Park gets new committee

THE new Varirata National Park management committee will be responsible for implementing the park’s activities.
Conservation, Environment and Protection Authority (Cepa) sustainable environment programme director Kay Kalim said: “It is important for Cepa to work closely with the committee to ensure the park is run well and effectively.”
The committee discussed the improvement of the park’s facilities and better management on Wednesday.
Cepa has put forward K200,000 for the committee to plan and work on improving the national park.
The authority’s terrestrial protected areas manager Benside Thomas said the park was not in a good condition at present.
“We are waiting for our bill to be passed in parliament so we can have regulations in place to properly manage the park in which we can also have security involved,” he said,
The committee be working with Cepa and the United Nations Development Programme to provide additional support for the management of the park.
Cepa, with the support from Japan International Cooperation, has been working with landowners of the park and have established a community-based organisation called “Kae Association Incorporation.”
“The association will be working with the park management committee to better manage and facilitate the park,” Thomas said.
The management committee is made up of the Central government, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Port Moresby Nature Park, University of Papua New Guinea, Koiari local level government, Sogeri police, PNG Power Ltd and representatives from Koiari communities.
The committee’s next meeting in October will see the election and swearing-in of the Varirata National Park management committee.