Gazettal applications for PNG’s largest protected areas

Barrick (Niugini) Limited (BNL), with the support of American Anthropologist Dr. William Thomas, has presented gazettal applications for two conservation areas; the Headwaters of the Strickland in Hela and the Kaijende Highlands in Enga.

PJV environment manager Charlie Ross and Dr. Thomas presented the applications to the Minister for Environment & Conservation and Climate Change and Member for Kompiam-Ambum, John Pundari, in Port Moresby on Thursday, 28 September.

The gazettal applications cover two of the largest conservation areas in Papua New Guinea.

The Headwaters of the Strickland encompasses most of the Lake Kopiago Rural LLG in Hela Province, an area of more than 200,000 hectares. The Kaijende Highlands is mostly an alpine area of 120,000 hectares, extending from Paiela and Porgera areas in the west through to Kandep in the east.

Both conservation areas are of global significance. The 1993 Conservation Needs Assessment identified the Headwaters of the Strickland and the Kaijende Highlands as conservation priorities for PNG.

A biological assessment conducted in 2008 by an international team of scientists found 50 new species in the Headwaters of the Strickland, an area of 200,000 hectares. Together both project areas will be the largest Protected Areas in PNG at over 320,000ha.

BNL executive managing director, Richmond Fenn, in introducing the two projects to the Minister, said both Charlie Ross and Dr. Thomas deserved a lot of credit for having brought the applications before him.

“This is a result of over 10 years’ work on the projects and we have some unique conservation programs in our Forest Stewards. We look forward to progressing these all the way through. These are projects that the world can be proud of,” Fenn said.

Dr. Thomas presented the gazettal application for the Strickland Headwaters and Ross presented for the Kaijende Highlands Conservation area.

BNL’s support of Dr. Thomas’ efforts since 2005 to establish a conservation program based on traditional knowledge in these regions has resulted in the Papuan Forest Stewards Initiative. This builds on the traditional knowledge of landowners to develop a conservation plan for their lands. In exchange for payment, the landowners agree to keep their forest intact and their traditional knowledge alive.

The Environment and Conservation Minister, in accepting the applications, expressed that he was extremely proud of BNL for partnering and investing in conserving some of the country’s land areas.

“This is very powerful, given BNL  is one of the leading developers in the mining sector in PNG has seen it fitting and right to collaborate with our landowners and to bring in these conservation areas applications. I can assure you of my support,” Minister Pundari said.

“I want to challenge other developers in the country to take the cue from what BNL is doing in conservation and preservation of biodiversity. I think there is a lot more we can do for this country and the opportunities are great.

“For Porgera to come in and conserve around 320,000 hectares is a big achievement and I congratulate and applaud you. I want other resource developers in the country to come forward and do the same thing and I hope to get more applications in the near future.”

The Minister handed the application documents to the Managing Director for CEPA and his technical team and said he looked forward to taking the applications to parliament as soon as possible.

The Environment Minister’s acceptance of the gazettal applications will trigger a 90-day public consultation process, to be led by CEPA, in the lead up to gazettal under the Conservational Areas Act.

This event took place at Parliament, witnessed by the respective managing directors for Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), Gunther Joku, and Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) Ruel Yamuna, BNL Country Executive Director Dr. Ila Temu and various other stakeholders of the Environment and Conservation and Climate Change Department.

The Porgera Gold Mine in Enga Province is operated by BNL through an equal partnership between Barrick Gold Corporation and Zijin Mining Group Company Limited – which owns 95 percent participating interest in the Porgera Joint Venture (PJV). The remaining 5 percent in PJV is owned by Mineral Resource Enga (MRE) Limited – a consortium consisting of the Enga Provincial Government and the Porgera landowners.

(PJV environment manager Charlie Ross presents the conservation area application for the Kaijende Highlands to the Minister for Environment and Conservation & Climate Change, John Pundari. On the right is Yamuna while Joku sits to the left)



Author: 
Press Release