Papua New Guinea

© WCS/Elodie Van Lierde

SWM PROJECT

The Bismarck Forest Corridor is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, with many endemic species. It is also an area with a high density of people. Wildlife is an important source of food as well as feathers and fur for traditional costumes. The increasing scarcity of wildlife is a growing concern for indigenous and rural communities in the region.

The SWM Programme is establishing community-led wildlife management initiatives, including community tree nurseries, to address this challenge. The SWM activities in Papua New Guinea are coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society with the national Conservation and Environment Protection Authority. They are being developed with local indigenous communities in Chimbu, Eastern Highlands and Jiwaka provinces and are supported by the provincial and district authorities responsible for wildlife management and animal production.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • The Bismark Forest Corridor contains an astonishing 200,000 ha of contiguous intact forest (find out more here). 
  •  1 or 2 tribes of indigenous peoples live in each of the three areas where the SWM Programme is working, and each tribe is made up of 2 to 7 clans. 
  • The SWM Programme is facilitating a voluntary legal agreement (the Conservation Deed) between the clans, which provides strong legal protection of community natural areas for 3 to 7 years
  • Over 1 000 traditional ornament (bilas) protection kits have been produced and distributed to community members to preserve cultural artefacts and reduce the pressure on wildlife from hunting. 
  • The SWM Programme is supporting community nurseries, which have produced 18,500 native tree seedlings, of which 7,700 have been outplanted (read the article here).

NATIONAL PARTNER

Map of the SWM activities in Papua New Guinea
× Map of the SWM activities in Papua New Guinea
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries.

NEWS

In Papua New Guinea, an Indigenous Tribe’s Journey...

© Elodie Van Lierde/WCS

Bismarck Forest Corridor - Preserving our biodiversity

Papua New Guinea Forest Nursery Program Supports....

© Elodie Van Lierde/WCS

More traditional clans in the Bismarck Forest Corridor....

© WCS

Leaflet : SWM Programme in Papua New Guinea