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Completion report of the ITTO Project
Sustainable Management of Tropical Forest Management of Tropical Forest Resources through stakeholder Agreements in Traditionally Owned Areas of Papua New Guinea.
Host Government: Government of Papua New Guinea
Name of the Executing Agency: PNG Forest Authority in Collaboration with The Nature Conservancy.
Name of the Implementing Agency: The Nature Conservancy in partnership with the Government of Madang province and specifically Almami Local Level Government and the local Almami communities.
Project Steering Committee: PNG Forest Authority, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, ITTO, The Nature Conservancy.
Project number: PD 324/04Rev.3 (F)
Starting date of the Project: 27th November 2006
Duration of the Project (month) 36 months
Project costs (US $) ITTO contribution US$452,596 and TNC contribution US $ 505,138 GoPNG Contribution (US $75,000)
The ordinal number and type of the Report: Project Completion Report
Project technical and scientific staff:
Current Staff 1. Project Manager- Francis Hurahura 3. Conservation Officer- Cosmas Apelis 4. Francis Beibi- Conservation officer 5 Mainstreaming Coordinator- Theresa Kas 6. Community Conservation Adviser- Clement Kipa. 7. Project Assistant- Mary Kakat 8. GIS-Manager-Nate Peterson Former staff members: 9. Warren Jano- Conservation Planner 10. Sylvia Avitu-Communications Specialist
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.11. Community Development Facilitators- Willy Biul, Benny Atigini, Ricky Alfred, Veronica Waila, Rabien Tamir, Peter Somok, Serah Marin, Maula Taugele, Samuel Pidi, Priscilla Sariman, Rose Koinari, Judith Jack. Alphonse Mopal Peter Moikia CCDP-trainer
Consultants 12. Policy & Legal Consultant- Dr. Eric Kwa 13. Collaborative Tool Development Specialist & Former Project Managers (Edward & Susan Mayer) 14. Business Development Consultant- Gethrude Karu 15. Research Conservation Foundation 16. Thomas Lalord Warr- Social Marketing Assessment
Implementing Institutions
PNG Forest Authority P.O.Box 5055 Boroko, NCD
Ph: 3277841 Fax 3277 email: [email protected]
The Nature Conservancy P.O.Box 217, Madang, PNG Ph:4222366 Fax:4223518 email [email protected] The place and date the report was issued. The reported is prepared and presented to ITTO by Francis Hurahura, Project manager based in Madang, Papua New Guinea in September 2010.
Disclaimer:
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Acknowledgements:
The funding was sourced through partnership agreement between government of PNG and International Tropical Timber Organization and The Nature Conservancy also contributed funding as well as the government of PNG signed an MOU with PNG Forest Authority to implement the project. The efforts of the PNG Forest Authority, Department of Environment and Conservation, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Madang provincial government and administration and Almami local level government for its support to the success of this project and lastly and not the least, the Almami LLG conservation communities are hereby acknowledged, being the main partners who have made this project a Daun of the New Era.
Various partners and stakeholders are hereby also acknowledged, that without your morale and technical support, success could not have been achieved and to name a few, FPCD, VDT, FORCERT,EU, WWF, VSO, CSO and CBOs in the Bogia district administration.
The members of the Project Steering Committee and Multitechnical team members are hereby acknowledged for your efforts in guiding the project management and performing technical inputs respectively, your efforts is much appreciated.
Lastly, goes to the Project Management team members for their tireless efforts for working as a team to achieve expected outcomes and making this project as success.,
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
ALLG Almami local level government
CBO Community Based Organization
CCBS Climate Community & Biodiversity Standards
CDF Conservation Development Facilitators
CNA Conservation Needs Assessment
CSO Civil Society Organization
DEC Department of Environment and Conservation
DNPM Department of National Planning and Monitoring
FMA Forest Management Area/Agreement
FPCD Foundation People Community Development
FSC Forest Stewardship Council
GoPNG Government of Papua New Guinea
ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
OCCD Office of Climate Change and Development
PEC Provincial Executive Council
PNGFA Papua New Guinea Forest Authority
PNG Papua New Guinea
PSC Project Steering Committee
REDD Reduced Emissions Deforestation Degradation
TNC The Nature Conservancy
TRP Timber Rights Purchase
VDT Village Development Trust
VSO Volunteer Service Organization
WWF World Wildlife Fund
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 6-7 1 Project Identification 7-11 1.1 Context 7-11 1.2 Origin and problem 11-13 2 Project Objectives and implementation strategy 13-16 3 Project Performance (Project elements planned and implemented.) 16-17 4 Project Outcome, Target Beneficiaries Involvement 17-22 5 Assessment and analysis 23-29 6 Lessons learned 29-31 7 Conclusions and Recommendations 31-33
Annex 1: Project Implementation Schedule 34-35 Annex 2: Conservation Agreements-signing photos 36 Annex 3: Map of conservation areas 37 Annex 4 Project financial Audited statements 38-
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Executive summary
Almost 90% of Papua New Guieans live in rural areas and rely directly on the natural resource base, in particular forest resources, for their livelihoods. As the owners of forest rsources, their well-being and the decisions they take concerning resource development are inextricably linked to the conservation of biological diversity and to the sustainability of that resource. These communities are therefore critical to any process that aims to address the management and sustainable use of forest resources and overall development within PNG. The International Tropical Timber Organization signed an agreement with Government of PNG and the PNG Forest Authority to implement a project PD324/04Rev.3(F) “ Sustainable Management of Tropical Forest Resources through stakeholder Agreements in traditionally Owned Areas of Papua New Guinea” the government through PNG Forest Authority further signed an MOU with The Nature Conservancy to implement the project.
The development and specific objectives were to:
DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE:
► Local forest owners in the Adelbert Range conserve and sustainably manage their forests to meet livelihood needs of current and future generations.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:
► Local forest owners in the Adelbert Ranges are effectively using conservation agreements and management plans to conserve and sustainably manage their forests and meet their livelihood needs.
The project envisaged that the clans and communities were not conserving and managing their forests sustainably for the future generations to be able to enjoy the products and services it provides.The project objective was to ensure Local forest owners in the Adelbert Range are effectively using conservation agreements and management plans to conserve and sustainably manage their forests to meet livelihood needs of current and future generations.
The project was executed as originally planned under the two main outputs. The first output enabled development of tools and processes allowing more than six clans ( 20) from nine communities to develop land use management plans incorporating conservation priorities with support from the Almami local level government, while the second output mainstreamed these tools and processes and lessons learned to partners to implement conservation and sustainable forest management. Identifcation and Establishment of compatible business opportunities and micro-credit scheme was slightly changed to focus more on developing conservation cooperatives by the conservation communities as a mechanism to provide sustainable finance to ensure conservation and sustainable forest management objectives are achieved in perpetuity contributing towards improved livelihoods alleviating poverty.
The Government of Japan is the major donor of the project, supported by Australian donor, TNC and GoPNG contribution. The project recognises the importance of customary ownership over natural resources in PNG as the country takes the lead in the REDD initiative internationally, and the importance of linking national level priorities with needs skills of customary resource owners in sustainable forest management activities. The Adelbert range project is seen a significant learning opportunity on mechanisms for linking national priorities through the involvement of national government partners. How to maintain agreements with the partners, the community, and the government is important outcome of this project and the emerging REDD framework. The project is a potential model for scaling up to other parts of PNG. PNG has a lot more important natural resources beyond timber.
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The Adelbert project, as actually implemented, has been in compliance with ITTO policy guidelines inrelation to ITTO Criteria and Indicators for sustainable forest management. In this, it was noted that a review of the potential for participating communities to participate in eco-forestry conducted for the project by the Foundation for People and Community Development (FPCD) found that the communities had met more than 70% of the requirements needed to participate as producers in the FPCD FSC Group certificate. The review further found that their potential to increase their participation in the process was limited more by the problem of road access than forest management or planning performance. With road access as the main hinderance to facilitate and effectively implement a viable eco-forestry model in areas designated for forest use in the land use and management plans, this option is not seen as viable option within the Adelberts project site in a short term, but would be considered in a later stage, until enabling conditions are favourable, but is feasible within Madang where partners, such as FPCD who are FSC certified are working with local communities sustainably managing their forest and generating revenue to address livelihood issues.
As PNG is leading at the international level On efforts to reduce effects of climate change through REDD and REDD+ and the government through the office of the climate change and environment sustainability in the process of develop climate compatible development strategy and PNG Forest Authority launching Forestry and Climate Change Framework for Action, the tools and processes developed through the project forms the building block available that the government could use.
Working with and through partners being the main strategic approach to scale up the adelberts model realizes the need to invest time and resources on most partners to be transparent, accountable and to promote good governance and capacity building need to be factored as a continuous activity, followed by monitoring and evaluation to determine their ability to manage own affairs independently.
Sustainability post project as demonstrated by the Adelbert project must always be through People Empowerment for the People by the People to be self reliant rather than relying heavily on hand outs which usually weakens the brain power of intelligent people with talent to work towards their own destiny.
The Adelbert conservation cooperative model demonstrates people empowered to leverage conservation and sustainable forest management by complying to their land use management plans and producing a commodity (cocoa) that is organically grown and has a story and the story is, “ cocoa is grown organically by conservation communities who have developed and implementing land use management plans and have setside conservation areas legislated under environmental and conservation law” Funds generated will contribute towards sustaining conservation efforts and pay for social development projects to improve livelihood.
1.0 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION 1.1 CONTEXT
Major PNG vegetation zones are represented in the area, including six different forest types: flooded plain, strand, lowland rainforest, grassland, hill, and montane. This area has been long recognized as an extremely important storehouse of biodiversity. It is one of the most biologically rich parts of the country’s forests, especially in the mid-altitude habitats. The Papua New Guinea Conservation Needs Assessment (CNA) conducted in 1993 identified the area as a threatened lower montane forest region that is home to the Fire-Maned Bowerbird, PNG’s rarest bird species with the narrowest geographic range known for mainland PNG. Several timber concessions surround the Adelbert Range. These include, three Timber Rights Purchases (TRPs) – Kumil (operated by Bismarck Timber Industries), Gogol (operated by Jant) and Sogeram (operated by Madang Timbers) – and one unallocated Forest Management Agreement (FMA) – Middle Ramu.
The main outcome of project’s intervention by working with the main partners of this project, being the landowners, government and other stakeholders is the development of land use management plans and setting aside of various land use areas of which core conservation area is part of the total area under sustainable forest management to ensure products and services forest is provided in perpetuity. Different landuse decisions were made by local clan members and leaders, based on local traditional, cultural and
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biodiversity knowledge and these decisions were at times had to be verified through scientific surveys and information to confirm areas set aside for conservation as biological significant areas due to presence of declining population of selected focal targets for both flora and fauna. Community conservation engagement process facilitated enabled the clan/communities to understand status of selected focal targets for both flora and fauna, these being both systems and species of rare and endemic flora and fauna.
1.1.1 SOCIAL ASPECTS:
The project achieved both of its outputs being output 1: Six clans are prepared to manage theor forest resource in the Adelberts Range according to agreed management plans, incorporating conservation priorities, with support from Almami local level Government. A structured and effective and efficient community conservation engagement and participatory process was used to identify critical social factors that drive resource use and underpin local level governance. In addition to the identification and use of the most successful community entry and engagement techniques developed in PNG. The process as shown iin figure 1 has enabled resource owners to assess status of selected focal targets selected to focus on to protect habitats and systems to ensure their population and their condition is respectively not destroyed by over usage or high demand for local consumption in relation to selected species of fauna, ie cassowary and tree kangaroo. Delivery of social services by the government to the target beneficiary communities has been nil during the duration of the project, apart from services which have been provided through project’s partnership and collaborative arrangements and initiatives. These partnerships and workshops include, health and sanitation workshops, health and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, gender workshops conducted in communities funded by European Union as part of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project. To date there are 14 rainwater ctachments servicing nine clans with in Urumarav, Gurube, Avipa and Turutapa. Figure 1: Rainwater Catchment at Turutapa village-Pabeberu clan
In addition, Mid-Wife training was conducted by Lutheran mission to selected individuals from the conservation communities to assist mothers during birth delivery in remote conservation communities who lack basic health facilities due to lack of road infrastructure which have not improved prior to project inception, during and even now at close of project duration, road access to conservation communities remains an issue, the government has to addressed.
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The current reform system of the government which designed to empowered people at the local level to influence and design development through ward development committees and feeding in to the local level government plans and rolling in to district plans and forming Provincial Plans contributing to Medium Term Development Strategies has not been effective due to financial constraints to finance, first training of the man power to effect change and secondly to fund projects at ward level. The Almami local level government over the project duration have been financially handicap to deliver its obligation to its people whom were the target beneficiaries of the project. The project signed an MOU with the Almami LLG to assist in implementation of the Environment and Conservation Law and through this partnership the 20 clans developed their land use management plans and set aside conservation areas declared under the Almami local level government Environment and Conservation Law and secondly, under this partnership the conservation advisory committee established as per the Environment and Conservation legislation worked with project personnel to ensure clans/communities resolved disputes arising through the community conservation engagement process and respective clans proceed to signing conservation agreements with the Almami local level government council president.
1.1.2 ECONOMIC ASPECTS
As discussed under social aspects, the government has not delivered and meet it’s obligation to provide service to its people within the project target communities. The road infrastructure has never been maintained over the last six years since 2004 and its condition has been deteriorating eversince making it very difficult for the Almami LLG communities within Mugumat Yakiba census division unable to market their cash crop in time to fetch higher price.
Since the inception of the project and even to date, government has been unable to provide sufficient basic services, and one school in conservation area which closed in 2005 remains closed as of writing of this report and the children have not attended school eversince, apart from those whose parents had to make arrangements with relatives or even friends to look after their children on the coast, just to have access to education. Through the project, business consultant was engaged,to conduct start your own business trainings and micro enterprises were identified and listed as follows;
• Type No: • Trade Store 11 • Fermentries 8 • Piggery 5 • Screen Printing 1 • Arts & Crafts 1 • Tourist Rest House 5 • Sewing 4 • Mobile Market 4 • Noni Soap Making 1
Main limitation to expansion and success of these micro enterprises is access to start up capital and financial managerial skills to ensure funds are accounted and proper book keeping is done for every transaction that occurs. Through this project one fo the main challenge encountered is provison of sustainable financing mechanism to ensure conservation efforts and land use management plans are effectively and efficiently implemented to contribute towards conservation and sustainable management of forest resource, being the store house of endemic flora and fauna that needs to be protected
Learning from past experience with foreign Aid funded projects, which often times struggle to find sustainable finance mechanism to finance ongoing activities, through this project clan/community members have been empowered to be self reliant to effect change by providing knowledge through start
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your own business trainngs and working with them to organize in to conservation cooperative societies with the main objective to mobilize human resource, agricultural produce and finance. The cooperative model is a financing mechanism based on community mobilization working towards common goal of financial empower to sustain conservation efforts. Funds generated by Financial members through activities of the cooperative is aimed to address community development and social issues at the clan/village level, while at the same time pay for sustainable management and leveraging of conservation programs throughout the Almami LLG and Bogia district and lessons learned to be disseminated through out the province.
Figure 2: Conservation and Sustainable Development Financing Model.
1.1.3 ENVIRONMENT ASPECTS
1.1.3.1 BIODIVERSITY VALUE The information in this section is based on studies commissioned by TNC in 1998 of species (birds, mammals, butterflies and herptofauna) found or likely to be found in the area of the Adelbert Range (Crome et al.,1999, and Leary, 1999), and botanical surveys sponsored by TNC in 1998 and 1999 (Takeuchi, 2000).1 The importance of primary forests to the survival of species adapted to living in such forests and to the protection of streams flowing through the areas have been the most significant factors arising out of studies in the area. Within the primary forest areas, habitat types of particular ecological significance are the following:
Higher altitude forests: Studies have identified these areas as being particularly important because the primary forest adapted species tend to be from higher altitude areas. These include the bowerbirds. Swamp forests: This habitat type was identified from the bird study as needing consideration because of the presence of the New Guinea Flightless Rail and the general paucity of understanding of swamp forests Gallery forests: Although gallery forests are unlikely to have endemic species in their own right they can play special roles in the landscape. For example: Flying foxes and other megachiropta roost in gallery forests Gallery forests can be particularly rich in kingfishers, particularly the paradise kingfishers genus Tanysiptera
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Frugivorous birds such as the Aplonis starlings often build large roosts and nest sites in gallery forest. Gallery forests may be particularly important contributors to biodiversity by acting as refuges in drier times of the day and the year, and by providing fruit and flowers for nomadic frugivores and nectarivores. Gallery forests have potential to act as movement corridors for forest species, and they have a large influence on water quality in streams.
Taxonomic studies showed that there is in an unusually high numbers of endemic species found throughout northern New Guinea when compared with the rest of Melanesia. As much of the area has been poorly surveyed it follows that further survey work is likely to identify substantial numbers of previously unknown species. Studies commissioned by TNC in the project area found a considerable number (20) of rare taxa and 4 new species, indicating that the area is home for restricted endemics eliminated from other parts of their range. The importance of this area for speciation processes has been highlighted. Successful conservation of the biological diversity in the Adelbert Ranges will also provide useful lessons for biological diversity conservation and sustainable rural development in other areas of the country that have high biodiversity. The model developed is the first of its kind in the country. Through the project both community and biological focal targets were selected for protection based its declining condition to ensure management strategies are developed to improve its condition. The community targets do merge with biological targets and the community engagement process and development of land use management plans have enabled the clans/communities to realize importance of protecting and sustainably managing these systems, endemic flora and fauna.
Ethnobotanical surveys in the project area have identified many species of importance to local people. These include:
Plants with food value – 22 species. Medicinal or psychoactive plants – 14 species. Plants for construction or implements – 22 species. Plants for ceremonial, ritual or spiritual purposes – 14 species. Plants with special value for wildlife – 28 species. Plants to improve the hunting performance of dogs – 5 species. Plants with other cultural applications – 21 species
1.2 ORIGIN AND PROBLEM:
The Adelbert Mountain Range is located in Madang Province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG). It spans an area of approximately 400,000 hectares and ranges in altitude from sea level along the coast to 1600 meters above sea level. It is located between 145 degrees 0 minutes East and 145 degrees 30 minutes East and between 4 degrees 25 minutes South and 4 degrees 42 minutes South. Elevation ranges from 150 m above sea level along the Guam River Basin to 1,400 m above sea level along the ridges of the Adelbert Mountains. The site comprises the Western end of the Adelbert Mountains and is dominated by the Guam and Kumul River watersheds. The Guam River runs in a Westerly direction to the Ramu River and the Kumul runs East toward the Bismarck Sea. The site is bound on the Northern side by the coastal lowlands (See Maps 1 and 2 below). The site comprises the entire area of the Almami Local Level Government (ALLG) within the Bogia District, in the Province of Madang.
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1:2.1 MAIN PROBLEMS:
Almost 90% of Papua New Guieans live in rural areas and rely directly on the natural resource base, in particular forest resources, for their livelihoods. As the owners of forest rsources, their well-being and the decisions they take concerning resource development are inextricably linked to the conservation of biological diversity and to the sustainability of that resource. These communities are therefore critical to any process that aims to address the management and sustainable use of forest resources and overall development within PNG.
1.2.1.1 PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED
The Adelbert Mountain Range, is one of the most biologically rich parts of PNG’s forests. At the time of project inception it was facing a range of threats as shown Table1: below.
TABLE 1: CHALLENGES TO FOREST INTEGRITY
Major threat Description Unsustainable Commercial logging based on current poor practices is expected to Commercial have a significant impact on gallery forests of the Guam River Valley. Timber This would have a serious long-term impact on biodiversity in the area Harvesting and undermine the potential for the development of sustainable livelihoods within the communities of the Adelbert Range. Forest clearance This includes clearance for both subsistence gardening and coffee for agriculture production, and results in loss and degradation of habitat. Typical system is 1-2 years use followed by 15 years fallow, resulting in an expansion of the area under agriculture as the local population grows. Fire Fire is widely used for forest clearing, and often impacts much larger areas than planned gardens and coffee plantations Over-hunting This threatens several heavily hunted species, such as the Northern Cassowary and tree kangaroos. Timber Several timber concessions surround the Adelbert Range. concessions in buffer zones
To address these challenges that are typical of many rural and forested areas of PNG, recent analyses and interviews with government officials and community stakeholders have identified the following root causes as illustrated below;
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Figure 3. Problem Tree
Loss of important Loss of Loss of Loss of f orest resource base f or ecological biological productivity sustainable Effects services div ersity liv elihoods
Communities are not conserving and sustainably managing Key problem their forests for future generations
Lack of basic No ward and LLG land Few Poor f ormal services and use/ development plans compatible institutional transport and no understanding of marketable leadership inf rastructure economic conservation role alternatives National Limited Communities without Root causes gov ernment capacity knowledge and skills to meet policies in core modern land use challenges; promote large- Increased cash skills no common v ision f or future of scale use of needs of their f orests and how to work PNG f orests communities together to achieve it with changing Loss traditional lif estyle v alues, leadership; aspirations breakdown of clan/kinship ties
2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
2.1 PROJECT RATIONALE: The fourth goal of the constitution of Papua New Guinea states that:
PNG’s natural resources and environment [will] to be conserved and used for the collective benefit of us all, and be replenished for the benefit of future generations.
The principle elements of the legal and policy framework at the national level in PNG that give effect to this goal and are relevant to this project include the following:
► National Forest Policy (1991); ► Fauna Protection and Control Act; ► Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local-level Governments; and, ► Relevant sections of the Local-level Governments Administration Act of 1997. ► Environment Act 2000 ► National Forestry Development Guidelines October 2009 ► Forestry and Climate change Framework for Action 2009-2015
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These Legislations and Policies provide important guidance concerning the management of forest resources for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management to support livelihoods of Papua New Guineas to alleviate poverty through provision of goods and services funded by income generated from sustainable land use activities.
This national framework recognises the need for environmental protection and the conservation of biological diversity in balance with forest management to secure a range of timber and non-timber benefits for both local communities and the Government of PNG. While it provides support for the establishment of sustainable forest management practices and recognises the need for sustainable development of the forest industry at the provincial level, there has been little progress to develop mechanisms for this to occur. This is largely due to the fact that the legislation only applies to State owned land – less than 5% of all the land in PNG.
2.1.1 DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE:
Local forest owners in the Adelbert Range conserve and sustainably manage their forests to meet livelihood needs of current and future generations.
2.1.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE:
Local forest owners in the Adelbert Ranges are effectively using conservation agreements and management plans to conserve and sustainably manage their forests and meet their livelihood needs.
2.2 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
The principle components of the project strategy are outlined in Figure 2. As described below, the project strategy is expressed in two components – a site based strategy to demonstrate results and a mainstreaming strategy to apply successful strategies at other priority site in PNG. The site-based strategy in the Adelbert Range, involved specific community engagement techniques, the implementation of the Almami Local Level Government Environment and Conservation Law, the development and introduction of effective conservation area management and land use planning tools, the identification of incentives and compatible business opportunities and the development of sound partnerships and the strengthening of key institutions to address project sustainability. To ensure the approach developed is the most appropriate for PNG and can be replicated elsewhere in priority sights the project’s mainstreaming strategy will engage the different levels of Government and key NGOs in all relevant aspects of implementation.
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Figure 4: Project strategy flow chart
Adelbert Mountains Provincial & National scale
Community engagement Identify key components for success with partners
IImplementing the Almami LLG Provincial & National Environment & Conservation Law policy analysis and (Conservation Agreements) response
Conservation area Collaborative tool management and land development with use planning partners
Incentives and Private sector compatible development engagement & micro options economic policy support
Partnership development Mainstreaming design & & institutional mapping of priorities strengthening
2.2.1 OUTPUT1: Six Almami clans are prepared to manage their forest resources in the Adelbert Range according to agreed management plans, incorporating conservation priorities, with support from the Almami local level government.
2.2.2 OUTPUT2: Lessons learned and mainstreaming activities designed to assist local resource owners and partners implement the demonstrated conservation and sustainable forest management approach.
2.3 IDENTIFIED ASSUMPTIONS AND RISKS
The legal, clan institutions and socio-cultural risks are assessed as low, with supporting evidence given in the table. The greatest local risk is the low capacity of ALLG and district government to fulfil their mandate to support the sustainable development planning process. There is general support for the project politically, but there may be inadequate resources, skills and accountabilities. These political and economic risks are acceptable but substantial attention will be paid to these two areas of the project’s activities.
At the provincial and national levels there is a risk that stakeholders and Government outside the Adelbert Range will not wish to become directly involved in the consolidation of lessons learned and in the
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identification of opportunities and priority areas for mainstreaming. Based on the interest expressed in the development of this approach at Provincial and National levels and the direct links identified between this project and the development of a Model FMA this risk is considered low. The project’s viability is based upon using existing local institutions and their legal framework and processes for development planning. This legislation has been passed by ALLG and is supported by numerous forest-owning clans. Therefore, all conservation agreements will receive legal backing and acceptance by local, district and provincial levels of government.
3.0 PROJECT PERFORMANCE
The Adelbert project, as implemented, has been in compliance with ITTO policy guidelines in relation to ITTO Criteria and Indicators for sustainable forest management. In this, it was noted that a review of the potential for participating communities to participate in eco-forestry conducted for the project by the Foundation for People and Community Development (FPCD) found that the communities had met more than 70% of the requirements needed to participate as producers in the FPCD FSC Group certificate. The review further foundthat their potential to increase their participation in the process was limited more by the problem of road access than forest management or planning performance.
With road access as the main hinderance to facilitate and effectively implement a viable eco-forestry model in areas designated for forest use in the land use and management plans, this option is not seen as viable option within the Adelberts project site in a short term, but would be considered in a later stage, until enabling conditions are favourable, but is feasible within Madang where partners, such as FPCD who are FSC certified are working with local communities sustainably managing their forest and generating revenue to address livelihood issues. With road infrastructure being the main constraint, after considering various options to bring in cash income to the communities,planting, harvesting, fermenting, drying and marketing cocoa came to be the viable option people can concentrate on, as one of a source of revenue flow in to the community to meet basic livelihood needs and at the same time raise funds to finance sustainability of conservation and sustainable forest management by ensuring various clans/communities adhere to rules governing land use management plans.
3.1 REALIZED PERFORMANCE VERSUS THE PLANNED PERFORMANCE
3.1.1 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Local forest owners in the Adelbert Ranges are effectively using conservation agreements and management plans to conserve and sustainably manage their forests and meet their livelihood needs.
► Six Almami clans are prepared to manage their forest resources in the Adelbert Range according to agreed management plans, incorporating conservation priorities, with support from the Almami local level government.
► Lessons learned and mainstreaming activities designed to assist local resource owners and partners implement the demonstrated conservation and sustainable forest management approach.
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3.1.2 OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES as appearing in project document.
OUTPUT 1:
► Activity 1.1. Establish Conservation Agreements in accordance with the Almami Local Level Government Environment and Conservation Law. ► Activity 1..2 Identify and incorporate biodiversity priorities in land use and management plans at LLG, ward and clan levels ► Activity 1.3 - Develop and utilise community planning processes in the preparation of management plans ► Activity 1..4 Complete sustainable finance strategy and training in economically and ecologically viable enterprises ► Activity 1.5 Provide institutional support and training to ensure the effective implementation of the Almami Local Level Government Environment & Conservation Law ► Activity 1.6 Establish partnerships with other local groups, including World Vision, Lutheran and Catholic Churches, to improve health and education service delivery to support sustainable livelihoods.
OUTPUT 2:
► Activity 2.1 Identify and apply the key components for successful community entry and engagement with provincial and national partners, such as Government agencies, local and international NGOs, in at least three additional sites. ► Activity .2.2 Undertake a review, by the PNG Forest Authority, of national provincial policy and legislation to determine measures required to facilitate wide adoption of the approach being developed in the Adelbert Range. ► Activity .2.3 Exchange and consolidate lessons and collaboratively develop effective tools with partners for resource-owner based conservation and sustainable forest management working elsewhere in PNG. ► Activity 2.4 Identify and establish compatible business opportunities and micro-credit scheme, amended to support conservation cooperative. ► Activity 2.5. Identify and map priority sites and design a mainstreaming program. ► Activity 2.6 Review progress, identify lessons and measures to improve project output delivery throughout each phase and independently evaluate project outputs.
3.1.3 SCHEDULE ( refer to Annex 1)
3.1.4 STARTING DATE:
► 30th January 2006, Government of Papua New Guinea signed the agreement. ► First Installment US$100,000 was received on the 27th November 2006
3.1.5 DURATION:
► 36 Months ( January 2007-December 2009) ► Extended to end of JUNE 2010 ► Further extened to end of september 2010
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3.1.6 TOTAL AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE; ANALYSIS OF APPLIED INPUT.
Source US$ ITTO 452,196 TNC 505,138 Gopng 75,000
Expenditure US$ ITTO 452,196 TNC 505,138 GoPNG 75,000 These figures will be confirmed by Final Audited Accounts by December 2010
4. PROJECT OUTCOME, TARGET BENEFICIARIES INVOLVEMENT.
► Through project implementation all of the target beneficiaries were involved in making decisions of how the project was implemented to achieve expected outcomes. The local communities of the Almami local level government area and especially communities from Mugumat Yakiba census division were the primary target beneficiaries, the main reason being the ownership of the forest area this project covered being communally owned based at the clan level has to be respected and acknowledged through out implementation of the project.
► The Almami local level government involvement as per implementation of the Environment and Conservation Law 2003 through this project by endorsing land use and management plans and siging conservation agreements with clan leaders has been huge milestones being achieved.
► The Madang Provincial Government involvement has been through adopting the Almami Environment and Conservation Law and developing a similar legislation at the provincial level to safe guard forest areas land owners wish to set a side for conservation and sustainable forest management and secondly was their involvement to get the draft legislation to the Ntaional level for consultation and feedback of which positive feed back was received to progress the draft bill for submission to Provincial Executive Council for deliberation.
► Involvement of the three National Government agencies, PNG Forest Authority, Department of Environment and Conservation and Department of National Planning and Monitoring and advising at the Project Steering Committee has made significant contribution towards success of the project and these three agencies and the government is commended for working in partnership and collaboratively with NGO, especially The Nature Conservancy and the Local Communities to make this project as success, being the first of its kind in the country to demonstrate that we all need to work together to be successful at achieveing huge milestones, one alone could not achieve.
► ITTO need to be commended for its trust and confidence to the implementing partners and providing the funding and The Nature Conservancy for providing the Match and government of png for its in kind and cash contribution. ITTO has contributed immensely not only with funding, but in providing technical advice towards implementation of the project.
4.1. INTENDED SITUATION AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION IN THE PROJECT DOCUMENT
This project has been designed to address the underlying root causes of biodiversity loss and unsustainable forest management, as well as reduce direct major threats, at the local level. It will be implemented over a three year period and will produce the following specific outcomes:
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► Six Conservation Agreements signed between Almami customary landowners and the Almami Local Level Government. ► 200,000 hectares of forest in the Adelbert Range will be conserved and managed sustainably by local landowners with the support of local government. ► Almami LLG Environment and Conservation Advisory Committee established, trained and actively involved in assisting landowners to establish conservation areas, resolve boundary disputes and facilitate development of land use and conservation area management plans. ► An adaptive, participatory approach to managing natural resources, forests and protected areas will be adopted at the landowner level and encouraged by district and provincial governments in Madang. ► Local authorities in Almami and Madang will be better able to assess the impacts of land-use decisions on forest resources and biodiversity and be able to promote cooperation of governmental agencies, NGOs and land owners. ► Local communities at four sites will be engaged in sustainable economic alternatives including community forestry, eco-tourism, and sound agricultural practices. ► There will be effective monitoring and evaluation of biological impacts, improvements in forest management and local governance with lessons shared widely by stakeholders in PNG and through ITTO networks. ► A learning approach to the implementation of stakeholder agreements in the Adelbert Range will be in place and supported by local clans, Government and other partners. ► Lessons and tools developed from the project will be shared with policy-makers, partners, other interested communities and international donors to enable similar work to be implemented elsewhere in PNG on a larger scale and at lower cost. ► A national map of opportunities and priorities for the use of stakeholder agreements and similar community-based conservation and resource management will be available.
4.2 SITUATION AT PROJECT COMPLETION
► Total of 20 clans signed conservation agreements of which 13 clans completed land use management plans endorsed by Almami Local Level Government and signed conservation agreements with president of the Almami local level government within the project implementation period. Each of the nine conservation communities have conservation managers and monitors on a voluntary basis and it is anticipated that if financial situation of conservation grows, financial incentive for the monitoring work they do, will be compensated by funds generated by the cooperative. ► The Almami LLG Environment and Conservation Law is inforce through out the whole of Almami area, through the project 25 communities ( 43,200 ha) were consulted and community conservation development process facilitated and are involved in setting up conservation areas and of these 9 communities comprising of 20 clans signed official conservation agreement with Almami local level government and these nine communities have management plans for 18,000 hectares and 4,360 under core conservation area. ► As stipulated by the Almami Environment and Conservation Law, the Conservation Advisory Committee was formed and functioned during the term of the project and recently gone through relection of the committee members. ► Land use management plans completed for the 20 clans and posters completed as well. ► Publication of the tools and processes completed for adoption by community based organizations and non government organizations. ► Nine conservation agreement signed communities have formed conservation cooperative societies as long term financing mechanism through people empowerment to work the land in compliance to their land use management plans and raise capital to sustaian conservation efforts and address social development issues to contribute towards poverty alleviation and improved quality of life. ► Lessons learned through this project especially the community conservation engagement and land use management planning process and products backed by legal framework can now be useful or could informed the ITTO and National Government and its stakeholders and development partners that these tools and processes developed through the project form the
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building blocks to any REDD, REDD+ or even REDD++ , that the national government is in the process of developing and on a positive note, it can be reported here that, the National Government through PNG Forest Authority, Departmemt of Environment and Office of Climate Change and Development have been in consultation with project management in terms of sharing experiences and dessiminating information.Presentation to the REDD+ sub-working group was done on the 23rd of April 2010. ► The land use management planning model and process has been mainstreamed in to Department of Enviroment and Conservation through a project undertaken by The Nature Conservancy on program of work on protected areas (PoWPA) in the country and the government plans to mainstream PoWPA to provinces and provincial legislation for forest protection will be useful. ► Bismark Sustainable Development model was developed to also mainstream tools and process and initial 12 provinces in the Bismark archipelago were selected and three workshops conducted and out of them 4 provinces took the initiative to commit resources and these were East Sepik, Manus, West New Britain and East New Britain, to date ONLY Manus and East New Britain are progressing and for Manus, two LLGs signed MOU with TNC for two years to use tools and processes developed to develop reef to ridges management plans to contraibute towards climate change adaptation strategy.
4.3 PROJECTS SUSTAINABILITY
At the local level in the conservation communities, the biggest challenge executing agency had to deal with is question of incentives linked to land use management plans of which conservation setaside is part of the total management area. Local people have lived in such forested ecosystem for decades and accessed goods and sevices from the forest and to them importance of biodiversity is hardly recognized and not until need arises for particular species of flora and fauna its population diminishing is realized.
The conservation communities during the life of the project never had provision of proper health and education facilities and had to migrate to coastal areas to live and support their children attend schools and also have access to health facilities and for those families who decide not to migrate, had to travel at least a day or two just to get closer to government services and secondly to market garden produce and cash crops ie cocoa to earn an income.
The original plan was to identify and establish compatible business opportunities and micro credit scheme and funding was earmarked to initiate, as the project implementation progressed, options to create business opportunities were researched and feasibilities conducted. Two studies were conducted independently on potential for certified eco forestry activity and on eco tourism. Road access was identified as main obstacle to conduct a viable sawmill business, while the latter required infrastructures such as road, health facilities and basic hospitality management.
In terms of project’s sustainability beyond its funding time, the project management decided to put a proposal to support conservation cooperatives registered by the conservation communities to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for deliberation and approval. The 2009 PSC endorsed the proposal.
Currently there are three conservation cooperatives registered namely; Miani, Mima and Adelberts. Miani is formed by conservation communities who speak miani language, while Maiya speaking communities formed Adelberts cooperatives, and Mima is formed by communities who have not yet completed the conservation engagement process.
The project management assisted Adelberts cooperative to registered to international Fair-trade organization and first audit was conducted last year November 2009 and the cooperative management having working on addressing corrective action requests identified by the audit. It is anticipated that by end of 2010 Adelbert cooperative will become fair-trade certified ready to export fair-trade labelled cocoa products to international market. The project management and communities see this approach/model as people empowerment to work towards their destiny with out relying on donor funding to sustain conservation and sustainable forest management activities initiated through ITTO funding. Just recently,
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in 18-25 July 2010 a business exchange trip to highlands of Papua New Guinea gave the opportunity to the board and management of Adelbert cooperative to see and listen first hand, success stories, challenges and lessons learn from cooperatives in Eastern Highlands province. The main lessons learned was to be stringent on financial management, accountability, good governance and community mobilization if change is to be realized at community level.
Post project sustainability will be financed by Adelbert conservation cooperative directed and managed by empowered community leaders from the conservation communities and 9-10 october 2010 conference was held for existing sister cooperative executives to share experiences and lessons learned and it is anticipated that fair-trade market will be accessed by other cooperatives through Adelbert cooperative as long as they complete their land use and management plans and have set aside conservation area.
Figure 5: Project sustainable Finance Model Table 2: Benefit sharing structure
% break up agreed # Major stakeholders by Board 1 Exporter (Ramu Coops) 5 2 Adelberts Cooperative Society 62 3 Fermantry 15 4 Conservation Fund 3 5 Community Dev Fund 5 6 Profit 8 7 Stabilisation Fund 2 Total 100
Table 3: Detail cost structure
# Items % 1 Manager 3.6 2 Finance/ Admin 1.8 3 Transport 3.6 4 Communication 2 5 Office equipment/ supplies 7.5 6 Rental 1.8 7 Working Capital 68.2 8 Benefits for staff 3.6 9 Board Allowance 2.5 10 AGM 3.6 11 Community Service (Sports/youth) 1.8 12 Casual 1.5 Total 100
The cooperative will access premium price from international fair-trade market and premium money will be monitored by Fair-trade to ensure funds are used to pay for social development projects and this money should add to the 5% development levy and conservation sustainability will be financed through 3% of the gross revenue from each bag of cocoa sold.
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5.0 ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS
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PROJECT ELEMENTS INDICATORS STATUS OF EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND MEANS OF VERIFICATION INDICATORS
Output 1 Six Almami clans are prepared to manage their Six clans signed Written conservation Expected outcomes was exceeded. 20 clans signed forest resources in the conservation agreement agreements and conservation agreements and land use Adelbert Range according to and each have developed management plans management plans developed and endorse by land use management posters developed and agreed management plans, Almami LLG. plans. disseminated to incorporating conservation communities and being Community-based approaches adequately priorities, with support from the used. incorporate biodiversity conservation objectives Almami local level Almami LLG active support Long term financing government. through ward development mechanism developed Communities are implementing their land use and environmental through conservation advisory committees, cooperative to financing practices according to their land use management budget allocations sustainability of plans. conservation efforts and also to address livelihoods.
Activity 1.1 – Establish Community meetings Documentation of 20 clans signed conservation agreements and have Conservation Agreements in decide to establish village meetings land use management plans. Clans have signed accordance with the Almami Conservation Agreement Community letter to conservation agreements with local level Local Level Government Demarcation of boundary Advisory Committee government president as stipulated by Almami LLG for conservation area, and Environment and Conservation Letter documented in Environment & Conservation Law. agreement of all relevant records of Advisory Law clans Committee Meeting Conservation agreement Written Conservation signed Agreement
Activity 1.2 - Identify and Biodiversity and mapping Documentation of High biodiversity areas have been identified and incorporate biodiversity tools used by clan village/clan decisions form the core conservation areas, clearly priorities in land use and members and accepted by demarcated in the land use management plans. management plans at LLG, ward and district ward and clan levels authorities Map records held by Biodiversity targets Ward and District identified and maps used Authorities
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in community planning process Activity 1.3 - Develop and Community planning a part Documentation of utilise community planning of village decision-making village/clan decisions processes in the preparation of Management Plans with 20 clans completed land use management plans management plans enforceable provisions and posters completed and being used at completed for each Management Plans community level. conservation area recorded by Ward and Management plans District Authorities adopted by Almami LLG committees Activity 1.4 - Complete Sustainable finance Assessment report with Conservation communities developed conservation sustainable finance strategy strategy developed jointly viability recommendations cooperative focusing on cocoa and linked to Fair- and training in economically with partners trade market to access better price and premium to and ecologically viable Training in economically invest in social development projects. Cooperatives and ecologically viable Field visits and interviews enterprises directors undertook field trip and exchange visits in enterprises completed to the highlands to visit coffee connections who are
Ward and District records Fair-trade certified.
Activity 1.5 - Provide Institutional self- Self-assessment scores Five year rolling plan developed for Almami having institutional support and assessments and priority and action plans conservation as one of its objectives is incorporated training to ensure the effective action plans implemented Record of decisions by in to District plan and financially supported. implementation of the Almami by each government Almami LLG committee, agency Local Level Government Management Plans involved in new law independently reviewed Environment & Conservation Advisory Committee Law ensures management plans meet agreed standards Activity 1.6 – Establish Formal agreements in Formal service European Union funded through their rural water partnerships with other local place with organizations to agreements supply and sanitation program funded rainwater groups, including World Vision, cover each of health, catchments for nine clans.Lutheran Health services Lutheran and Catholic education, two livelihood facilitated Village Birth Attendant training, Research Churches, to improve health strategies Agreed joint workplan Conservation Foundation conducted environmental and education service delivery Clan expectations of to support sustainable service delivery met education training for teachers in the Almami and livelihoods. Focus group discussions Bogia district.
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Output 2
Lessons learned and Strong partnership Records of agreements Almami LLG Environment and Conservation mainstreaming activities developed at provincial and meetings between law was mainstreamed in to West New Britain designed to assist local and national levels to partners on to a Marime project, which then was promote and implement resource owners and partners replicated in to Manus marine conservation effective stakeholder Legislative records implement the demonstrated area. agreements conservation and sustainable At least 3 districts with MOU has been signed with two provinces in forest management approach. similar legislation and Map of priority sites developing conservation Manus province, through the experiences, tools agreements with clan and processes from the Adelberts project will forest owners be applied and broader landscape spatial planning will be developed capturing reefs to ridges concept.
Tools and processes will also be used to through and with partners in areas identified as biodiversity hot spots in the country through the National Biodiversity GAP analysis.
Activity 2.1 - Identify and Partners agree on key Record of workshop(s) Community enagagement tools and processes apply the key components for components of success and meetings between have been published to be distributed to partners successful community entry Success criteria part of the partners and stakeholders for application in the field to take and engagement with mainstreaming campaign Mainstreaming design conservation to scale . The toolkit has four design provincial and national modules, being,1. Legal Matters, 2. Partnership and partners, such as Government Mainstreaming, 3. Community Conservation agencies, local and Development processes, 4. Sustainable Finance. international NGOs, in at least three additional sites.
Activity 2.2 - Undertake a Review completed with Provincial and national Madang Provincial Forest Protection Law enacted review, by the PNG Forest appropriate government reports and gazetted. Other provinces adopt similar recommendations and Agreed measures and
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Authority, of national provincial options incentives legislation. (Manus and East Sepik) policy and legislation to Support measures and Champions actively determine measures required incentives identified involved in visits, to facilitate wide adoption of Key “champions” engaged discussions, workshops the approach being developed in the Adelbert Range.
Activity 2.3 - Exchange and Tools/methods workshops Records of workshops Community enagagement tools and processes consolidate lessons and convened Tools and methodologies have been published to be distributed to partners collaboratively develop Conservation Area published and promoted and stakeholders for application in the field to take effective tools with partners for Management and Land- jointly by partners conservation to scale . The toolkit has four use Planning tools resource-owner based Record of community modules, being,1. Legal Matters, 2. Partnership and developed planning meetings conservation and sustainable Mainstreaming, 3. Community Conservation forest management working Development processes, 4. Sustainable Finance. elsewhere in PNG.
Activity 2.4 - Identify and Small business Review of compatible Three conservation cooperatives have been establish compatible business opportunities assessed for business opportunities registered and one of them, Adelberts conservation opportunities and micro-credit viability and incentives cooperative linked to Fair-trade market to access scheme. Review of enterprise Prospectus for micro- higher and premium price for organically grown incentives completed credit scheme cocoa coming from communities who have Small Business Forum and Record of venture capital community exchange investments developed land use management plans and set program completed Record of public private aside conservation areas. Income from sale of Micro-credit scheme partnerships these products will provide sustainable finance to established and disbursing conservation efforts. seed funds Activity 2.5 - Identify and map Map of priority sites Map published jointly Three provinces were identified through Bismark priority sites and design a Agreed mainstreaming Mainstreaming design Sustainable Development Planning processes to mainstreaming program. campaign Records and reports of work with provincial governments to develop Partners in at least 3 sites partners sustainable development plans addressing, social, identified environment and economic sectors. These three provinces are, Madang, Manus and West New Britain out of 11 provinces in the Bismark region.
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Activity 2.6 - Review Evaluated outcomes, Biennial evaluation of Six Biannual reports were prepared and submitted progress, identify lessons and impacts and enabling monitoring indicators, and and 3 Audited Financial Statements submitted to measures to improve project conditions for strengths TNC project audit ITTO, Final Audited Financial Report will be output delivery throughout and weaknesses of Six monthly project submitted in December 2010. each phase and independently approach reports evaluate project outputs
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► The Government of Japan is the major donor of the project, supported by the government of Australia and TNC. The project recognises the importance of customary ownership over natural resources in PNG as the country takes the lead in the REDD initiative internationally, and the importance of linking national level priorities with needs skills of customary resource owners in sustainable forest management activities. The Adelbert range project is seen a significant learning opportunity on mechanisms for linking national priorities through the involvement of national government partners. How to maintain agreements with the partners, the community, and the government is important outcome of this project and the emerging REDD framework. The project is a potential model for scaling up to other parts of PNG. PNG has a lot more important natural resources beyond timber.
► Adelbert project, as actually implemented, has been in compliance with ITTO policy guidelines in relation to ITTO Criteria and Indicators for sustainable forest management. In this, it was noted that a review of the potential for participating communities to participate in eco-forestry conducted for the project by the Foundation for People and Community Development (FPCD) found that the communities had met more than 70% of the requirements needed to participate as producers in the FPCD FSC Group certificate. The review further found that their potential to increase their participation in the process was limited more by the problem of road access than forest management or planning performance. With road access as the main hinderance to facilitate and effectively implement a viable eco-forestry model in areas designated for forest use in the land use and management plans, this option is not seen as viable option within the Adelberts project site in a short term, but would be considered in a later stage, until enabling conditions are favourable, but is feasible within Madang where partners, such as FPCD who are FSC certified are working with local communities sustainably managing their forest and generating revenue to address livelihood issues.
5.1 ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS : ► The rationale of the project at inception phase clearly identified clear principles and the process through which root causes were identified is acknowledged that through implementation of the project and especially while facilitating community conservation development process all root causes were addressed to a certain extent and except root causes which require government intervention to address. The lack of continuous budget to the local level government to implement policies through delivery of goods and services have been evident through out the life of the project and this situation has not change till now.
► The project problem definition as “ Communities are not conserving and sustainably managing their forests for future generations” in the project document is clear and the project objective and implementation strategy contributed towards reducing the rate of deforestation and forest degradation through development of land use management plans and set aside conservation areas to preserve and protection endangered endemic species of flora and fauna and also cultural and traditional values and breakdown of clan/kinship ties. Through project Implementation phase the linkage of how environment sustains life of both modern life style and traditional life style was emphasized through explaining how forests protect watersheds, protect soil fertility, shelters food & medicinal plants, and home of the various species of plants and animals the humans depend on for existence and one should plan well prior to developing any particular forest area to minimize impact to the forest ecosystem and the natural habitat it provides for species of plants and animals.
► One of the highlights that the government, donors, partners and stakeholders need to know of that has been learned of this project is the question of sustainability. Past experience have shown that most donor funded projects collapses the moment funding ceases, even though the original intent was for the government to institutionalize successful components of the project.
► The project management change original plan of activity under output 2, activity 2.4 identify and establish compatible business opportunities and micro credit scheme, to organizing the
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conservation communities to form and registering in to cooperatives that will be managed after being empowered through capacity building by project management, government and partners to ensure their operation is managed in a transparent, accountable and promotes good governance, instead of creating dependency syndrome. ► The approach of conservation cooperative can be summarized as “ People Empowerment for the People by the People” ( this model is illustrated in detail in section 4.3)
► The project had to deal with lots of misinformation from external influence outside of the project area and sometimes within the project area as well and main one was the assumption that the government will grab hold of the land as soon as clan leaders sign the conservation agreement with the president of the local level government and secondly, when the news about carbon trading came into the scene lots more people were misinformed that TNC will sell the oxygen from the forest area. This is just an example of how correct information could be misinterpreted and jeopardize implementation of the project.
► The project team used meetings and field trips to correct misinformations and some times tried to trace back to the original source of the information and in most cases people have not admitted to tell the truth, one is because they do not know or they could have fabricated the subject.
6.0 LESSON LEARNED ► The project origin being an area formely acquired by the state through an Forest Management Agreement and land owners withdrawing based on court decision 2003 provides a lesson on how land owners could withdraw from agreement with the government if the acquisition process is not done transparently and secondly the problem identification was very clearly outlined in the project document, and also root causes of the key problem “ Communities are not conserving and sustainably managing their forests for future generations” stating clearly the effects this problem if not addressed would result in being; Loss of productivity Loss of ecological services Loss of important resource base for sustainable livelihoods Loss of biological diversity
6.1 LESSONS LEARNED FORM THE PROJECT IDENTIFICATION, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
Highlights of lessons learned will be listed based on experience and challenges implementing the project to achieve the objective and expected outcomes under the two main outputs.
6.1.1LESSONS LEARNED –PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
► In the 1990’s, many of these communities were a part of a Forest Management Area (FMA), and their lands were slated for timber harvesting. Although the communities wanted the roads, schools and health facilities promised in return for their timber, they did not fully understand the effects that timber extraction would have on their land, resources and way of life. Working with TNC these communities decided to withdraw from the FMA in order to pursue a different course of action that would preserve and sustain their natural environment and foster self reliance, while retaining community control over their land and resources.
► The inability to implement a system of successful protected areas under the existing legislative framework opened an opportunity to design new mechanisms for legally setting aside land for conservation within the country’s traditional land ownership systems. To be successful, such mechanisms needed to recognize traditional ownership, link permanent conservation protection with a return of control and responsibility over their resources to the clans, and provide opportunities for compatible enterprise and sustainable development to landowners. In partnership with traditional land owners of the Adelbert Mountains, Almami
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LLG, and Madang Provincial Government, The Nature Conservancy and the UPNG School of Law pioneered two laws designed to accomplish these objectives. (: Almami Local Level Government Environment and Conservation Law 2003 and Madang Provincial Government Forest Protection Law 2007) ► The Government, NGOs and development partners must empower resource owners to ensure they become financially independent by providing expertise to strengthen their capacity in terms of accountability, transparency and promote good governance, by linking communities to partners whose mission is to provide such services. ► Biodiversity conservation is not high on the agenda at the community level, provision of proper health and education facilities and road infrastructure is in dire need by the communities and this is common through out most rural areas in PNG. ► Conservation, sustainable forest management, REDD, REDD+ REDD++ project has to have open and transparent financial benefit sharing structure linked to provision of social development projects and the model has to be linked back to forest conservation and sustainable forest management if effects of climate change has to be addressed through reducing emissions of carbon dioxide through deforestation and forest degradation. ► There is evidence of very high hand out mentality and the project had to struggle with; as expectations by the communities were beyond the scope of the project. ► Prior developing a project proposal for conservation, sustainable forest management, REDD, REDD+ or REDD++ project, all anticipated partners and stakeholders to the project has to be involved to develop project objective, expected outcomes and implementation strategy. ► All possible risks need to be identified and as group identify management strategy to manage the risk. ► Detail of project outcome has to be detailed out and discussed to minimize misconceptions and to address high expectations. ► Source of funding must be made transparent and any counterpart funding in-kind and cash contributions need to be stated. ► The project objective and expected outcome has to be explained very clearly to the clan leaders, community members, ward members, LLG president and administration, Provincial and District administration. ► To implement a project with clans/community participation requires huge investment of time and resources. ► Project can have very clear workplan and time lines, one should always take in to account that projects time line is not the same as clans/communities or even governments time frame or schedule. It is therefore, recommended that contingency plans must always be at hand so that work progress, in addition, multi technical team as established for this project must be established in future projects to meet twice a year, this is to advice and assist the project management team in implementation. ► This should be always be explicitly developed exit strategy and communicated prior to project implementation.
6.1.2 LESSONS LEARNED – PROJECT OPERATION.
► The reform system of the government is a very effective and efficient structure on paper, and it has been realized that the system is not functional due to funding constraints and secondly, most of the ward members and ward development committee have never given induction courses to ensure they become effective at the power base of the government sytem, where decision should be made on resource use, finance use etc.. for development to take place. ► Lack of capacity at the LLG level still remains both financially and human resource. It is recommended that the organic law on provincial and local level government needs amendment to abolish district headquarters and empower LLG to manage own affairs. ► Post project sustainability is dependent of how effective conservation cooperative is to be managed and lesson learned is not to rely heavily on government officers to provide on going
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technical advice on business management, but rather link to other NGOs who have expertise to provide advice as part of their organizations workplan. ► Success of conservation cooperative will finance conservation program and fund social development projects, but will be lmited by production of cash crop it sells and cooperative has already commenced to network with other cooperatives in the district to mobilize the product as well as expertise and share experiences and lessons learned amongst each other to achieve their goals. ► For the conservation cooperative is to produce organically grown cocoa in compliance to their land use management plans and market the product to international fair-trade market in order to fetch higher base price and access premium to sustainable conservation efforts as well as pay for social development projects to improve quality of life, because sometimes healthy and educated citizens can manage the forest sustainably. ► Partnership is an important tool for progress and success, as practical and real outcomes are being seen and felt. It increases the resources, and also improves the capacity that are lacking. ► Partnership are most successful in those areas with strong and willingness on the part of committing and sharing resources by both local people and government authorities such as the LLG. ► Additionally, the continuing encouragement, praise and supervision are essential for a strong and committed partnership as we have seen with TNC and LLG. ► An important precondition for success has been good communication and trust between ALLG and TNC. ► Other important areas include a common understanding and acceptance of the roles and responsibilities by both parties. ► Ongoing management and administrative support is a key issue. ► An important issue here is to identify ways of over coming barriers that may otherwise affect the partnership between both parties. The solution is to address these issues, concerns and challenges in a manner that satisfies both organisations. ► To make an impact on these issues, it is therefore necessary to significantly improve the outlook for redirection and a concentration of effort on efficient and effective approaches, processes and workable models of partnership strategies.
7.0 DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
► The project designed to achieve both the development and specifc objectives under two expected outputs 1& 2 respectively. Output 1 focus on activities to develop tools and processes and testing them through participatory approaches with communities, have proven to be successful which lead to communities conducting simplified conservation action planning by selecting focal biological and community targets and assessing their status of conditions and if population is declining, as in most cases, strategies to mitigate threats was developed in the land use management plans for implementation to reverse the condition of particular species or system back to favourable condition.
► Partnerships were developed with a number of organizations aimed at sharing lessons learned, experiences and challenges, to collectively discuss and develop strategies, depending on degree and nature of these challenges. Output 2 focused on mainstreaming tools and processes and the project achieved expected outputs successfully. The planning process developed through the project was mainstreamed in to 12 provinces in the Bismark Archipelago (see appendix…) of which only four committed to progress this process in Manus, Madang, East New Britain and West New Britain. Two local level government has already signed MOUs with The Nature Conservancy to develop broader landscape ( reef to ridges) land use management plans. To provide legal backing of these processes, review of national policies and legislations concluded with medium term strategy aimed at developing provincial forest protection law, while long term plan is to amend the forestry act 1993 to carter for forest conservation as the (1991) current forest policy stipulates forest conservation and the forestry act does not. The organic law on provincial and local level government under section 42 (1) (s) and (y) was utilized to develop Madang
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Forest Protection Bill, which is still pending PEC endorsement prior enactment by the Minister for provincial and local level government affairs.
► In terms of dessimination of tools and processes developed through the project, local non governmental organization ( Research Conservation Foundation) was contracted to publish the A training manual for clan based conservation practitioners, which comprises of four modules ranging from legal, partnership and mainstreaming, community conservation development process and sustainable finance. This manual is targeted at partners working with forest communities and once used and feedback received, revisions should be included in second edition.
► Sustainable Finance model through conservation cooperative has been developed and transparent and accountable benefit sharing structure developed, with the main objective to sustain conservation and sustainable forest management strategies and also to address social development issues in the communities to improve quality of life, and most importantly comply to land use and management plans to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide through reduced deforestation and forest degradation.
► The project had very effective Project Steering Committee which comprised of ITTO, TNC, PNGFA, DEC, DNPM, Ministry of Agriculture of Japan, Japanese Embassy in PNG and Australian donor. This committee meet annually and so far had four meetings beginning may 2007.
► To provide advisory role to the project management, a multi technical team was formed in 2006 and comprised of PNGFA, DEC, DNPM, PNGFRI, MPA, BDA, ALLG and TNC. This team met twice annually during the life of the project.
► The success of the project has been very much dependent on effective Project Steering Committee supported by Multi technical team to provide advisory role and more importantly the project team must be commended with the partners the communities for making this project a success, even though it is complex in nature. The core management team comprises of all PNG nationals.
7.1 CONCLUSIONS
► As PNG is leading at the international level On efforts to reduce effects of climate change through REDD and REDD+ and the government through the office of the climate change and environment sustainability in the process of develop climate compatible development strategy and PNG Forest Authority launching Forestry and Climate Change Framework for Action, the tools and processes developed through the project forms the building block available that the government could use.
► Publication of the tools and processes in to four modules enables partners both CSOs, CBOs, Government ( Academic, Research Institutions and Statutory organizations) to access and use it to work towards their goals and especially to leverage conservation and sustainable forest management towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions through reduced deforestation and forest degradation to address effects of climate change and contribute towards biodiversity conservation and improve quality of life for target beneficiaries.
► Working with and through partners being the main strategic approach to scale up the adelberts model realizes the need to invest time and resources on most partners to be transparent, accountable and to promote good governance and capacity building need to be factored as a continuous activity, followed by monitoring and evaluation to determine their ability to manage own affairs independently.
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► Capacity building and strengthening needs to be linked to existing service providers such as NGOs and Institutions. Example, VSO international has been consulted and agreed to assist build capacity of the cooperative society to be accountable, transparent and promoting good governance in managing their own affairs.
► Sustainability post project as demonstrated by the Adelbert project must always be through People Empowerment for the People by the People to be self reliant rather than relying heavily on hand outs which usually weakens the brain power of intelligent people with talent to work towards their own destiny.
► The Adelbert conservation cooperative model demonstrates people empowered to leverage conservation and sustainable forest management by complying to their land use management plans and producing a commodity (cocoa) that is organically grown and has a story and the story is, “ cocoa is grown organically by conservation communities who have developed and implementing land use management plans and have setside conservation areas legislated under environmental and conservation law” Funds generated will contribute towards sustaining conservation efforts and pay for social development projects to improve livelihood.
8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
► The government of PNG through PNG Forest Authority and Office of the Climate change and Environment sustainability should select the Adelbert project area as a REDD/REDD+ demonstration area and conduct initial project status analysis as per IPCC guidelines and CCBS standars to determine requirements to be meet to qualify for REDD or REDD+ project.
► A follow up project using experiences and lessons learned needs to be developed by the government through PNGFA and DEC to combine REDD+ and biodiversity conservation and this project should comprise of three main components: These components should be 1. Enhancement of livelihoods, 2. Carbon accounting and carbon conservation 3. Biodiversity conservation.
► The follow up project proposal need to be developed by government taking the lead the partners, (TNC and others) contributing and the project site would not necessary be Adelberts alone, but also look at other sites example, grassland reforest in central, FPCD sites, VDT site in Madang and Ramu Block 2, Yasitu Natres.
► The Project Steering Committee recommended that Project Management prepares a submission to the National Forest Board to inform them of the project completion and also for the board to recognize successes, lessons learned and challenges and see how the tools and processes could be used to assist the government in its efforts to develop National framework for REDD/REDD+.
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ANNEX 1: IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
Output/ Responsible Schedule (in months)
Activities Party 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Output 1
1.1 Consult, agree and sign Project Manager, Almami LLG & Almami Clan conservation agreements Leaders
1.2 Identify and incorporate Conservation Planner/ Officer, Almami LLG, biodiversity priorities in land use and Ward Councillors & Almami Clan Leaders management plans
1.3 Community planning processes to Conservation/Planner Officer, Almami Clan prepare management plans Leaders & Community
1.4 Development of sustainable Project Manager, CCD Facilitators & Almami finance strategies LLG
1.5 Conduct Institutional Self Project Manager, Almami LLG, Ward councillors Assessment and training and Ward development comm.
1.6 Establish partnerships with other Project Manager /Partnership coordinator local groups
Output 2
2.1 Identify and apply successful Project Manager /Mainstreaming coordinator community entry and engagement approaches with partners
2.2 Review of national provincial GoPNG/ Mainstream Coord (PNG Forest policy and legislation Authority, PNG ITTO committee)
2.3 Consolidate lessons and develop Mainstreaming Coordinator/ Local universities effective tools for resource-owner and National Experts based conservation
2.4 Identify and establish compatible Mainstreaming Coordinator/Business business opportunities and micro- Development consultant credit scheme.
2.5 Identify and map priority sites and Project Manager (National Forest Service, WWF design a mainstreaming program and Conservation International)
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2.6 Review progress, lessons and Project Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation measures to improve project output team delivery & independently evaluate project outputs
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ANNEX 2: CONSERVATION AGREEMENT SIGNING PHOTOS
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ANNEX 3: MAP of Conservation areas
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ANNEX 4: Project Audited Financial Statements
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