April-Salome all set for carbon trading

COMMUNITIES in the April-Salome Forest Management Area in East Sepik’s Ambunti-Dreikikir district will soon benefit from the country’s first pilot project on the reduced emissions degradation and deforestation (REDD) concept.
Ambunti-Dreikikir MP Tony Aimo announced the project design document (PDD) for the Pacific’s first REDD pilot project has been completed and will be launched next month in his electorate.
“This project was endorsed by the prime minister in 2008 and developed with technical government sectors and institutions, the stakeholders from the April-Salome communities and the Rainforest Project Management Ltd as the project developer, have all worked together to ensure the PDD is completed in time,’’ Aimo said.
“The project has taken nearly two and a half years to complete. This was further endorsed by the joint district planning and budget priority committee and committed financial resources to support this community project.”
Aimo said the district was committed and fully support the PM’s initiatives on the climate change programmes in country and globally.
“The outcome of the project is targeted at communities meeting the aspirations of the integrated land groups of April-Salome people and meeting the objectives of the PNG Vision 2050.”
He said the aspirations of the community include poverty alleviation through health, education, environment, and economic livelihoods to be achieved in the long term.
“The project is currently undergoing pre-validation assessments to be completed by scientific certification systems by end of this month,” he said.
Aimo said the April-Salome rainforest preservation project began in 2008 and had been developed to the internationally accepted climate community and biodiversity standards (CCBS).
Aimo said following the pre-assessment, the PDD would be published on the CCBS website for 21 days for public comments.
“It is envisaged the validation process will be completed by next month. The public is welcome to visit the site and provide comments on the PDD and its applications,’’ he said.
“While the PNG government understands the importance of forestry and its multiple uses, sustainable development opportunities such as this will create positive impacts, especially for very remote communities.”
He said the project was linked to the district’s 10-year development plan and captured it in the province’s corporate plan.