Jica buys two kayaks to help conservation project monitor mangroves

THE Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has purchased two new kayaks for the Bootless Bay marine conservation project in the National Capital District and Central for monitoring and surveillance of mangroves and to trial ecotourism activities.
The two kayak and accessories cost K8797 and were handed to the project team in Port Moresby.
Witnesses included partners and stakeholders in the project including the Environment Protection Authority (Cepa), the University of PNG, the Central Papua Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jica and representatives from local communities living along the Bootless Bay area.
Manager for the marine protected area with Cepa, Bernard Suruman, said Cepa was partnering Jica to implement a pilot biodiversity conservation. “The kayak were bought because some creeks and waterways in the mangrove areas are very shallow for boats to travel.
“Kayak is very flexible, easy to use without the need for fuel or skipper to monitor the mangrove areas that are protected under this pilot project because there some intruders cutting down mangroves at times.”
Suruman said the kayaks would be trailed for ecotourism in which arrangements would be made where residents of Port Moresby could go and pay some fees to use the kayaks paddle around the protected areas for pleasure and recreation.
“Jica is giving us two so we are hoping that more kayaks will be bought under this project to assist in the ecotourism aspect of the project,” Suruman said. Jica’s natural resource management adviser for marine environment Dr Yukio Nagahama said Jica was pleased to support PNG government.