The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), partnered with the Nature Conservancy to support nine Tangguar clans in developing a conservation deed that will protect 17,803 hectares of crucial forest and marine resources, that is approximately 45% of the community’s land. The new conservation will help to preserve vital ecosystems and also give local communities the tools to manage their natural resources sustainably for future generations. The signing of partnership in developing a conservation was signed by the clan leaders from the three tribes in Malas Village and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Madang province recently. The signing was witnessed by the Madang Governor, Mr. Ramsey Pariwa and other representatives from the Madang Provincial Government. Governor Pariwa commended the Malas Community for stepping up to protect their resources for future generations. “Growing population drives higher demand for natural resources, which contributes to global warming. I challenge the community to care for the environment, and in return, it will care for you." Governor Pariwa pledged to support local civil society organizations Tangguar Resource Owners Development Association (Tangguar Association) and Gildipasi Civil Society Organization with funding and technical support through the provincial administration to advance their community-led conservation and sustainable development initiatives. USAID Program Management Specialist, Julie Hulama emphasized that this initiative was driven by the Tangguar clans, “At USAID, we promote localization by equipping local people with the knowledge and skills to identify issues and develop local solutions, fostering self-reliance and community resilience.” “The Tangguar clans have shown remarkable leadership in protecting their natural resources while also building a foundation for economic sustainability.” The Chairman of the Tangguar Association, Jerry Tome, expressed gratitude for the support received from USAID, “Partnerships like the one with USAID PNG LGP are crucial for empowering our community to manage our natural resources effectively and achieve sustainable, long-term development.” As of October 10th, 2024, USAID has helped communities safeguard over 40,000 hectares of forest and marine areas in Madang Province and over 60,000 hectares nationwide, demonstrating the effectiveness of grassroots leadership in protecting PNGs biodiversity.