East and West New Britain provinces have been commended for pioneering a community-based forest conservation and management project.
The project, community-based forest and coastal conservation and resource management in PNG, supports the conservation initiative of communities in more than 200,000 hectares in the provinces.
It aims to help in advancing the provincial government’s efforts to protect the remaining rainforests in the Baining Mountain, Nakanai and Whiteman Ranges.
United Nations resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative, Roy Trivedy, said the two provinces are actually pioneering and leading the way.
Trivedy applauded the Conservation Environment and Promotion Authority (CEPA) and the two provinces for joining forces towards achieving a common goal of sustainable development through conservation.
Trivedy said this is the first ever cooperation between two provinces in PNG, providing co-financing on the area of conservation.
The project is ready to go ahead following the signing of a K1.5 million agreement by CEPA and ENB Provincial Government, and separately with the WNB Provincial Government.
Global Environment Facility and the UNDP will provide funding for two years.
Picture caption: Tropical forest with alone grass hut in Palmalmal, East New Britain. Courtesy of www.shutterstock.com