is to empower traditional landowners to sustainably manage their resources and empower women as full participants in PNG’s economy.
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USAID SUPPORTS CONSERVATION DEED SIGNING TO PROTECT RAINFORESTS IN MADANG PROVINCE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) forests form part of the third-largest tropical rainforest on the planet, supporting unparalleled biodiversity and livelihoods for the communities living within them. However, these rainforests are under threat as PNG develops, particularly from environmentally unsustainable activities like clear-fell logging, agroforestry-related land clearing, mining, and subsistence clearing by communities. Pressures to meet the needs of PNG’s growing population in turn put increasing pressures on biodiversity and natural resources.
To commemorate World Earth Day in PNG, on April 22, 2022, USAID’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) and its implementing partners Wildlife Conservation Society and Kamapim Limited, a private sector partner, supported traditional landowners from 20 clans in rural and remote communities in Sumkar District of Madang Province. This support helped protect and conserve an estimated 9,387 hectares of the communities’ land through the signing of conservation deeds.
In PNG, tribal clans own more than 90 percent of all land and decide on its use and development [5]. However, local conflicts, poor organization, and a lack of knowledge of their rights often prevent them from making informed or beneficial decisions. Conservation deeds are community-based voluntary agreements that, once signed, are binding. These are perhaps the most important mechanism for multiple clans of traditional landowners to agree on the use of natural resources.
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The protection of rainforest in these communities through the use of conservation deeds was made possible by Kamapim Limited, a private sector company partnering with LGP through the Wildlife Conservation Society, an LGP implementing partner. Kamapim Limited is a private company and subsidiary of the international Envirium Life Sciences Group that trains local small-holder farmers to produce high-quality, organically grown vanilla. The company ensures ethical sustainability throughout the entire growing, harvesting and production process, buys the vanilla directly from farmers for a fair price, and exports it to global markets. The aim is to share profits with community-based landowner groups to ensure sustainable development. A requirement for joining Kamapim’s supply chain is that traditional landowners formally set aside high-value areas of land. These areas of land become protected, thus contributing to the conservation of PNG’s biodiversity.
This model of sustainable agriculture generates income for farmers while keeping the primary forest intact. It played a key role in the Yikmol landowner group seeking help from Kamapim Limited and LGP’s Wildlife Conservation Society to formalize the protection of their land.
Bryan Lavate, the secretary of one of the landowner associations, explains how farmers’ lives have improved: “Since we started working with Kamapim, we now have bank accounts, phones, and include women who were usually left out of cash crop sales. We now have money to send our children to school. We are building better houses and buying solar panels. We know how to increase the quality and quantity of our vanilla without the need for more gardens. We get a good price at our house door and no longer travel hours to find a market.”
The LGP Chief of Party Maurice Knight also said, “Improving the economic empowerment of rural and remote communities, especially women in these communities, by providing livelihood opportunities that decrease their reliance on destructive resource use is critical to reducing threats to biodiversity in PNG.”
“Improving the economic empowerment of rural and remote communities, especially women in these communities, by providing livelihood opportunities that decreases their reliance on destructive resource use is critical to reducing threats to biodiversity in PNG.” - Maurice Knight, Chief of Party for USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program.
(So what?): Economically empowering rural and remote communities, especially women, decreases the communities’ reliance on destructive resource use and increases the opportunity for new livelihood development. These factors are critical to reducing threats to biodiversity in PNG. Led by Cardno International Development, LGP works in partnership with PNG governments, the private sector, and a core consortium of implementing partners that includes Care International, The Nature Conservancy, Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Woodland Park Zoo. This consortium works to protect and restore biodiversity and natural habitats in PNG, enabling current generations to meet their needs without endangering the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
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USAID AWARDS GRANT TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF FEMALE BIOLOGISTS FOR RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is an extraordinarily biodiverse nation, but commercial and agricultural activities increasingly threaten this biodiversity. Education is important in providing solutions to address this problem. While education is essential for providing solutions to address this problem, the limited employment and training options available to Papua New Guineans have resulted in a shortage of expertise in biological and conservation fields. This situation is particularly crippling for women in PNG, who must also overcome gender inequalities and pressures to pursue traditional family roles.
Through the PNG Lukautim Graun Program, USAID awarded a grant to New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, a local non-profit organization devoted to scientific research and training, to train female biologists for research and conservation in PNG. With the grant from USAID, Binatang Research Centre will conduct a tropical ecology field course, primarily for PNG women working in biodiversity research and conservation. The aim of the course was to build the capacity of indigenous peoples to address current threats to their environment, strengthen the foundations of scientific research in PNG, and empower women through education. The three-week course will train 20 students and conservation professionals from PNG, including 16 women, in tropical ecology and conservation.
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(So what?): Without domestic proficiency in biodiversity surveys and ecological understanding it is difficult to manage and monitor the success of conservation efforts and to build domestic research capacity. Proper management and academic foundations ensure the long-term viability of PNG’s diverse forests that will suffer without a lack of innovation and unavailability of domestic expertise. USAID’s LGP grant support builds the capacity of Papua New Guineans researchers, especially women researchers, to address these challenges.
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USAID SUPPORTS THE STRENGTHENING OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Located in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Bismarck Forest Corridor is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. It contains many endemic species and consists of approximately 200,000 hectares of contiguous intact forest bridging the PNG provinces of Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, and Madang. However, PNG’s rapid economic development that focuses on extractive industries threatens this biodiversity, which in turn affects many rural communities that depend on the environment to obtain food, water and other necessities.
Environmental awareness and education are crucial for communities to make informed decisions about environmental issues ranging from biodiversity and forest conservation and protection to climate change. Through the PNG Lukautim Graun Program, USAID awarded a grant to the Research and Conservation Foundation, a local non-government organization (NGO). The grant aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts in the Bismarck Forest Corridor through the establishment of provincial resource centers and women’s empowerment activities. The aim of these resource centers is to provide people in PNG with access to information about biodiversity conservation and women’s empowerment. They will also serve as hubs for developing and providing capacity-building training.
(So what?): USAID support the establishment of provincial resource centers in PNG, enabling people living in those communities to make informed decisions on matters concerning their environment and resources.
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USAID SUPPORTS SAVINGS AND LOANS TRAINING TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF RURAL VILLAGERS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) forests form part of the third-largest tropical rainforest on the planet, and an estimated 87 percent of the country’s population lives in rural communities, of which many depend on the forest for their livelihoods. However, as PNG develops, it places increased pressure on natural resources. Without other livelihood opportunities, communities are more likely to overuse or convert their natural resources to meet current needs at the risk of future generations.
Through the Lukautim Graun Program (LGP), USAID improves livelihood options for rural and remote communities through training that enables them to establish and maintain savings and loan facilities. This training is called village savings and loans association methodology training and is a transparent, democratic, and structured version of an informal savings group. The purpose of the training is to provide simple savings and loan facilities in a community that does not have easy access to formal financial services. This action provides rural communities with additional options to save money, improve the management of household cash flow, and create access to finance for improving livelihood opportunities.
After completing the training, people from rural Murukanam village in Madang Province formed a savings group comprising 13 men and 11 women. In April 2022, the village savings group had its first meeting, elected a management committee, established a group constitution, and agreed to have a share value of PNG Kina (PGK) 10 (approximately US$2.83). For the first group meeting, a total of PGK860 (approximately US$243) was saved.
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(So what?): USAID promotes the economic empowerment of people in rural communities, such as Murukanam village, through training that enables them to establish community-based savings and loan associations (VSLAs). The VSLAs increase livelihood opportunities and contribute to building social networks, solidarity, and trust within the communities. Improving people’s livelihood opportunities also decreases the communities’ reliance on destructive uses of forest resources, helping reduce the threat to biodiversity in PNG.
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USAID SUPPORTS FEMALE FARMERS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA WITH NEW FARMING EQUIPMENT
Production of quality cocoa is a challenge for many small-scale farmers. Those who do not have easy access to or cannot afford the necessary tools and equipment are unable to consistently produce the quality cocoa needed for export to lucrative markets.
Now, thanks to USAID and its private sector partnership with Outspan PNG Limited, 500 female farmers from Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG) will benefit from 250 new farming tools to assist them in producing higher-quality cocoa. With proper farming equipment, these farmers can reduce the workload required to produce their cocoa. For example, wheelbarrows reduce the time taken to transport cocoa beans to the nearest fermentaries, and proper pruning tools aid in the flowering of cocoa, which all contribute to increasing the production of quality cocoa.
(So what?): By providing farming equipment and training, USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program program assists female farmers to produce better quality cocoa which, in turn, improves the livelihood outcomes for women and their families in rural communities. Improving people’s livelihood opportunities decreases community reliance on destructive or unsustainable use of forest resources and directly reduces threats to biodiversity in PNG.
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USAID SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LAND-USE PLANNING FOR CONSERVATION AREAS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Land-use planning helps communities balance competing priorities, such as their current development needs and the need for environmental sustainability to ensure resource availability for future generations. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), indigenous clans own and control more than 90 percent of the land. This land cannot be bought or sold, and the Government has limited authority to determine how it should be managed [6].
Therefore, it is vital that communities receive support for managing their land and resources sustainably in the long term. The introduction of a formal, consensus-based land-use planning process helps create shared community visions for land and resource use. For example, neighbouring communities discuss and agree on how to improve the use of their existing land and sea area, which forests and marine habitats to use, and which areas to protect and declare off-limits.
Since 2019, USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) has worked with communities in the provinces of Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, Madang, Milne Bay, Morobe, and Simbu to adopt community-based participatory land-use planning as a way of strengthening traditional ownership. From March 21 to April 1, 2022, LGP’s implementing partner the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program worked with communities in Morobe and Madang provinces to develop new community ward-level land-use plans for all 18 Local Level Government (LLG) wards that comprise the YUS Conservation Area. The PNG Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program conducted land-use plans for nine wards in the YUS LLG, Morobe Province, and two wards in Nayudos LLG, Madang Province.
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Communities will share their completed land-use plans for the period of 2015 to 2020 with Local Level Government representatives so that priority needs can be incorporated into the government processes for planning rural development and environmental protection. In turn, these local level land use plans will be incorporated into provincial and national land use plans giving them the power of law.
(So what?): Directly involving community members in land use planning provides them with an avenue for reflecting their own aspirations in land and resource use alongside their development priorities. Community members are enabled to share ideas and challenges, identify solutions, reach compromise, and make informed decisions that help to relieve pressure on the environment without limiting opportunities that enhance community welfare. This work is led by Cardno International Development, USAID’s Lukautim Graun Program who is working in partnership with the Government of PNG and a consortium of implementing partners like the TKCP to make a positive difference in the lives of the PNG people and to protect the country’s unique biodiversity for future generations. ‘Lukautim Graun’ means protect the environment in the local PNG Tok Pisin language.
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