Building biodiversity research capacity to protect PNG rainforest from logging
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Main Project
VALUE £246,488
WHERE Papua New Guinea
Summary
• Establish a model rainforest conservation area (CA) with management structure and conservation plan in place
• Develop facilities and expertise of the landowners and PNG professionals to host biological research in the CA, thus raising funds for conservation
• Establish an internationally competitive PNG research team that will be the centre of excellence in biodiversity research and training in PNG.
• Gather key data on biodiversity response to rainforest disturbance to guide conservation policy
CO MANAGEMENT, BENEFIT SHARING, POVERTY REDUCTION, GENERAL MEASURES, INCENTIVES, ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION, IN SITU
Specific Tools
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, PROTECTED AREAS, MONITORING, PARTICIPATORY, TRAINING, RESEARCH TRAINING
Countries
Papua New Guinea
Project Outputs
Outputs
1. Wanang Conservation Area (WCA) established.
2. Ten village assistants and 18 para-ecologists trained to support research in the WCA. Two para-ecologists visit UK and other countries for networking and for intensive training.
3. Three completed Honours or Masters degrees by PNG students with dissertations focusing on biodiversity research
4. Biodiversity surveys for plants, insects and vertebrates along a disturbance gradient to document rainforest response to anthropogenic threats, including carbon storage estimates
5. Guides for focal plant and animal taxa as an information source for local people, visiting researchers and PNG government departments
6. Sustainable income of £20-30,000 per year generated by supporting research in WCA, to replace potential income from logging.
