To ensure better planning, engagement and participation of all relevant stakeholders, workshops on Review of REDD+ Stakeholder Engagement were conducted in three pilot provinces from 5-9 October.
This was facilitated under the PNG REDD+ Programme.
These review workshops were held following the completion of REDD+ stakeholders mapping assessment in the previous month in those pilot provinces, including East New Britain (ENB), West New Britain (WNB) and Madang.
Led by international conservation organisation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the results of the stakeholders mapping were being presented back to the respective provincial stakeholders who had initially contributed to this activity. Recommendations from each province commonly outlines communication and coordination gaps that could be filled to support REDD+ initiative at the provincial level. This assessment is key part of climate change mitigation activities coordinated by the PNG Government through the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) along with PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA).
Terence Barambi, acting manager for CCDA’s REDD+ Mitigation Division, said: “PNG is taking a policy approach to implement REDD+ initiative. A key component in this effort is the collective and effective participation from all relevant communities and stakeholders.”
He commended WCS for undertaking this work, and also thanked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Forest Carbon Partnership Fascility (FCPF) for their financial and technical support.
The stakeholder mapping is essential in establishing a basis for coordination at the provincial level to how best key stakeholders can fully and effectively participate in accelerating the implementation of PNG’s National REDD+ Strategy (NRS).
Mirzohaydar Isoev, Chief Technical Advisor for UNDP FCPF REDD+ Readiness Project, said: “Stakeholders’ participation would be one of the key priorities in the successfulness of the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy. UNDP is pleased to support the PNG Government through CCDA and relevant implementing partners and agencies.”
The NRS targets action by government, communities and the private sector to support management of the country’s forests while also help develop rural economies. It will contribute in improvements of legislation and capacity across government sectors, including climate change, environment, forestry, and lands as well as partnerships with private sector to help strengthen economic activities while mitigating climate change.
All key recommendations from these REDD+ stakeholders maping review workshops will also especially apprise the development of a stakeholder engagement plan to initiate appropriate capacity development interventions from the provincial to district level to support the implementation of the NRS.
WCS Scientific Officer, Nathan Whitmore, thanked the provincial adminstration of the three provinces and key stakeholders initially consulted for their support to formulate the stakeholder engagement mapping.
(REDD+ stakeholders in West New Britain Province attending the review of REDD+ stakeholder mapping for the province. The stakeholders are represented by provincial government officials, district officials, community-based organisations and officials from non-government organisations – Picture by: UNDP/FCPF)