Consultant: Identify legitimate landowners to reduce conflicts

By ZACHERY PER
PROPER social mapping to identify legitimate customary landowners in any resource development is important to avoid conflicts over land, the head of a consulting firm says.
Principal of Emmpac Consultants, Sam Gunua, said land issues were sensitive and social mapping needed to be conducted to identify genuine landowners.
He said the many landowner issues affecting resource projects came about because those who conducted social mapping had not done so properly.
Gunua highlighted on Saturday at Chuave station in Chimbu during a presentation of K100,000 to his firm by the Chuave district development authority (DDA) to do social mapping to identify genuine landowners for the Chuave Limestone project.
He said the landowners had already formed an incorporated land group (ILG) with the social mapping to be conducted by his firm.
District treasurer Victoria David Numoi said the DDA expected the social mapping to be completed without issue.
Gunua said social mapping was important for the purpose of benefit sharing among stakeholders, and also for the Government and developer’s reference and convenience when dealing with issues relating to landowners and related matters.
He said his team would work in consultation with the DDA and would take a maximum of 30 days to complete the mapping before a report was presented to the DDA.
Landowner spokesmen Pono Pii from Supagam clan, Elkom Gawa form Kaupa Tapie clan, Komane Kau from Komagam clan and Robert Goro form Mam were thankful for the funding.