Eco-tourism promotion

 By LUKE KAMA

THE Koiari local level government has welcomed the initiative to promote bird watching and eco-tourism in their local communities and the Varirata National Park.

In a meeting between the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Koiari LLG members and representatives of the four clans of Omani, Nadeka, Narime and Ianari clans, Koiari LLG manager Alfred Kennedy said they were excited about the project.

“We are excited to participate in biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable economic activities,” Kennedy said.

“We have a huge city population in Port Moresby and we also have our beautiful environment.

“We need to maximise this opportunity by harnessing our environment to attract the city’s population for recreational activities as well as tourists from overseas.”

He said at present the city population  need a good recreational area where they could have a timeout and enjoy with friends, families and loved ones.

“This is the opportunity we need to maximise and capitalise on,” he said.

 “We welcome the initiative by the JICA, CEPA and the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority to promote bird-watching activities and eco-tourism in our area.”

CEPA project coordinator Fredrick Ohmana said it was part of the pilot project on the protected area policy which the CEPA was implementing in partnership with JICA.

“With the new protected area policy, the Government wants local people to benefit from conservation projects,” he said. 

“It is more like eco-tourism where they benefit from employment and tourism activities as well as protecting and conserving their rich biodiversity and the environment.

“It is a project we are trying 

out and if successful, we will implement it throughout the country,” he said.