Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA)

Tukuliya said these following the successful instillation of Environment Council members by the Authority last week.

 He said CEPA has operated without an Environment Council for the past two years and that is an issue of concern not only for CEPA as an organization but Papua New Guinea as a nation.

CEPA’s scientific officer, Shirley Mole, said due to the lack of publicity in relation to their environment permitting system, they have initiated a partnership with the Lae City Authority, Morobe Provincial Administration and Lae Chamber of Commerce.

“The giveaway presentation for today was on the permitting system itself as well as the World Environment Day for 2023,” said Mole.

Members from the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) gave awareness to students on the importance of the environment concerning Climate Change Biodiversity Conservation. 

Also in the room at APEC Haus in educating students was EU STREIT PNG's Gender and Youth Inclusion Officer, Abbbisa Maniapu teaching students on the sustainable practices of farming that EU Streit does on the field and of its partners in their Program they are UNDP, ILO, UNCDF, ITU and FAO. 

The Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), recently presented a local SME business in the waste and environmental services sector operating in PNG, with a Level 3 Environment Permit (EPL-485).

This is the first of its kind, a Papua New Guinean waste management company has been issued a level 3 permit. L3 environment permits are applied where the greatest level of environment and social protection are necessary and they are granted to the large corporates within the oil, gas and mining industries.

Through extensive support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Bill will reclassify protected areas into National Protected areas, which includes National Parks, Marine Sanctuaries, National Heritage Areas and Special Management Areas, and Regional Protected Areas to help preserve some of PNG’s nearly 18, 900 unique plants and thousands of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and coral.

The targeted tribes of (Maugluak, Inaugl & Kuglkane) of the Mitnande Local Level Government, Kundiawa-Gembogl District in Chimbu Province attended the workshop.

The meeting was opened by Deputy Provincial Administrator-Field Service, Essy Walkaima with the principal advisors of key divisions in the Simbu Provincial Administration. 

Mr Walkaima said: “Due to the increase of human population and the continual destruction of the environment for food production, it has led to the extinct and migration of exotic plant, insect and animal species.”

The project acknowledged it as a significant milestone after a rigorous process of environmental impact assessment.

“The environmental permit is required under the Environment Act and is also a pre-requisite for the grant of a Special Mining Lease under the Mining Act,” said WGJV.

“WGJV looks forward to progressing the permitting of the project as soon as practicable under the Mining Act 1992.”

Meantime, CEPA said the permit is available for viewing by interested parties for 14 days from Monday, January 25^th, to Friday, February 12^th.

As part of the collaboration, CEPA and its National Ozone Unit have been conducting a number of customs training for PNG Customs officers.

CEPA managing director, Gunther Joku, said such a partnership was the way forward to ensure there is effective enforcement of controlled substance at the PNG borders.

“So what’s important is that CEPA provides training for their officers to be aware of CEPA’s controlled substance,” Joku explained.

The event will be launched by the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).

The highlight of the event will be a solo walk by a climate change advocate, who will walk from the city all the way up to Varirata National Park, which is 48km east outside of Port Moresby.

He will be given an opportunity as a guest speaker at the launch.

The United Nations Global Theme for the 2017 World Environment Day is, “Connecting People to Nature”, which was further translated down to a national theme, which is “Appreciate and Conserve our Land and our Seas”.

Dr Kwa says having locals involved at the management level is one way of effectively managing protected areas.

He said opportunities must be opened up for the locals by allowing them to be part of the conservation projects in order to earn an income.

“The Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) needs to open up provisions on provincial and local level government (LLG) engagement and that’s where the locals come in.

“It needs to engage the locals at the LLG level where LLG officers can be protected area managers.