Madang to map sites
The National, Monday 3rd June 2013
By DOROTHY MARK
THE Madang provincial government and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to take stock of all major project sites’ maps in the province.
The memorandum signed last Tuesday in Madang town would see that areas to be affected by climate change or mining or other projects activities were identified and managed to protect biodiversity.
Country director for TNC Francis Hurahura said they wanted to work in partnership with the provincial government to provide information through mapping so it could understand climate change in vulnerable areas and address land issues when problems affecting mines and other bigger projects arose.
“It is basically taking stock of and putting on map the type of environment we have,” Hurahura said.
He said the mapping information would cover both land and marine areas in the province and it would take another six months to complete the information mapping before it was submitted to the provincial government’s planning division.
Hurahura said that the mapping would also assist village expansions.
Madang Governor Jim Kas is supporting the TNC with this project.
Madang MP and Police Minster Nixon Duban said climate change issues were one of the major concerns for the government.
Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang said he wanted TNC to do the same for his electorate.