1. S epik W etlands M anagement I nitiative COMMUNITY-DRIVEN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION & RURAL DEVELOPMENT in the Sepik River region Papua New Guinea Presented by: Benny Gowep © SWMI P. O. Box 81, Ambunti, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea ph: 675 8585 132 email:

2. Background of SWMI formed in 1998 as a CBO in Ambunti, PNG. members are local people concerned with sustainable use of Sepik wetlands resources funded by a UNDP-GEF Small Grant 2001- 2003; since then minor funding from the PNG crocodile industry and WWF-PNG

3. SWMI’s Goal: Establish and link community-led conservation of wetlands in the Sepik River region with Improvements in the social and economic welfare of local communities

4. SWMI’s Objectives: Develop a community-oriented, self-help approach to conserve wetlands, especially dense floating mats of herbaceous vegetation. Stop degradation of locally important wetland habitats, especially crocodile nesting areas, and restore sites where feasible. Use crocodile egg harvests to improve income generating incentives for sustainable utilization of wetland resources, and link earned income to conservation of crocodile nests, breeding crocodiles and biologically distinct nesting habitat (floating mats). Prevent invasive species such as introduced fish (Pacu and Java Carp), Water Hyacinth and Bush Morning Glory from reducing local biodiversity, and threatening the economic benefits gained from sustainable use of crocodiles and other wetland resources.

5. SWMI’s Main Activities Coordinate annual crocodile egg harvests Monitor habitat and crocodile populations Strengthen conservation awareness Help control introduced & damaging species Assist community development activities

6. SWMI’s Achievements Efficient crocodile egg harvests conducted mainly by local landowners/communities. ‘Spot checks’ conducted of unharvested nests; night counts of crocodiles and nest counts. Upriver spread of water hyacinth stopped. Conservation of wetlands biodiversity established in many upper and middle Sepik village domains.

14. 1.5 million ha Middle Sepik: ‘Very High Priority’ biodiversity value Population: 50,000 people

16. AERIAL SURVEYS AND NIGHT COUNTS

18. Aerial Survey

19. Night Counts

21. How Commercial Egg Harvest links to Conservation of Crocodiles and Wetlands Biodiversity

31. Saltwater Crocodile Egg Harvest Data and Analyses

32. Crocodylus porosus egg harvests in the middle & upper Sepik, 1985-2008

33. C. porosus nesting trend 1982-2008

34. C. porosus nesting trend by landownership 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 19881990199219941996199820002002200420062008 Year Number of nests N=13 DISPUTED N=28 SECURE sites p= 0.43 p= 0.000016

35. C. novaeguineae nesting trend 1981-2008 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 198019821984198619881990199219941996199820002002200420062008 Year Number of nests N=21 sites N=33 p= 0.14 p= 0.32

36. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 1985198719891991199319951997199920012003200520072009 Year Number of nests N=9 DISPUTED sites N=24 SECURE sites P= 0.025 P= 0.01 C. novaeguineae nesting trend by landownership

37. Introduced Species of Fish are destroying large areas of floating mats: Primary sites of Saltwater Crocodile Nesting Habitat

38. Pacu Piaractus brachypomum

39. Java carp Puntius gonionotus

40. Impact of Fish on Nesting Habitat

41. Water Hyacinth

42. Bush Morning Glory

43. Burning of Nesting Sites

44. Impact of burning on nesting habitat at 41 survey sites by 1998: > 50 % reduction at 11out of 21 sites > 80 % reduction at 5 out of 13 sites

48. Challenges facing SWMI Lack of substantial funding since 2003 (lack of basic equipment, lack of fuel for regular travel to villages and key wetlands). No solution in sight for introduced fish which are increasingly destroying floating mats that saltwater crocodiles depend on for nesting. Resolving land ownership disputes at some key wetlands sites in the middle Sepik.

49. Acknowledgements Participating local people Mainland Holdings Ltd. PNG Department of Environment & Conservation UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme Worldwide Fund for Nature –PNG Programme

50. Thank you !