Protecting Biodiversity by Supporting People

Man standing at open-air meeting. — Luke N'drasal from the Climate Change and Environment Unit, explaining the Manus Provincial Government plan for protected areas.

© George Puipui / WCS

Empowering Communities to Conserve Central Manus Key Biodiversity Area in Papua New Guinea

Grantee Name: Wildlife Conservation Society

Hotspot: East Melanesian Islands
Location: Papua New Guinea
Amount: $297,462
Dates: May 2019 – Dec 2021
Keywords: Agroforestry, Capacity building, Community-based conservation, Extractive industries, Indigenous People, Protected Areas

Protect 7,500 hectares of primary forest in central Manus through designation of community conservation areas with five clans to counteract pressure from industrial logging and oil palm expansion. This grant supports environmental and legal training, formalization of deeds for conservation and sustainable forest management, and support for resource management-based livelihoods.

Strategic Direction : 1 Empower local communities to protect and manage globally significant biodiversity at priority Key Biodiversity Areas under-served by current conservation efforts