Bruce Beehler / Conservation International

Tree kangaroo conservation program

2008 Annual Report Bruce Beehler / Conservation International contents

2 background

4 YEAR IN REVIEW

6 CONSERVATION

10 research

13 COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION

14 EDUCATION

16 health

17 other news

21 Acknowledgements

23 YUS conservation area map BACKGROUND  T K cp: 2 cp: The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program 008 A 008 fosters wildlife and habitat conservation nn u a

l R and supports local community livelihoods in epor Papua New Guinea through global partnerships, t land protection, and scientific research.

The Tree Kangaroo Conservation ranges, thus preserving a Program Goals: Program (TKCP) is partnering with complete altitudinal spectrum 1. Create the first officially local landowners on the Huon of Huon Peninsula habitats recognized Conservation Area Peninsula in Papua New Guinea free from resource extraction. (CA) on the Huon Peninsula in (PNG) to create and manage the The Matschie’s tree kangaroo Papua New Guinea. country’s first Conservation Area (Dendrolagus matschiei), which 2. Establish a Community- encompassing over 150,000 acres is endemic to the region and has Based Organization (CBO) of cloud forest and Matschie’s important cultural significance that provides long-term tree kangaroo habitat. TKCP for the local indigenous people, management for the CA works within the YUS Local serves as a flagship species and improves the livelihood Level Government in Morobe for the program. In addition to opportunities of local Province, PNG. YUS stands for conservation and research, TKCP communities. the three main watersheds in is establishing a Community the area: Yopno, Uruwa, and Based Organization within 3. support long-term Som. The population of YUS is Papua New Guinea to manage management and financial approximately 10,000 with over the Conservation Area. The sustainability of the CBO. 35 villages. The local people ongoing community improvement 4. Facilitate ecological and own all of the land in the YUS efforts include education projects social monitoring of the area, 150,000 acres of which was and scholarships as well as an CA and promote scientific pledged to the Conservation expanding healthcare initiative research. Area for protection. The people in villages called “Healthy 5. Build local capacity to address of YUS are subsistence farmers Village, Healthy Forests”. All of conservation, education, and hunters who rely on the land these components include a high healthcare, and other and understand the importance degree of capacity building for community needs. of protecting the forest and Papua New Guineans, including 6. Disseminate lessons learned wildlife. The YUS Conservation PNG university students, village through a global network to Area (CA) extends from sea research assistants, and members support community-based level to 4,000-meter mountain of the YUS community. conservation in Papua New Guinea and act as a model for other conservation programs. B 3

Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Staff ackgro u n d Dr. Lisa Dabek Susan O’Neil TKCP Director and Director TKCP Coordinator at of Field Conservation at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, Washington, USA. Washington, USA.

Toby Ross Sue Tallarico Conservation & Research Capacity Building & Manager in Cairns, Training Manager in Australia. Cairns, Australia.

Ruby Yamuna Gabriel Porolak PNG Program Research & Conservation Coordinator in Lae, Coordinator in Lae, Papua Papua New Guinea. New Guinea.

Karau Kuna, Jr. Danny Samandingke Mapping Coordinator in Education Coordinator, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Teptep village, Papua New Guinea

Dono Ogate Conservation Officer for Uruwa, Yawan village, Papua New Guinea. TREE KANGAROO CONSERVATION PROGRAM YEAR IN REVIEW ittermeier / Conservation International . M ussell A R Y 5 ear in revie in ear w

Highlights of 2008

» Papua New Guinea National » TKCP Education Coordinator, » Health patrols are conducted Government approves the YUS Danny Samandingke of Teptep in all three regions of YUS Conservation Area, officially Village in YUS, graduates from — Yopno, Uruwa and Som, protecting over 150,000 acres the University of Goroka, PNG with Village Birth Attendant of tropical forest and tree with a Bachelor’s of Education (midwife) training completed in kangaroo habitat. and assumes full responsibility Yawan village. as the Education Coordinator. » TKCP staff works with local » TKCP staff works with landowners to start creation » TKCP Research & Conservation community representatives to of the YUS Conservation Coordinator in PNG, Gabriel start the YUS Village Library Organization, a community- Porolak, completes his Master’s Initiative, with the goal of based organization tasked thesis on tree kangaroo home establishing libraries in each with managing the protected range and habitat use from YUS village primary school. area, healthcare and education James Cook University in » Ruby Yamuna is hired as PNG projects, and capacity building Australia. Program Coordinator, officially in YUS villages. » Three YUS students graduate opening a TKCP office in Lae, » Woodland Park Zoo and from Balob Teachers College PNG. Conservation International in Lae, PNG as part of the » Seattle-based TKCP partner to ensure long term TKCP Teacher Scholarship Coordinator Susan O’Neil funding for management of the Program in collaboration with is selected as a Kinship YUS Conservation Area via a the YUS LLG, and are assigned Conservation Fellow in 2008. Conservation Trust. to teaching positions at YUS village schools. » Drs. Russ Mittermeier, President, and Bruce Beehler, Senior Research Scientist, of Conservation International visit the Wasaunon field site and Yawan Village. » German Development Bank representatives visit TKCP and YUS villages. » Exclusive WPZ-CI event featuring the TKCP Conservation Trust and Pulitzer Prize-Winning author and scientist Dr. Jared Diamond is held in Seattle, Washington.

read on for details about these 2008 highlights and accomplishments. CONSERVATION

YUS village and landscape of YUS Conservation Area  conserva YUS Conservation Area approved by PNG

Government t ion

After over a decade of working While Papua New Guinea has gazettal on national maps, with PNG officials at the local, other types of protected areas, corporations and prospectors will provincial and national level, mostly Wildlife Management know that this area is off-limits and following all steps of the Areas, and a few national parks, to large scale extraction such as Conservation Areas Act of 1978, the Conservation Areas Act of logging and mining. CI’s Global TKCP, Conservatin International, 1978 allows for the highest form Conservation Fund (GCF) has the Department of Environment & of protection available in the generously supported this work Conservation and the people of country. Yet until now, this Act since 2002 which allowed TKCP to YUS finally succeeded in gaining had never been utilized in PNG. successfully take the time needed official approval of the YUS Under the Act, both wildlife and to work with the YUS community Conservation Area (CA). Approval habitat are protected. TKCP to create a sustainable and new by the Ministers who make up worked with the PNG Department type of protected area in PNG. the PNG National Executive of Environment & Conservation, Committee was finalized during CI, the Morobe Provincial As the first designation in the their last meeting of 2008. The YUS government, the Minister for the country under the Conservation CA passed the governing body Environment, and numerous other Areas Act, the YUS CA will with firm support. The people of partners and advisors in PNG on serve as a model for future YUS are incredibly proud of their gaining final approval through conservation efforts in PNG. conservation success and of being the national government of PNG. In collaboration with the PNG the first in PNG to create a CA. Because the land remains in the Department of Environment & TKCP is now able to move forward ownership of the local people, Conservation and CI, TKCP will with helping the YUS community stewardship and management help other PNG communities and in the next steps of managing and of the YUS Conservation Area non-governmental organizations monitoring the new protected lies in the hands of the YUS by creating a step-by-step area. The Attorney General community with TKCP as an guide for the establishment of signed the YUS Conservation active partner and participant. a Conservation Area. We hope Area into the PNG National The YUS community and TKCP that our work in forging this Gazette on January 9, 2009. are devising the regulations new ground will assist others and management structure for and speed the process to protect enforcing the protection of the additional forests and other area at the local level. Through habitat throughout PNG.

Toby Ross working with community  T K cp: 2 cp: YUS Landowner Workshop 008 A 008 nn u In March, 2008, TKCP staff Toby of the Center for the Support of An example of one of the a l R Ross, Karau Kuna, Susan O’Neil, Native Lands in Washington, rules & associated fine epor and Sue Tallarico worked with D.C. with funding from the Tok Pisin: I tambu long kukim ol t Arthur Ganubella of the PNG National Geographic Society. bus insait long CA. Department of Environment The purpose of the project is English: It is illegal to light forest & Conservation, and Kepslok to document culturally and fires within the CA. Kumilgo of Conservation biologically significant landmarks International-PNG to hold a within YUS according to the Fine: K200.00 (~US$80.00). Landowner Workshop in Isan landowners and villagers using village in YUS. The purpose of the traditional language and symbols. workshop was to draft the YUS Landowners edited and added Conservation Area Management information to the current maps Plan, which will define the rules, for each region of YUS (Yopno, regulations and enforcement Uruwa and Som). These were structure for the YUS Conservation later digitized into a Geographic Area (CA). The draft plan must be Information System and edited approved by all landowners who by Wycliffe Antonio and staff have pledged their land to the at the University of Technology CA as well as the PNG Minister in Lae, PNG. The last round of Landowners presenting management plan for Environment & Conservation. changes made to the maps at the ideas TKCP will continue to draft and workshop in Isan will be formatted revise the plan with input from with the help of cartographers landowners in 2009. at Conservation International’s Atherton, Australia office. The March workshop also served The final maps will be printed as a forum for finalizing the and distributed throughout YUS Indigenous Maps of YUS. The in 2009. Indigenous Mapping project is a collaboration with Mac Chapin Arthur Ganubela of DEC and Kepslock Kumilgo of CI

Landowner Workshop participants — Isan village  conserva Mapping the YUS Fuel wood

Conservation Area alternatives t ion

With initial funding from the U.S. Association for Zoological Horticulture, TKCP began the first steps of a project aimed at reducing the amount of primary (and secondary) forest that is cut and harvested for heating homes, cooking, and building within the villages of YUS. The first step was to conduct surveys throughout YUS to determine how much wood villagers harvest and if they are interested in setting up fast growing tree plots on their land to reduce the impact on the forest. During the Landowner Workshop in Isan village, TKCP staff conducted surveys with landowners from each region of YUS to gather this information. David Selk, Horticulturalist at

Pledged Land Parcels Mapped to Date YUS Conservation Area Woodland Park Zoo, compiled Yopno, Uruwa, Som Region Boundaries the initial surveys and found that there was great community The core protected area of the mapping techniques and together interest in participating in a fast- YUS Conservation Area is an they delineate the boundaries of growing fuel wood project. Some aggregate of smaller parcels the pledged land and document interviewees provided samples of of land pledged by the clans evidence of key wildlife species. the trees that they preferentially of YUS. The pledged lands are choose in the forest for cooking typically pristine forest away In 2008, Kuna and YUS (slow burning) and building (rot from villages, former hunting landowners mapped 786 hectares resistant). This pilot research was grounds, and some areas that (14 land parcels) of land in the YUS critical to determining if this is a were historically “tambu” (or Conservation Area (see map). worthwhile project for TKCP to taboo – not hunted or logged) When added onto the existing undertake in 2009. The surveys by the landowners’ ancestors. area that has been mapped in will continue throughout YUS with While the outside boundary of previous years, these new land landowners from the workshop the YUS CA has been mapped, parcels bring the total mapped conducting additional surveys Karau Kuna Jr, TKCP Mapping area to 21,666 hectares, or about in their villages. In 2009, TKCP Coordinator, is responsible for one third of the YUS Conservation will continue to research species, using GIS technology to map all of Area. In 2009, TKCP will hire work with partner organizations the individual parcels that make trained YUS mapping assistants to conducting similar work, and up the 150,000 plus acres (76,000 work with Kuna and expedite the implement test pilot plots for fast- hectares) of the protected area. mapping process. growing fuel wood in YUS. Kuna trains the landowners on research 10 T K cp: 2 cp: 008 A 008 nn u a l R epor t

Gabriel in the field for tree kangaroo home range study Andrew Krockenberger / James Cook University 11 Tree kangaroo researc

home range & habitat use h

In July of 2008 TKCP Research & populations to sparsely populated Porolak’s tree kangaroo home Conservation Coordinator Gabriel areas. Even in areas with low range research was funded in Porolak defended his thesis hunting pressure, such as the part by the National Geographic “Home range of the Huon tree Wasaunon study site where Society’s Committee on Research kangaroo, Dendrolagus matschiei, TKCP and Porolak collected data, and Exploration. In 2008 TKCP in cloud forest on the Huon hunting may have depressed the staff worked with the Remote Peninsula, PNG” to an audience population below the potential Sensing team at the National at James Cook University made carrying capacity of the habitat Geographic Society (NGS) to up of his advisors, Drs. Andrew thereby resulting in larger home plan a study of tree kangaroo Krockenberger and Lisa Dabek, ranges. Loss of habitat has behavior in the forest canopy. fellow students, and TKCP staff. not historically been a major Using a Crittercam© the animals’ Porolak is now in Lae, PNG threat to this species, but with movements, interactions, and and working full-time as the increasing human population and views of the forest from the TKCP Research & Conservation extraction of forest resources it is animal’s perspective are to be Coordinator. His many seasons increasingly becoming a threat. captured on video and film. in the field and compiling and Fragmentation and loss of habitat Thanks to partial funding from the analyzing years of radio tracking may also influence tree kangaroo NGS Waitt Grant, the team will data are a great success for home range size by changing the test the technology on a captive him personally and for TKCP. distribution of crucial resources animal and hope to deploy the This information will be used to in the environment. Establishing technology in the field on a wild inform management of the YUS current habitat and spatial tree kangaroo in 2009. Conservation Area and expand requirements of tree kangaroos knowledge of Matschie’s (or is a crucial part of protecting Huon) tree kangaroo biology and them from the emerging threat ecology. of habitat loss, allowing better assessment of the minimum size of Porolak found that the Huon tree sustainable conservation reserves kangaroo has the largest home and the size of tree kangaroo range size when compared to populations within them. other studied tree kangaroo species. There are three major The altitudinal/temperature effect Lisa Dabek, Gabriel Porolak, and Andrew Krockenberger in the field factors attributed to the home on plant productivity is another range size of D. matschiei factor that may explain the large including hunting practices, home range size of the Huon tree loss of habitat and the effects of kangaroos. Low plant productivity altitude on plant productivity. at low temperatures associated Hunting tree kangaroos for food with the high altitude of the study and ceremonial reasons, as site could force the Huon tree practiced traditionally in New kangaroo to maintain large home Guinea, has exerted pressures ranges in order to satisfy their on tree kangaroo populations nutritional requirements. and confined higher-density

Core home range of eight female tree kangaroos at Wasaunon field site 1 2 T K cp: 2 cp: Tree kangaroo genetics 008 A 008 nn

u In the US, collaborating scientist captive tree kangaroos do not samples. The genetic identification a l R T.J. McGreevy continued his have as much genetic variation as test they developed reduced the epor work as a Ph.D. candidate at the wild tree kangaroos. For his Ph.D. visual misidentification rate of University of Rhode Island. Under project McGreevy developed identifying tree kangaroo fecal t the direction of Drs. Tom Husband genetic markers to measure samples which will, in turn, and Lisa Dabek, McGreevy the nuclear DNA diversity of greatly reduce the cost and published his master’s thesis captive and wild tree kangaroos. amount of time required to obtain in Zoo Biology on the genetic McGreevy and volunteer Rand genetic samples from wild tree diversity of AZA and wild tree Herron have also developed and kangaroos during TKCP’s field kangaroos. McGreevy et al. found tested the efficacy of a genetic work in the YUS Conservation that analysis of the smaller of two test to determine the species of Area. In 2009 McGreevy plans to genomes – mitochondrial rather origin of wild collected fecal complete his Ph.D. than nuclear DNA, reveals that

Tree kangaroo feeding ecology

The tree kangaroo feeding In August 2008, Valella ecology study made progress in participated in the Ecological 2008 with Patti Valella transferring Society of America annual her Ph.D. program from the meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin University of Denver to Texas State by presenting a poster of her University to work with Dr. Gary research methods. 2009 will Upchurch, a paleobotanist in the bring collaborations with the Department of Biology. Valella Botanical Research Institute of uses the modified techniques of Texas, involved with biodiversity paleobotanists, who extract fossil and conservation work in New plants from rock, to study plant Guinea, and with the Dallas World fragments in tree kangaroo fecal Aquarium who house Matschie’s pellets. Once the undigested tree kangaroos for hands-on work plant fragments are extracted with captive animals. She will from the pellet, she can compare continue to work on a database

them to her reference collection of Papua New Guinea plant BruceBeehler Conservation/ International to determine what plants the tree cuticle, which could be used for Forest plants typically eaten by tree kangaroos are eating. In 2008 she future studies of feeding ecology kangaroos continued to prepare the reference in other species. slide collection of known plant species and began work on a classification system to identifying unknown fragments.

Tasmannia piperita cuticle 200x_Used for feeding ecology study COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION

In 2008 TKCP worked with the During the registration process, Coordinator Gabriel Porolak, YUS community to begin formal the YUS community began and Education Coordinator establishment of a Community- to nominate representatives Danny Samandingke will also Based Organization with to participate in the YUS CO use the office when they are an office in Lae, PNG. To be committees. These committees, not in the field in YUS. TKCP called the YUS Conservation including the Education will continue to hire staff for Organization (YUS CO) this Committee, Conservation the YUS CO in 2009 and work important organization will be Committee, and Health with the committees to ensure responsible for managing the Committee, will direct projects continued success in health, YUS Conservation Area and at the community level and education and conservation overseeing community projects advise the YUS CO staff projects in YUS. in health and education. In April 2008, the TKCP opened TKCP is also working to TKCP worked closely with a new office in Lae, which establish field offices in each Conservation International staff is run by the PNG Program of the three regions of YUS and the local YUS community Coordinator Ruby Yamuna. — Yopno, Uruwa and Som — in to create the constitution for the Yamuna has previous worked 2009. With an office in Lae and YUS CO. Local communities with World Wildlife Fund-PNG in the three regions of YUS, reviewed a draft copy of the and Mama Graun in Port each outfitted with radios and constitution in March. TKCP Moresby, PNG; she started with solar panels, communication began the registration of the TKCP in April 2008. Mapping and coordination with local YUS CO with the PNG National Coordinator Karau Kuna, communities will be greatly Government in 2008. Conservation & Research improved. EDUCATION 14 T K cp: 2 cp: TKCP continues to collaborate 008 A 008 closely with village school

nn headmasters, teachers, local u leaders and villagers to improve a l R education in YUS village schools. epor The TKCP Education Project

t provides materials and teacher training to local communities as well as general education supplies such as paper, chalk, pencils, art supplies, science kits, and library books. Teachers are invited to attend annual education workshops where they receive training, conservation education, and curricula. The current focus on the PNG National Reform Curriculum ensures local teachers and students are meeting national standards. Toby Ross and Sue Tallarico present library books to school and headmaster

In November 2008, TKCP held two, Seven primary schools in YUS On June 5, 2008, TKCP held an five-dayT eacher Workshops in received library books in 2008. Air annual World Environment Day Bungawat Village and Keweng Niugini shipped 26 boxes of used Essay and Logo Contest in YUS. Village respectively. The purpose books donated by school children Students from the YUS community of the workshops was to assist in Cairns, Australia to Lae, PNG wrote poems and essays under the local village teachers to create at no cost. These donated books theme “What Conservation Means hands-on, relevant classroom marked the start of TKCP’s Village to Me and My Community”. They lessons that are integrated Library Initiative. The aim of also created drawings that will be with all subjects taught in YUS the initiative is to establish small, used in creating a logo to represent village schools and reflect the village-based libraries in each of the YUS Conservation Organization. new national standards. During the seven YUS Primary schools the workshops, teachers created for use by school children and Thanks to a 2008 grant from Shared lessons while guided by TKCP the local community. TKCP is Earth Foundation, TKCP education staff. These lessons will be appreciative of the support and and management staff will be able combined into a booklet that will assistance by Air Niugini. to visit the Hutan / Kinabatangan then be distributed to all teachers Orangutan Conservation Program in YUS schools. In December 2008, three YUS (KOCP) in Sabah, Malaysia in students who were sponsored by 2009. This trip will be Education As part of the 2008 workshops, a TKCP’s Teacher Scholarships Coordinator Danny Samandingke’s needs assessment was conducted graduated from Balob Teachers first visit outside of PNG. KOCP with representatives from each College and were placed in and TKCP share similar goals primary school in YUS. TKCP YUS schools for the 2009 school and structure and have greatly will work with the schools as well year. Three more students from benefited from mutual information as the Provincial and District YUS have been selected for exchange over the past several Education Department to address sponsorship by TKCP to attend years. The 2009 trip follows up on these needs in the upcoming Balob Teachers College in 2009. a valuable 2007 Conservation years. Education Exchange in which KOCP staff visited TKCP in Papua New Guinea. Congratulations 15 e du ca t ion

Teachers of Bungawat School at 2008 Teacher Workshop

Congratulations to TKCP Education Coordinator Danny Samandingke in completing his Bachelors degree at the University of Goroka, PNG. Danny is now working full- time as the TKCP Education Coordinator. Thanks to many zoos, foundations, and individuals who helped TKCP to sponsor Danny as he gained critical skills and built on his Winners of 2008 conservation essay and logo competitions experience for leading the Education Project in YUS.

YUS Conservation Organization logo compeition entries health 16 T K cp: 2 cp: 008 A 008 nn u a l R epor t Jeff Backer

The communities in the most series in Yawan village. The Support from the Wyco Fund, remote areas of PNG, including Yawan workshop was a success, Chinook Medical Gear, and the YUS LLG where TKCP with 36 participants receiving Drs. Nancy Philips and Blair conducts its work, receive few continued training and medical Brooks allowed TKCP to start the health services and supplies kits. TKCP will sponsor another Immunization Initiative in 2008, from the PNG government. For VBA workshop in 2009 as well as with an emphasis on immunizing this reason, TKCP has been workshops in family planning, children in YUS under 5 years collaborating with the National, health/hygiene, and nutrition. of age. In 2009, TKCP will install Provincial and District level Health three solar refrigerators in Health Departments in creating the TKCP In 2008, TKCP also sponsored Centers in each region of YUS. Health Project — Healthy Village, health patrols in each of the three The refrigerators will allow for Healthy Forest. The project YUS regions. Working with Dr. increased treatment of the local supports Provincial and District Gerard Saleu from the Institute community by keeping cold priorities and raises funds to for Medical Research (IMR) in doses of vital medications and support the YUS Aid Posts, Health Goroka, PNG, the TKCP Health vaccinations. Centers, and health care workers Project provided funding and in treating the local landowners coordination for doctors and In 2009, TKCP also will begin and community. TKCP currently dentists to conduct patrols in YUS. a scholarship program for provides supplies and sponsors 2008 health patrols took place Community Health Workers. To trainings such as Village Birth throughout YUS in the regions of address a shortage of trained Attendant (VBA) Workshops for Som (July 22-29), Yopno (October Community Health Workers midwife training in the villages. 4-11), and Uruwa (November 22- in the YUS villages, TKCP will 29), successfully bringing medical sponsor YUS students to attend In 2008, TKCP sponsored treatment to more than 1,000 Community Health Worker School the Kabwum District Health local community members and for future placement in local YUS Department to finnish aVillage vaccinating hundreds of children. Health Centers and Aid Posts. Birth Attendant Workshop other news 18 T K cp: 2 cp: TKCP Conservation Trust launched with 008 A 008 event featuring Dr. Jared Diamond nn u a l R epor In 2008, Conservation expert Dr. Jared Diamond, author International (CI) announced a of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Guns, t generous $1 million challenge Germs and Steel. Dr. Diamond from the CI Global Conservation discussed the importance of Fund. Combined with matching TKCP’s work and the efforts to funds, the goal of this challenge create the first Conservation Area is to create a $2 million in PNG. Diamond, along with Conservation Trust for managing CI Senior Research Scientist Dr. the protected area. Conservation Bruce Beehler, WPZ President International and Woodland Park and CEO Dr. Deborah Jensen, CI Zoo (WPZ) are partnering to raise Chairman Peter Seligmann, and these funds. The Conservation TKCP Director Dr. Lisa Dabek Trust and the unique partnership emphasized the importance of between CI and WPZ were long-term funding for protected announced at an exclusive event areas. Long-term funding hosted by Nathan Myhrvold and through the Conservation Trust Rosemarie Havranek in Seattle, will finance the management Washington. Held on Earth Day, of the new protected area and April 22, 2008, the event featured community livelihood projects. scientist, and Papua New Guinea

Carbon Markets and the University of Washington

TKCP had the assistance of funding of the YUS Conservation Andrea Cuccaro, graduate Area. At the end of two quarters, student at the Evans School of with guidance from her UW Public Affairs at the University faculty advisor, Dr. Dan Carlson, of Washington in 2008. Cuccaro and TKCP’s Susan O’Neil, Cuccaro WPZ CEO Deborah Jensen and Jared researched the rules and delivered a thorough document Diamond at TKCP Event. regulations of carbon trading on the background and details of Photos by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. to help TKCP determine the trading carbon credits which has feasibility of using the carbon been shared with colleagues in market as a mechanism for future Seattle, PNG, and elsewhere. 19 German Development Bank visits YUS o in th er ne er w s

Katja Trinks, Bruce Beehler, Marcus Stewen and Lisa Dabek on a village trail Team from German Development Bank with gifts from YUS community

In 2008, TKCP and Conservation to assess species and community meetings so that the team could International (CI) hosted an range shifts in response to climate talk to villagers about TKCP work assessment team from the change. in YUS. The team also met with German Development Bank Morobe Provincial representatives (KfW). The purpose of the visit To conduct their assessment, KfW including Governor Luther was to assess the project for representatives Marcus Stewen, Wenge and representatives potential funding. A climate Hubertus Kraienhorst, and Katja from the PNG Department of change initiative from the German Trinks accompanied TKCP staff Environment & Conservation. KfW Ministry for the Environment Toby Ross, Sue Tallarico, Ruby representatives were impressed could provide funds for the YUS Yamuna, and Lisa Dabek, along with the conservation work in Conservation Organization, with CI representative Dr. Bruce YUS and TKCP’s collaborative allowing for improvements Beehler, to the remote YUS work with the local community, in the quality of life in YUS villages of Yawan and Towet. government officials, and CI. The communities. Funds from KfW Here, the team was introduced to team gave CI and TKCP their could also support a carbon the many facets of TKCP projects endorsement for submitting a full content analysis of the forest, including conservation, research, proposal for German LifeWeb fast-growing fuel wood plots, and education, and community health. Initiative funding through KfW. long-term altitudinal monitoring The villages held community 2 0 T K cp: 2 cp: Conservation International President & Senior

008 A 008 Research Scientist visit Wasaunon Field Site nn u a l R

epor The 2008 field season included a visit to the Wasaunon research t site with Dr. Russ Mittermeier, President of Conservation International, his son Mickey, and Dr. Bruce Beehler, CI Senior Scientist and author of Birds of New Guinea. They spent three days at the YUS field site with Lisa Dabek, TKCP staff and YUS landowners. They tracked “Trish”, the radio-collared tree kangaroo and spent hours observing her and her joey, and also saw long- beaked echidna, mountain cuscus (possum), birds of paradise, and other spectacular birds. Dono Lisa Dabek, Dr. Russ Mittermeier and son, Micky, with YUS field team Ogate, TKCP Conservation Officer, YUS landowner, and community leader, led the local YUS field team who found many animals to show the visitors the diverse and endemic species that will be protected in the YUS Conservation Area. Mittermeier remarked at how impressed he was with the dedication of the YUS landowners for their stewardship of the protected area. Dr. Bruce Beehler signs Birds of New Long beaked echidna at Wasaunon Guinea for Dono Ogate in Yawan village field site

Conservation Fellowship Awarded

Susan O’Neil, TKCP Coordinator and around the world to learn as China, Bangladesh, Namibia based at the Woodland Park about market-based approached and Illinois. The month was Zoo, was selected as a 2008 for solving conservation spent learning about economic Kinship Conservation Fellow. challenges. Susan spent four principles, carbon trading, product The goal of this prestigious weeks on the campus of Western certifications, livelihood initiatives fellowship is to gather emerging Washington University with 17 for local people, and program conservation leaders from the US other fellows from places such management and planning. Acknowledgements 2 1

In 2008, Woodland Park Zoo’s TKCP activities and the ackno TKCP Conservation Trust were supported by the following: wl e d gemen

Above $100,000 t Conservation International s

$20,000 to $50,000 Shared Earth Foundation Margie Wetherald and Len Barson Cammi and Jeff Libby Anonymous

$5,000 to $20,000 Columbus Zoological Park National Geographic Society Robert Plotnick & Gay Jensen Conservation, Food & Health Foundation

$1,000 to $5,000 Calgary Zoological Society Chinook Medical Gear, Inc. Cleveland Zoological Society Kangaroo Conservation Center Katie McGrath/Microsoft corporate match Robert and Marti Liddell Marsupial & Monotreme Taxon Advisory Group Milwaukee County Zoo New Mexico BioPark Society/ Albuquerque Zoo Oregon Zoo Pittsburgh Zoo & PGG Aquarium

Riverbanks Zoo Society Roger Williams Roger Williams Park Zoo Park Zoo Sedgwick County Zoo St. Louis Zoological Park Utah’s Hogle Zoo

Up to $1,000 W. Blair Brooks & Nancy Philips Santa Fe Community College Forth Worth AAZK Sarah Brooks Oaklawn Farm Zoo Anonymous Sylvia Tompkins Special thanks Special thanks to Nathan Myhrvold and Rosemarie Havranek for hosting the TKCP Conservation Trust event with featured speaker Dr.Jared Diamond on Earth Day 2008. 22 T

K In 2008 Conservation International not only joined TKCP for many achievements in PNG, Australia and the cp: 2 cp: US, but also generously funded TKCP’s work through their Global Conservation Fund, Melanesia regional 008 A 008 program, Critically Endangered Species Fund and sponsored the collaboration for funding from the German

nn Development Bank. u a l R epor Thank you to our other partners in the US, PNG and Australia t

Binatang Research Center

PNG Department of Environment & Conservation Bas-A-Nova Transport Morobe Provincial Government Kiunga Aviation and North Coast Aviation Kabwum District Government Air Niugini YUS Local Level Government Councilors The Leahy Family PNG National Herbarium/Forest Research Institute Drs. Blair Brooks and Nancy Philips Balob Teachers College Carol and Bruce Hosford Teachers, Headmasters and School Board Members of YUS Dr. Bruce Beehler YUS Education Committee Dr. Carol Esson YUS Landowner Committee Dr. Andrew Krockenberger Mapping and Wasaunon field teams

To donate to TKCP for annual support for the Conservation Trust

Please contact Susan O’Neil, TKCP Coordinator, Woodland Park Zoo, 601 North 59th Street, Seattle, Washington, USA T: (206) 548-2622 F: (206) 547-6962 E: [email protected] W: www.zoo.org/support Papua new guinea 2 3 ackno wl e d gemen t s

yus conservation area

0 5 10 15 kilometers

Major Villages Rivers pledged YUS Conservation Area 2 4 T K cp: 2 cp: 008 A 008 nn u a l R epor t

Tree kangaroo conservation program

US office: Woodland Park Zoo, 601 North 59th Street, Seattle, Washington 98103, USA T: (206) 548-2622 F: (206) 547-6962 E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

Australia office: Australian Tropical Forest Institute, James Cook University P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia E: [email protected] E: [email protected]

PNG office: P.O. Box 360, Lae, Morobe Province, PNG E: [email protected]

W: www.zoo.org/conservation/treeroo