photo by Chris Crowley

There are few places in the world that rival Papua New Guinea's rich natural treasures. The country is only slightly larger than California, yet it contains 5% of the world's total biodiversity. Nearly every tropical Pacific ecosystem exists here-tropical rain forests, high alpine systems, savanna grasslands, active volcanic islands, immense mangroves, coastal lagoons, and coral reefs.

More than 77% of the country is covered in tropical rain forests, which are home to more than 700 bird species, including 38 of the world's 43 species of bird of paradise, and more than 6,000 species of butterflies and moths.

Papua New Guinea's marine life is even more amazing. Kimbe Bay and the greater Bismarck Sea are part of the Coral Triangle, the global centre of marine biodiversity.  The Bismarck Sea is inhabited by many thousands of marine species including more than 60% of the known  coral species in the world. Kimbe Bay's reefs alone are home to more than 860 species of coral reef fish-exceeding the diversity of the Hawaiian Islands and the entire Caribbean.

Today, however, this biological wealth is under imminent threat. The nation's rainforests are being cleared at an alarming rate, with annual forestry exports tripling in the last 10 years. Papua New Guinea has borne the brunt of a massive expansion of logging to meet demand for wood from Asia. The impacts of agricultural plantation development and destructive fishing practices further exacerbate the environmental challenges the country already faces.

Since 1993, The Nature Conservancy has worked to address these threats in partnership with the Papua New Guinea government, local communities and other partners. The Conservancy currently focuses on three biologically rich areas: Kimbe Bay, the Adelbert Mountains and the greater Bismarck Sea.

Kimbe Bay

Towering mountain peaks, lush, steamy valleys, and dazzling coral reefs are all part of the diverse and dramatic beauty that can be found at Kimbe Bay on the island of New Britain. Like many coastal areas throughout the world, Kimbe Bay's rich marine biodiversity is at risk from local threats, such as overfishing and sedimentation, and global threats, such as rising sea temperatures caused by climate change that can lead to coral bleaching and death.

To ensure that Kimbe's reefs stay healthy for  both people and nature, The Nature Conservancy helped design a network of resilient marine protected areas (MPAs) that address threats from climate change and account for both biodiversity and human needs. The Kimbe Bay MPA network design is one of the first in the world that incorporates both human needs and principles of coral reef resilience to withstand impacts from climate change. 

With the first version of the MPA network design complete, the Conservancy is now working with partners to implement the MPAs and strengthen the legal framework for the network. We are using this knowledge to establish MPA networks in other regions throughout the Bismarck Sea, starting with Manus Island.

Adelbert Mountains

More than 75% of Papua New Guinea's land area is covered in dense tropical rain forests. Unfortunately, more than 60% of these forests are under serious threat from logging.

The Conservancy is working with local communities in Madang Province to pioneer a new conservation mechanism to establish community conservation agreements. By facilitating these agreements, the Conservancy helps landowners to legally protect their land and natural resources for future generations. These agreements provide a solution that satisfies local people's strong cultural ties to the tropical forests that surround them and offers great promise in securing lasting conservation of Papua New Guinea's rainforests.

Bismarck Sea- Ridges to Reefs

The Bismarck Sea is a massive shallow basin receiving runoff from the mighty Sepik, Ramu and Markam Rivers. To the south, the basin is bounded by the spectacular main range of Papua New Guinea. To the east, north and west, the basin is surrounded by a fiery arc of islands. The ridges to reefs approach recognizes the functional relationships in nature, and that what we do on the land dramatically effects what happens to our rivers and surrounding coasts, reefs and seas.  It recognizes that the livelihoods of the people depend on the integrity of their natural resources.

The Conservancy is currently working with all levels of government, communities and partners to help plan the future of the Bismarck Sea and surrounding lands and freshwaters. The approach will seek to strengthen the effective and sustainable management of terrestrial and marine resources by building the capacity of government and communities to better manage their resources. By incorporating protection into sustainable development, Papua New Guinea, its people and biodiversity will be ensured a bright and enduring future.

Conservation Trust Fund

The Conservancy has worked  in partnership with the Papua New Guinea government, local leaders, and national and international organizations to help secure long-term conservation on this island nation by establishing the Mama Graun ("Mother Earth") Conservation Trust Fund. The fund is providing much needed financial support for critical national conservation priorities, and will create a vehicle for international donors, conservation organizations, and the government to identify and fund projects that could not be undertaken otherwise.