Environment conservation must engage provinces in the policies and management of protected areas (PAs).
PNG Constitutional and Law Reform Commission Secretary, Dr Eric Kwa, says engaging government at the provincial, district and Local Level Government (LLG) is vital in terms of funding.
Kwa said during the consultation workshop on PAs this week that the development, management and the monitoring of environmental policies and laws must be done at the provincial level.
He explained that this is important because the organic law on provincial governments and LLGs sets the basic framework for the engagement with provinces, with funding directed to the District Development Authorities (DDAs).
Kwa said environment conservation authorities must effectively work with the wards, LLGs, DDAs and provincial governments to tap into this structure.
He stressed that they must ensure that one of the key elements at the DDA level is environment conservation.
“DDAs are now the Government at the district level so we need to look at the DDA Act and see how environment can fit in.
“We need to capitalise on the current existing system and try to ensure that we don’t do parallel systems,” Kwa said.
Dr Kwa suggested that a provincial law be created to complement the proposed PA Bill.
This will ensure provincial governments and DDAs can fund it and provide the human resource and facilities to manage PAs in the provinces.
Picture courtesy of www.pg.undp.org