‘Preserve resources’

By SONIA KENU
PAPUA New Guinea’s rainforests, reefs and wetlands can continue to thrive into the next century if managed sustainably, according to marine biologist Job Opu.
He told participants of a Seaweb sea series media development programme yesterday that PNG’s coastal and marine resources were highly significant with extensive reef and marine ecosystems.
Opu said technical specialists were working with communities so that they could increasingly manage their natural resources.
“Community-based resource management is the approach in which communities become responsible for managing forests, land, water and biodiversity within a designated area,” he said.
“The wildlife management area designated under the Fauna Protection and Control Act 1966 is in operation. One of the largest areas conserved for wildlife management is Maza in Western.
“Wildlife management areas allow clans to formalise their legal control over fauna resources of their holdings by managing hunting, fishing and harvesting of other resources.
“The locals traditionally know how to preserve their resources but they need to know the facts and statistics on how the marine and natural resources are being affected by the changes happening due to deve­lopment activities.
“Traditional taboo resources management is one way of preserving resources.”