List of protected areas of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea is home to several protected areas, which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value.

The total area of Papua New Guinea protected territories is 14,330 km2 (5,530 sq mi), which amounts to approximately 3.07% of the country's territory. The total number of protected areas as 2018 is 71.[1]

The effort by the PNG government to protect biodiversity has resulted in 44 existing terrestrial protected areas using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) categories.[2] These protected areas account for 1.6% of the total land area. A study of biodiversity identified a further 398 areas as candidates for conservation.[3] This would increase the total protected areas to 16.8% of the total country area.

Included in the PNG protected area list, but not formally recognized by International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is the terrestrial Wildlife Management Area (WMA).[4] WMA is an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICAD),[5] which seeks to conserve biological diversity by involving landowners. The idea behind the project is that income generating activities, from the biological diversity would encourage people living in these areas to conserve, because such projects would link the value of these resources to living standard and also access to markets. The progress of WMA's is yet to be evaluated.

Papua New Guinea's first conservation area, the YUS Conservation Area, was established in 2009 on the Huon Peninsula, Morobe Province.[6]

Apart from local conservation efforts, PNG is also a signatory to international conventions and treaties. These international treaties include.[7] The International Plant Protection Convention (1951); Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972); Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1992); Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. PNG is also in partnership with other nations in the Oceania region and is a signatory to the regional Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (APIA Convention).

PNG has two listed Ramsar sites: Lake Kutubu and Tonda Wildlife Management Area.

National parks

National parks of Papua New Guinea are distinguished by pristine, untouched environment.[8][9][10]

Name Location Area Notes WDPA ID Coordinates
Jimi (Ruti) Valley National ParkJimi District, Jiwaka Province42.06 km2 (16.24 sq mi)Near Kawbenaberi.[11]15797 [12]5°18′12.9″S 144°18′35.4″E
LorokoWest New Britain Province0.75 km2 (0.29 sq mi)Located near Valoka at Kimbe Bay of New Britain.[13]61530 [14]5°26′20.9″S 150°31′00.8″E
Mc Adams National ParkBulolo District, Morobe Province21.06 km2 (8.13 sq mi)Property rights in the park are disputed between Watut people and others.[15]838 [16]7°16′17.6″S 146°37′31.1″E
Mt. Susu Nature Reserve at McAdam National ParkBulolo District, Morobe Province1.18 km2 (0.46 sq mi)4197 [17]7°16′17.6″S 146°37′31.1″E
Mt Wilhelm National Reserve / National ParkChimbu Province8.09 km2 (3.12 sq mi)71364 [18]05°48′S 145°02′E
Paga Hill National Park Scenic ReserveNational Capital District196.4 km2 (75.8 sq mi)Located at Paga Hill Estate, Port Moresby.[19]19716 [20]9°28′44″S 147°08′58″E
Variarata National ParkNational Capital District10.28 km2 (3.97 sq mi)839 [21]9°27′49.5″S 147°21′36.5″E
Talele Island National ParkEast New Britain Province0.31 km2 (0.12 sq mi)Islands in Lassul Bay20057 [22]4°09′37.2″S 151°34′28.7″E

Managed reserves

Wildlife management areas

In Papua New Guinea a wildlife management area is the simplest form of protected area, that protects an area of land or water while retaining full power to landowners to manage their land. WMAs are managed by an elected committee formed of customary landowners.[24]

  • Tonda Wildlife Management Area, Western Province
  • Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province
  • Kamiali Wildlife Management Area, Morobe Province
  • Lake Kutubu Wildlife Management Area, Southern Highlands Province
  • Oi Mada Wara Wildlife Management Area, Goodenough Island, Milne Bay Province
  • Sulamesi Wildlife Management Area, Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands Province
  • Maza Wildlife Management Area, Western Province
  • Aramba Wildlife Management Area, Western Province
  • Wereaver Wildlife Management Area, Western Province
  • Libano-Arisai Wildlife Management Area, Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands Province
  • Libano-Hose Wildlife Management Area, Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands Province
  • Neiru (Aird Hills) Wildlife Management Area, Gulf Province

See also

References
  1. Papua New Guinea, Asia & Pacific . UNEP-WCMC (2018) Protected Planet
  2. "Microsoft Word - protected_areas_notes formatted final.doc" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
  3. Nix, H.A., D.P. Faith, M.F. Hutchinson, C.R. Margules, J. West, A. Allison, J.L. Kesteven, G. Natera, W. Slater, J.L. Stein, and P. Walker, 2000. 'The BioRap Toolbox: A National Study of Biodiversity Assessment and Planning for Papua New Guinea.' Canberra: CSIRO Press.
  4. "bio_cou_598.xls" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
  5. West, P. 2006. Environmental conservation and mining: Between experience and expectations in the Eastern highlands province. The Contemporary Pacific 18:295-313.
  6. Conservation International: YUS, retrieved 19 May 2010
  7. Convention on Biodiversity
  8. Pristine Paradise Preserved in PNG's National Parks
  9. National Parks in Papua New Guinea
  10. Parks, Reserves, and Other Protected Areas in Papua New Guinea
  11. Ruti Airport Kawbenaberi, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea
  12. Jimi Valley in Papua New Guinea
  13. Explore Valoka in Papua New Guinea.
  14. Loroko in Papua New Guinea
  15. Wilful murder charge for Wau man The National, December 23, 2009
  16. Mc Adams in Papua New Guinea
  17. Mt Susu in Papua New Guinea
  18. Mt Wilhelm National Reserve in Papua New Guinea
  19. Paga Hill Estate. World War II heritage
  20. Paga Hill National Park Scenic Reserve in Papua New Guinea
  21. Variarata in Papua New Guinea
  22. Talele Island in Papua New Guinea
  23. Zo-oimaga in Papua New Guinea
  24. WWF:Setting up a WMA, 2005, retrieved 28 June 2010
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