Land-Sea Conservation Assessment for Papua New Guinea

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Land-Sea Conservation Assessment for Papua New Guinea

June 1, 2018

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is home to more than 7 per cent of the world's biodiversity, yet the majority of its unique environment remains unprotected.

With less than 5 per cent of the country currently safeguarded, this report is important for PNG to fulfil its international commitment to protect 17 per cent of terrestrial areas - and 10 per cent of marine areas - by 2020.

The report outlines a set of updated conservation priorities and targets to be achieved through on-the-ground action, by analyzing both land and sea environments. It takes a holistic approach to conservation, integrating land-uses and their impacts on connected marine ecosystems, while also linking terrestrial priorities with marine priorities. It argues that leveraging connections between these two systems delivers the best conservation results.

The assessment identifies 20 per cent of PNG’s land and sea-scape as conservation priorities, including Kimbe Bismarck, West New Britain Coastal Region and Baining. It also includes land and sea modelling which identifies the best-off and worst-off coastal regions, considering both current conditions and future land development. It postulates that a range of conservation strategies will likely be needed to adequately protect and manage the wealth of biodiversity that PNG is home to.

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