Forum outlines importance of conservation policy

**The Climate Change and Development Authority information booth. Everlyn Mel (middle) and Jacinta Kull preparing environment information handouts.**

By DANIEL EALEDONA
PNG’s environment and ecosystems is valued at about K1 trillion, according to the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa).
This estimate which was provided to Government by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a conservation and environment partner came up again this year in consideration of “PNG’s highest economic value of econsystems globally”, according to Cepa.
Cepa sustainable programmes director Kay Kalim told the 3rd National Protected Area Forum in Port Moresby that the protected areas communities around the country are the guardians of PNG’s future and economic sustainability of land and sea use.

**Forest programme manager Kenn Mondiai (right) with fellow World Wildlife Fund officers at their information booth yesterday.**

Kalim said the aim of the forum is to make sure environment conservations around the country know the national policy for conservation, the opportunities and challenges involved and make sure protected areas are protected, and sustainability and financially supported, so that some of the country’s most biodiverse ecosystems can be protected by law and national policy.
Cepa looks at its national policy to sustainably protect land and sea areas for future generations, he said.
Kalim said the National Policy on Protected Areas 2018-28 was focused on maintaining protected ecosystems and environment around the country for economic and sustainable use by future generations.

From left: USAid Lukautim Graun representative Linda Pekosi, Conservation and Protection Authority officer Rita Boive and Hela administration representative Andigi Yuguli sharing awareness posters with a participant.

The forum is an annual event that’s held by the UNDP and Cepa and brings together about 100 stakeholders from the country and internationally to critically talk about ways that “protected areas in the country” can be managed sustainability.
It seeks further to have the management potential to protect and nurture lot of PNG’s rare plant and animal species and the ecosystems they live in and forests and coral seas around the country.

**The Sulames Wildlife Management Area information booth. From left: Forum participant Martha Tokuyawa with Sulamaes chairman Patrick Pate. – Nationalpics by KENNEDY BANI**

The forum in its 3rd year has attracted a relatively innovative group of international non-government organisations and national administrations that are focused on protecting the environment.
The country conservation needs a budget that can critically address issues affecting the environment and the government has lent its
support for the policy with a budget of about K55 million that is guided by five pillars of managing and protecting protected areas in the country.
Some protected areas in PNG are Chimbu’s Mt Wilhelm Nature Reserve, Western’s Maza Wildlife Management Area and Morobe’s Mt Susu Nature Reserve.