Environment Sustainability : The Case for Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Theresa Kamau KasProgram Director - Manus

Introduction• VISION 2050 & PNG Government

Commitments

• PNG Green Economy

• Sustainable development conceptual model

• Mainstreaming Environment as an integral part of the Development Planning Process

• Way Forward – Relevant and Appropriate Policies

PNG Government Commitments

• PNG Vision 2050 – Pillar 3 : Wealth Creation & Economic Growth – Pillar 5 : Climate Change & Environment

Sustainability

• Millennium Development Goals– MDG 7 : Ensure Environment Sustainability

ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN PNG POLICY FRAMEWORK

1. Convention on Biodiversity- Protection of biodiversity - 10% of the terrestrial area by 2010 and 10% of the marine area by 2012

2. Millennium Declaration-Implement the principles of sustainable development through sector specific programs by 2010 and no later than 2015

Rio+20 Agenda : Green Economy & MDG Goal 7

• Target 7ATarget 7A: Integrate the principles of sustainable : Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resourcesreverse loss of environmental resources

• Target 7BTarget 7B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by : Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss

• Target 7CTarget 7C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the : Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see water and basic sanitation (for more information see the entry on water supplythe entry on water supply))

SUSTAINABILITY IS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Will PNG remain a Green Economy after 2050

• “ improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities” ?

• YES, if;

• Theoretical Concepts of ‘Green’ that is currently fostered in Government Planning System is effectively Implemented and sustained over time!

Policy Focus

• Subsistence Agriculture & Community Based Planning

• Commercial Agriculture

• Small Agriculture Business Lease (SABL)

• Downstream Processing

• Fair Trade Markets

Theory vs PracticeTO BE SEEN AS SUSTAINABLE =

BEING SUSTAINABLE IN ACTION

         

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

Conceptual Model

         

Sustainability(Biodiversity Persistence)

High Biodiversity

Priority

Low Biodiversity

Priority

PR

OT

EC

TIO

ND

EV

EL

OP

ME

NT

Increasing opportunities for

protection or developments

that are environmentally

sensitive

Increasing opportunities for

developments that may result in

landscape conversion or degradation

Balance

Priorities

         

Sustainability

High Biodiversity

Low Biodiversity

Carbon Offsets,

Eco-tourismProtected

Areas

Urban development, mining areas, commercial agriculture, industrial areas etc.

Sustainability is about putting the appropriate activities in the appropriate place

FSC – certified logging, Reduced Impact logging

Conventional logging Oil Palm,

Timber Plantations

         

Sustainability

High Biodiversity

Priority

Low Biodiversity

Priority

Forestry + Oil Palm Identification and management of HCVF, Riparian Areas, Buffers

Forestry + Oil Palm identification and management of HCVF, Riparian Areas, Buffers

If you can’t put the appropriate activity in the appropriate place, then stringent management needs to be applied.

Increasing management restrictions

         

Sustainability

High Biodiversity

Low Biodiversity

EIA Required

EIA Required

(c) the protection of areas of significant biological diversity and the

habitats of rare, unique orendangered species; and

Environment Act 2000.

5. MATTERS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

Sustainability is also about the effective implementation of existing laws, policy’s and procedures

Bismarck Provincial Planners workshop in Madang

Challenges of Environment Sustainability

• Increase in Population

• Climate Change Impacts

• Land Tenure Systems (in PNG)

• Development Planning Priorities of Government

• Legislations and Policies

(Shearman et. al. 2008)

2.7-3.6% Population Increase/yr

ECOREGIONEcoregional Assessment

WHERE

PROJECT AREAConservation Action Planning

(CAP) - HOW

SITE BASED WORKCommunity based

Conservation planningConsultation

ImplementationACTION

PLANNING AT DIFFERENT SCALES

         

Sustainability(Biodiversity Persistence)

High Biodiversity

Priority

Low Biodiversity

Priority

PR

OT

EC

TIO

ND

EV

EL

OP

ME

NT

Increasing opportunities for

protection or developments

that are environmentally

sensitive

Increasing opportunities for

developments that may result in

landscape conversion or degradation

Balance

Priorities

Threats

BiodiversityPriorities(Where)

Strategies(How)

Way Forward

PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATION

REPLICATION OF BEST PRACTICES

Influencing Relevant & Appropriate Legislations and Policies

PNG Relevant Green Policies• Focus on Subsistence Agriculture and Community

Based Management Planning• Commercial Agriculture through effective Public

Private Partnerships• Community Based Integrated / Sustainable

Development Planning Policies & Programs• Conventional Legalising of PNG Traditional and

Customary Tenure Systems and Heritage (eg – registration of ILGs)

• National Policy on Carbon (REDD+)

Thank you very much