Training the next generation of Papua New Guinea's conservation biologists
Key Facts
FUNDING SCHEME Scoping
VALUE £3,000
WHERE Papua New Guinea
Summary
PROJECT AIMS: The Darwin-funded project will meet the needs of PNG and help PNG to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by bringing together UK scientists, Wildlife Conservation Society - PNG Programme (WCS-PNG) educators, early-career PNG scientists, and local landowners. The two overall goals of the project are the creation of a taxonomic infrastructure within PNG necessary for the study of biodiversity conservation, and the establishment of a newly protected wildlife conservation area in PNG. The project has four primary tasks: (1) UK scientists from the Natural History Museum, a world leader in taxonomic capacity building, will train PNG nationals in techniques necessary for establishing a taxonomic infrastructure in PNG. This includes field collection and specimen preparation, focussing on the largely unexplored insect fauna. The second task is to establish a high quality taxonomic archive of PNG insects in PNG as the basis of future research on taxonomy, ecology and conservation by PNG and international scientists [CBD § 1,5,7,9,12,18]. These will be carried out in two areas of high biological diversity and conservation value, the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area (CMWMA) and Manus Island. For the third task, WCS-PNG collaborators will train early-career PNG scientists in educating local land-tenure holders about the value of biodiversity conservation [§ 12]. The fourth task is to negotiate with land-tenure holders for the delineation and creation of a new wildlife management area of high biological diversity and endemism [§ 7, Annex 1] at Manus Island. In 1993, WCS-PNG successfully established the CMWMA, an area encompassing pristine forests from lowlands up to 3000 m. CMWMA provides a location from which WCS-PNG administers international research stations and village-based conservation and training projects. A Darwin grant would enable UK scientists to assist PNG conservationists in establishing Manus Island as a new, protected wildlife management area. It would be only the third such protected area in PNG.
Darwin Initiative Round 32 is now open for applications! A new round of funding to support ambitious projects delivering impact for biodiversity and communities.
From scaling successful approaches to strengthening locally led conservation, explore key lessons shared by projects working on the front line of biodiversity action.
