Three clans from Sumkar district Local Level Government (LLG) in Madang province recently signed a conservation deed (CD) to protect 8490 hectares of land, consisting of 3468 hectares of marines and 5020 hectare of terrestrial.
By signing the conservation deed, the landowners from Dabor village ward three of Sumgilbar local level government, agreed to place restrictions on the use of their land to preserve its environmental and ecological value for future generations.
The signing coincided with the launching of the community based Natural Resources Management Plan (CbNRM).
Three clans under The Kimadi Community Empowerment Association (KCEA) compromising of developed a management Plan using 12-step CbNRM Plan tool with continuous consultation from 2020 to 2024 with assistance from the United States Agency for international Development’s Lukautim Graun Program.
Both events focus on achieving community’s vision to conserve and sustainably utilize natural resources to meet daily needs, protecting the culture and traditional needs and help develop and organize the community to improve livelihood for the benefit of future generations.
The Management plan is part of a Conservation Deed agreement between the clan and is to be renewed every five years.
The Management plan highlights and prioritizes conservative targets and current threats, land zoning, resource allocation, community environmental rules and penalties, resource management approaches and actions, conservation monitoring programs and proposed funding programs.
Chairman of Kamadi Community empowerment Association, Justine Tapping thanked the Nature Conservancy and USAID LGP for the continued support in bringing the signing and launching of the management plan to fruition.
TNC Country Manager Ruth Konia expressed gratitude to the USAID PNG LGP for its continuous support towards TNC and hoping for more CD signing for Madang to come and to the TNC’s commitment willingness to review the deed after 5 years.
Also acknowledging the hardship needed at first but through good community cooperation, ownership, and partnership anything is possible.
Due to other pressing commitment that withdrew the presence of UASID PNG LGP, Chief of Party, Tom Pringel.
He stated, “We are proud to be part of the achievement and celebrate a milestone achievement with the Kamadi Community who have taken the initiative to protect their land.”
The attendees who witnessed the occasion includes DT Global (USAID PNG LGP) Director for Finance Prabesh Aryal and Madang field officers, Country Director for TNC including her team officers, from Madang Governor’s office and Madang Provincial Government departments sector heads.