ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: THE CASE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA Regional Policy Briefing no. 9 on ‘Building Resilience to Climate Change in the Pacific Islands’ Port Vila – Vanuatu October 31 st – November 02 nd 2012 Regional Policy Briefing no. 9 on ‘Building Resilience to Climate Change in the Pacific Islands’ Port Vila – Vanuatu October 31 st – November 02 nd 2012 By: Theresa Kamau Kas Program Director, Northern Bismarck Sea. The Nature Conservancy, PNG Program, P O Box 2750, BOROKO. National Capital District. Papua New Guinea. By: Theresa Kamau Kas Program Director, Northern Bismarck Sea. The Nature Conservancy, PNG Program, P O Box 2750, BOROKO. National Capital District. Papua New Guinea.

Outline of Presentation Vulnerabilities to Climate Change Impacts & Consequences in PNG Opportunities for Coping undertaken by PNG Communities Adaptation & Environment Sustainability - Community Model as the way forward Policy & Legislation Support Recommendation

Its hard to ignore the elephant in the room Climate change is with us and we need to respond

Vulnerable Sectors Affected by CC Impacts Coastal Zones / Marine Eco -System Water Resources Agriculture / Food Security Human Health Terrestrial Eco- System

Vulnerabilities to Climate Change Impacts & Consequences in PNG Sea Level Rise affecting coastlines Flood & landslide, water- catchment destructions

Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Communities in PNG Inundations and increase salinity Destructed Shoreline/coastlines

Impacts of climate change on land based rural communities in PNG Destructed forested land through landslides & erosion Destruction of catchment areas in the name of development

CC Consequences are threats to Sustainable Development Degradation in Eco-System Services Decrease in Water Quality Threaten Food Security Rural - Atoll Communities Livelihood Threaten Migration –Resettlement conflicts / Pressures Economy effects (local people & Government)

Opportunities for Coping to Climate Change Impacts & Sustainable Development in rural/local communities Coral Reef Protection Coastline Protection and Rehabilitation Agricultural Techniques to enable sustainable food Productions Migration / Tribal & Individual Movement/relocation of Affected People Capacity Building for Knowledge and Information Sharing Biodiversity Conservation and best Management Practices using Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Way Forward- Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) used in Community Based NRM Plans Consultation & Decision-making using TEK Learning & Training Support amongst community groups

TEK in Community-Based NRM Planning Processes for Sustainable Development Community Consultation, CBO Mobilisation and Decision Making (Situation Analyse) Partners identified, partnerships established Community history, visioning, planning Community zoning, rules & penalties developed Drafting of Community Based Management Plan

Integration of Adaptation Mechanism and Sustainable Development Model Sustainable Development Action Planning Situation Analysis / Vulnerability Assessment Action Planning / Adaptation Capacity Planning Program Implementati on / CCA Implementati on Monitoring & Evaluation /Evaluation of CCA programs

85% of PNG Population depend directly on the environment for their Livelihoods ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY ECONOMY Clean water Food Security Protection of cultural and spiritual Sites ECOSYSTEM SERVICES “Environmental Contribution” Soil Protection Medicinal Plants Natural products Firewood, Fibre Roofing, Fencing Construction Flood protection Pollination Pest control Genetic Resources

Nature –based Adaptation Cost effective First line of defence with sea level rise

Priorities Sustainability High Biodiversity Priority Low Biodiversity Priority Areas of high biodiversity, centre’s of endemism, climate refugia, habitats of endangered, rare, or unique species; Under-represented ecosystems, areas supporting ecological processes etc etc PROTECTION Already converted landscape, urban areas, mining areas, commercial agriculture, industrial areas etc. DEVELOPMENT ‘Plan Development actions in the right place’

Effective Legislation & Policy Support Needed Political Will at Community / Local Level Effective Implementation at Community/ local level

Environmental Sustainability in PNG will only be achieved with: Uses of Traditional Ecological Knowledge led by effective community based organisation (CBO) Effective Planning and Implementation of Sustainable Environment Programs through proper community based planning, and integration of NRM best practices

Recommendation Capacity Building at community level by civil society partners, using local knowledge Local Government Annual Budget Appropriation /Allocation to CBO

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