CONSERVATION AREA LIVE LINK

Formerly called CASOLINK A newsletter for Conservation Areas in the Pacific Issue no 1 ISSN 1562-4935

CONTENTS Taking the first steps to save our disappearing Pacific birds

1 Taking the first steps Greg Sherley Project Officer, Avifauna Conservation and Invasive Species for saving our disappearing It is sad but true - and has been acknowledged and recognised for a long time - Pacific birds the birds of the Pacific are disappearing, and at an alarming rate. Recently, a Greg Sherley group of people with different backgrounds but all with the common thread of knowledge, interest and commitment to saving the birds, met to address the 7 From the Manager myriad of problems facing Polynesian birds. This was in the form of a sub- Joe Reti regional avifauna conservation workshop for Polynesia, held in Rarotonga, on 26-30 April, 1999. 8 Working on the It was the first of three planned for SPREP Pacific island member countries, convened by Crown-of-thorns SPREP. Future workshops are planned for the Micronesian and Melanesian sub-regions in the Eradication Project Year 2000. Charlene Mersai Twenty five people attended, with one representa- 8 Turtles in Vanuatu and the Non governmental organisation representa- tive each from most of the 10 Polynesian countries, Peter Walker tives involved. as well as representatives from NGOs in the sub- A stimulating field trip was held in the Takitumu Con- 9 Conservation Area region with interest in bird conservation. Four servation Area whose focus is the conservation of Summaries Polynesian ornithologist specialists were invited to the Rarotongan Flycatcher (see picture below). This provide advice and assist with facilitation. This group 10 Staff Changes in project exemplifies good species recovery practice included Drs’ Rod Hay and Hugh Robertson of New Takitimu Conservation in the Pacific. Zealand Department of Conservation; Dr Dick Area Watling from Fiji and Dr David Baker-Gabb from Ian Karika The workshop was opened by Dorice Reid, Te Tika Australia. NZ’s Department of Conservation gener- Mataiapo, who gave an inspiring speech relating 11 Peacemaking - the ously allowed the workshop time free of charge as spirituality and traditions of Cook Island people and Conservation Dividend did the others. BirdLife International sent two rep- their birds to modern day conservation issues and Tamarii Tutangata resentatives and funded the fares of the specialists techniques. 12 Community-driven A mature Kakerori, found only on Rarotonga, like many polynesian birds this species is unique but endangered Biological Surveys Do Work Larry Orsak

14 The Story of Ikataea A story from Tuvalu

16 El Nino Drought Destruction: The Death of Papua New Guinea’s McAdam National Park Larry Orsak & Lawong Balun

SPREP 1South PacificCALL RegionalNewsletter Environment Programme Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 The aims of the Polynesian understanding of the needs and benefits of Avifauna Workshop conserving birds and their habitats. 5 Capacity building and involvement 1 To review the 1991 South Pacific Regional To provide training and support for communi- Bird Conservation Programme Plan for Action. ties and other stakeholders to implement the 2 Other main topics covered involved discus- strategy. sions on criteria for assessing the importance 6 Legal Framework of avifauna conservation projects, and decid- To provide models of appropriate policies and ing on priority avifauna conservation projects legislation that take into account traditional on the basis of species, localities and proc- customs and international agreements. esses (threats, generic issues).

1 2 South Pacific Regional Bird Conservation Priority Avifauna Conservation Projects Programme Plan for Action decided by the workshop This plan was originally developed by the The workshop was divided into the same three Avifauna Working Group at the SPREP Biodiversity groups as reviewed the Regional Bird Conserva- Workshop held in Port Vila, Vanuatu on 24-28 Oc- tion Programme Plan for Action (it was discussed tober 1991. This plan was reviewed and updated whether to regroup but the concensus was to stick at this workshop. Three groups reviewed the first to the status quo) and priority topics were identi- two pages of the existing plan then submitted their fied based on the following categories: improvements to the whole workshop. Changes 1 single species, were agreed and compiled for future submission to the other workshops (Melanesia and Micronesia). 2 important bird localities, and The work programme described in the 1991 plan 3 processes, threats and regional topics. was not reviewed because, in effect, this was go- ing to be done by the workshop in establishing pri- The groups reported their topics to the workshop orities. These priorities have been included for your which reviewed and ranked them subjectively (high, information later, as they are relevant for the whole medium and low). As a second tier of recording Pacific situation - not just the Polynesian countries. importance the workshop noted whether a high pri- ority project was “urgent” or “less urgent”. The Goal Priority projects for species and locations were The goal of the 1991 Regional Bird Conservation grouped for each country while projects in the third Programme Plan for Action is: category above were listed separately. The projects were presented as short “project briefs” which in- To ensure the appropriate management of cluded statements answering the following ques- birds and their habitats in order to recover tions: threatened species and to conserve all other indigenous bird species. 1 What is the problem, 2 What is the justification for the project, and The Objectives 3 What are the immediate actions required to 1 Information redress the problem. To compile and obtain information on birds, their habitats and conservation status, and Ranking Criteria make it available in appropriate forms. The workshop discussed criteria which they con- 2 Bird Surveys sidered important in assessing the importance of a To identify priority species and, where conservation project for funding. The following cri- necessary, to carry out surveys to assess and teria are singly or in combination essential and must monitor their conservation status. be addressed by any project: 3 Species Management ❚ Cultural significance, and/or To develop and implement species recovery ❚ Conservation or scientific status. and management plans for those species and areas whose conservation or management is Discussions were held that identified and speci- a priority. fied further details (that fell into the above required criteria) needed for funding, this also included dis- 4 Public Education and Publicity cussing the pros and cons of flagship species. To develop and implement an education and Overall, it was decided that funding should always publicity programme which promotes public ensure some funds went to single species, indi-

2 CALL Newsletter vidual locations and generic issues such as rat Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Participants from the Rarotonga Bird Workshop

eradication methods. The project briefs for bird con- tries feel about conserving their birds and what were servation projects are recorded in the workshop If readers would like their issues; and I was left with a clear mandate of proceedings which are available from the author. priority projects for funding. Since the workshop, copies of the Issues comments on the proceedings have been received, and Options Paper for Summary improvements made, and the revised version dis- the conservation of Judging by the questionnaires, the workshop was tributed to participating countries. Also three birds in Polynesia or considered a success by participants. Improvements projects have received funding : Kakerori in the workshop for the future will include better direction in setting Rarotonga, Tahitian Flycatcher in Tahiti and Kaka preoceedings, these ranking criteria and more disciplined timetabling. in Tonga. Others likely to receive assistance include are available from the From my point of view I was delighted with the out- Nina Fo’ou megapode education and monitoring author. comes: I learnt more about how Polynesian coun- and a Polynesian bird guide. ([email protected]) Many of the topics The Kakerori Recovery Programme covered are relevant to ❚ Melanesia and Micro- Greg Sherley took the following photographs dur- controlling the main predator of the birds - Ship Rats, nesia. Proceedings of ing the workshop field trip. They are pictures of the ❚ the Workshop will be endangered Kakerori or Rarotongan Flycatcher colour banding birds during the annual which is unique to the Rarotonga Cook Islands. The published on SPREP’s Kakerori census, and Kakerori recovery Programme had brought the website. ❚ monitoring and recording nesting success of population back from 29 birds in 1989 to 181 in 1999. the birds. (http:/ The successful programme includes: www.sprep.org.ws). Other research activities include testing for bird disease.

3 CALL Newsletter Weighing the bird with a Pesola scale, the condition of the bird may be assessed Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Standard measurements such as bill length may allow sexing individuals on the basis of these measurements

Colour-banding allows individual recognition and gathering quality information on demography in the future

Blood samples from the brachial artery. Tests for parasites and disease will allow assessments of the risk of translocating if birds are moved to form a new population

4 CALL Newsletter Data collection complete: colour banded, blood Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 sampled and measurements taken Setting the scene - bird conservation status in Polynesia

The following rankings of Polynesian species are likely to be reported in Birds to Watch 3 (Bird Life International, in preparation) and are defined using IUCN ‘threatened’ categories. The lack of accurate survey information means these rankings are probably conservative estimates, unfortunately the real situation is probably much worse.

Island Group/Species Status Summary (IUCN categories)

Pitcairn Island/Henderson Island Henderson Petrel (Pterodroma atrata) Vulnerable Henderson Island - 5 vulnerable species Henderson crake (Porzana atra) Vulnerable Pitcairn Island - 1 vulnerable species Henderson fruit-dove (Ptilinopus insularis) Vulnerable Pitcairn Group - 6 vulnerable species Henderson lorikeet (Vini stepheni Vulnerable Henderson reed warbler (Acrocephalus taiti) Vulnerable Pitcairn reed warbler (Acrocephalus vaughani) Vulnerable

Tonga, Niuafo’ou Island Malau Niuafo’ou Scrubfowl Endangered Niuafo’ou Island/Tonga - 1 endangered species

Samoa Savai’i Island Samoan Moorhen Critical, possibly Savai’i Island (Gallinula pacifica) extinct 1 critical, 1 endangered, 3 vulnerable Tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris) Endangered Upolu Island - 1 endangered, 3 vulnerable Samoan flycatcher (Myiagra albiventris) Vulnerable Various islands - 1 vulnerable Samoan white eye (Zosterops samoensis) Vulnerable Mao (Gymnomyza samoensis) Vulnerable Seu-ta-peau (Samoan storm petrel, Probably Samoa Nesofregetta moestissima) vulnerable 1 critical, 1 endangered, 4 vulnerable

American Samoa Gallicolumba stairi, Vini australis, All at least locally Manu’a Group Porzana tabuensis and Clytorhyncus vitiensis vulnerable (not at 3 at least locally vulnerable, 1 locally critical Seabirds nesting in the montane forest a global level may be threatened as well. sensu, Birds to Watch 3) with the exception of P. tabuensis which may be extinct in American Samoa but not elsewhere in the Pacific.

Tuamotu archipelago (French Polynesia) Tuamotu sandpiper (Prosobonia cancellata) Endangered Makatea Island - 1 critical, 2 vulnerable Polynesian ground-dove Critical Tuamotu (Gallicolumba e. erythroptera; G.e.pectoralis) 1 endangered, 1 critical, 1 vulnerable Makatea fruit-dove (Ptilinopus chalcurus) Vulnerable Niau Island - 1 vulnerable

5 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Island Group/Species Status Summary (IUCN categories)

Polynesian imperial pigeon (Ducula aurorae) Vulnerable Northern atolls - 1 vulnerable Blue lorikeet (Vini peruviana) Vulnerable Tuamotu archipelago 1 critical, 1 endangered, 4 vulnerable Tuamotu kingfisher (Todirhamphus gambieri) Vulnerable

Society Islands (French Polynesia) Polynesian ground-dove Critical Tahiti Island (Gallicolumba e. erythroptera; G.e.pectoralis) 1 critical, 1 endangered, 2 vulnerable Polynesian imperial pigeon (Ducula aurorae) Vulnerable Motu One Island - 1 vulnerable Blue lorikeet (Vini peruviana) Vulnerable Manuae Island - 1 vulnerable Tahiti swiftlet (Collocalia leucophaeus) Endangered Society Islands 1 critical, 1 endangered, 3 vulnerable Tahiti reed warbler (Acrocephalus caffer) Vulnerable Tahiti monarch (Pomarea nigra) Critical

Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) Marquesan ground-dove Endangered Hatuta’a Island - 1 endangered (Gallicolumba rubescens) Marquesan imperial pigeon (Ducula galeata) Critical Fatu Huku Island - 1 endangered Ultramarine lorikeet (Vini ultramarina) Endangered Nuku Hiva Island - 1 critical, 1 endangered Iphis monarch (Pomarea iphis) Vulnerable Marquesan Monarch (Pomarea mendozae) Endangered Ua Pou Island - 1 endangered Fatuhiva monarch (Pomarea whitneyi) Vulnerable Ua Huka Island 1 endangered, 1 vulnerable Fatu Hiva Island 1 endangered, 1 vulnerable Mohotani Island - 1 endangered Marquesas Islands 1 critical, 3 endangered, 2 vulnerable

Austral Islands (French Polynesia) Rimatara - Kuhl’s Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) Endangered Rapa Island - 1 vulnerable/ endangered Rapa fruit-dove (Ptilinopus huttoni) (Rapa Island) Vulnerable, poss. endangered Rimatara Island reed warbler Vulnerable Austral Islands (Acrocephalus rimatarae) 1 endangered, 1 vulnerable Acknowledgements

Joanna Sim helped Cook Islands with the article Cook Islands fruit dove (Ptilinopus rarotongensis) Vulnerable Rarotonga Island Anna Tiraa and Ruta 1 endangered, 2 vulnerable Couper (SPREP) with Blue lorikeet (Vini peruviana) Vulnerable organising the work- Atiu swiftlet (Collocalia sawtelli) Vulnerable Atui Island - 2 vulnerable shop Mangaia kingfisher (Todirhamphus ruficollaris) Vulnerable Aitutaki Island - 1 vulnerable Rod Hay, Hugh Rarotonga monarch (Pomarea dimidiata) Endangered Mangaia Island - 1 vulnerable Robertson, David Baker-Gabb and Dick Rarotonga starling (Aplonis cinerascens) Vulnerable Cook Islands - 1 endangered, 5 vulnerable Watling helped (free of charge) with their Totals for Polynesia Critical - 5 expertise during the Endangered - 9 workshop Vulnerable - 29

6 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Greetings and From the Manager’s Desk welcome to the first issue of the CALL Joe Reti SPBCP Programme Manager

I said in the last issue of CASOLink that this was going to be a busy year for all For those of you who of us in the SPBCP, and how true that has already turned out to be? I could have been regular hardly find time to write this brief report let alone take my much needed and recipients of the long overdue leave! In any case, I do not think the situation is any different for CASOLink, CALL now most of you and… Did I hear anyone complaining? replaces the CASOLink but with a much wider circulation. Progress for Conservation Areas achieved during the last six months of 1999 due to our late announcement of this initiative. So, if you In other words, CALL It is encouraging to hear of impressive progress want to compete for this inaugural award, get on to is not restricted to being made by a number of CAs. Visitation to the implementing those work plans on time and tell us conservation area Takitumu CA in the past few months have exceeded what you have achieved through your quarterly officers under the expectations by an incredible margin, and the CACC reports. And don’t forget to send those reports in SPBCP but is also has taken necessary steps to ensure self-reliance on time. available to others who for the project past the SPBCP era. In the mean- are working in conser- time, kakerori populations continue to increase Pacific Conservation Network vation programmes pointing to the success of the rat eradication pro- especially within the gramme. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to issue an open invitation to all our colleagues who, like Pacific region. And if The Komarindi Eco-trek project is continuing to you are wondering us, are working hard to protect and conserve natu- make steady progress with the backing of the com- ral resources in the Pacific island countries to join what CALL stands for, munities and the Department of Forests, Environ- us in the Pacific Conservation Network we have it is: ment and Conservation. A number of tour guides now launched. from the communities have been selected and Conservation trained and an Eco-tourism Management Plan for The Pacific Conservation Network idea was Area the CA is being prepared. adopted by resolution of the 1997 Conference on Nature Conservation (Pohnpei, FSM) which called Live Despite the resignation of the CASO, Semi Lotawa, on SPREP “to develop and service a Pacific Con- the Koroyanitu CA continues to make progress par- Link servation Network to facilitate the sharing of infor- ticularly in its eco-tourism component with guidance mation, experiences and resources amongst all It is the “living link” and support from the Tourism Resource Consult- conservation area projects and organisations ac- between all those who ants (TRC) under contract to NZODA. New signs tive in the field of community-based conservation are working on conser- and other necessary infrastructure have been set in the Pacific region”. vation issues in the up thereby achieving a “new look” for the CA. Ms. Unaisi Tawake has now been appointed as the new As a first step in the establishment of the network, Pacific region. For CASO and we look forward to working with and we have decided to change the name of the those of you who are supporting her in her work. CASOLink (to avoid misconception that this is a not already on our newsletter for CASOs only) and to expand its dis- mailing list, send us The Vatthe CA has been quick to recover from the tribution to all others who are active in nature con- your postal address damage caused by cyclones Danny and Hella a few servation in the Pacific region. now together with any months ago. Except for the fallen trees, the forest is news or information on reported to have regained its lush, green appear- Expansion of this newsletter ance. Visitations is now back to normal and the com- your projects and you Closer co-operation between those of us working munities are again showing great optimism about will receive a free copy in the field of conservation in the Pacific is enshrined the CA. of future issues. in Objective 6 of the Action Strategy for Nature There are of course many other developments that Conservation in the Pacific Region, and the urgency I have not listed here as you would see from the of the need has been reiterated at successive con- summary of CA achievements reported elsewhere ferences and meetings on nature conservation. in this issue. These achievements are being re- However, while we all agree that it is in our interest corded by the SPBCP Secretariat and will come in to work together more closely and share resources, handy when we carry out evaluation of your projects facilitating this process has been problematic. The later this year. time is now ripe to rejuvenate the idea and the ex- pansion of this newsletter is a first step in that di- Conservation area award rection. The success of the Network is dependent In 1997, the then Deputy Director of SPREP, Mr. on your active participation and support, so please Don Stewart announced a Conservation Area Award register your interest to participate by writing to us under the SPBCP. Unfortunately, we were unable now. to follow up on this initiative due to our extremely I look forward to your participation and support for busy workload. However, I am pleased to say that the Pacific Conservation Network and to your shar- we have been able to revive the idea and will be ing experiences and lessons learned through the giving away the first award at the end of this year. 7 CALL Newsletter CALL newsletter. Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 For this year, the award will be based on progress How to join the Working together on Crown-of-Thorns eradication project Pacific Conservation Charlene Mersai Conservation Area Officer, Rock Islands, Palau Network Just when we thought the Rock cal dive guides to initiate a COTS eradication In order to join the Islands Conservation Area has had project. We are also recruiting volunteers from the Pacific Conservation enough of its share of natural dis- community and so far several individuals have al- Network, all you need asters, another one comes along. ready approached us to offer their assistance to do is provide the Concerned dive guides and gen- The objective of this project is to remove COTS following information eral community members have from high-value areas, where “value” is a function to the SPREP Secre- brought their concerns to Palau Conservation Soci- of the amount and types of live corals present plus tariat. ety (PCS) regarding the unusual abundance of the value of the area for tourism, recreation, etc. crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) seen in the Rock 1. Name of organisa- The two main actions for this project include: tion Islands area. 1. Gather and manage information on locations In February PCS and Koror State conducted quick 2. Type of organisa- and sizes of COTS aggregation. tion (government reconnaissance surveys in a variety of sites among ❚ Gather information from dive guides agency; NGO; the Rock Islands to gauge the extent of damage to through survey cards regional; interna- corals from the recent bleaching event, which re- tional; community sulted from the recent El Nino incident. In addition, ❚ Gather information from PCS and other group; other) we wanted to see if and how badly COTS are threat- observers using uniform survey methods; ening the corals in the area. It was found that the do both before- and after-control surveys 3. Country number of COTS on a given reef was strongly cor- ❚ Maintain data, including a list of surveyed 4. Nature of work related with the amount of live coral - the more live sites prioritized for control carried out in coral, the more COTS. This is not surprising, given 2. Remove COTS Pacific that COTS rely solely on live corals for food. While ❚ Organize and conduct COTS killing trips with 5. Name of contact the healthy reefs had high numbers of COTS, it does not appear to be an “outbreak” of COTS - that is a trained people person in organisa- ❚ tion situation where there is a population explosion. Maintain data on numbers of COTS killed, Rather, it appears that COTS are congregating at by area and effort 6. Postal address of the reefs with more corals. Since there are few reefs Thus far, PCS and Koror State have surveyed 27 your organisation with healthy corals, the number of COTS at healthy sites in the Rock Islands area and have identified (include phone, fax reefs is quite high in some cases, and they there- priority sites. With assistance from dive guides and and email) fore pose a strong threat to the live corals on those community volunteers we are now able to survey reefs. 7. Are you on the more sites and remove COTS from specific sites SPREP mailing list In an attempt to save what live coral we have re- in the Rock Islands Conservation Area much for the CASOLink? maining in the Rock Islands Conservation Area, PCS quicker. 8. Are you willing to and Koror State have enlisted the assistance of lo- share experiences Turtles in Vanuatu: Wan Smol Bag play tours 1996-99 and knowledge with other mem- Peter Walker Director, Wan Smol Bag Theatre bers of the Net- work? The gateway waters to Vanuatu, The larger ones were tagged. On another island Banks & Torres in the north and ten turtles were released but they were too small Aniwa/Aneityum in the south; to be tagged. It was clear in both Banks & Torres these were the targets of the two that people had no idea of the breeding cycle of a turtle play tours this year. Both ar- turtle and they said that now they knew the situa- eas, especially Banks & Torres are tion, they would attempt to change their turtle eat- important marine resources in Vanuatu. ing habits. The group found audiences very respon- sive and interested in the work of the North Efate Health Force Theatre spent 2 weeks in the Banks & monitors work; they were quick to choose their own Torres with Efate turtle monitors, Joseph Kaloran, monitors and their willingness to return the captive accompanying them. The people of these islands turtles showed their enthusiasm to participate in admitted to the group that they ate many turtles & the project. turtles eggs. They also, the group discovered, take turtles as hatchlings and keep them in containers. They say they are not the only creatures eating After seeing the play & talking with the turtle moni- turtles on their island; there is the small problem of tor, the people on the island of Hiu were willing to marine crocodiles and they wanted advice from fish- release the turtles. eries department on how to handle this problem!

continued on page 15 8 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Conservation area summaries 1st quarter January- March 1999

Ha’apai (Tonga)\ will be affected negatively, tion has not been respecting the Hakupu Litter Free Day, and a especially in regard to ecotours - Conservation Area who were in study tour to part of the Conser- Organising painting competitions people have shown interest in turn reprimanded by the CAP vation Area for the students for schools in Ha’apai to produce the tours but the project has and the law a wall mural advised to wait until the situation Students from the Niue High calms down and safety is An increase in advertising (the School carried out a coconut Working closely with ‘Uiha Youth guaranteed hotel and local newspaper) has crab study, which was aided by concerning using empty drums resulted in most of the visitors to Conservation Area staff for rubbish bins and establishing Funafuti (Tuvalu) Tuvalu visiting the Conservation a village nursery to be jointly run Area Both village communities of by ‘Uiha Youth and ‘Uiha The project received a new air Liku-Hakupu have agreed to Women in Development compressor from the Canada Research work in the lagoon has have their Information kiosks Fund been hindered by the boat constructed at the main village People are beginning to fence proving to be inadequate - poor centres, with the Hakupu off their pigs, and some wander- Regular patrols of the Conserva- steering and draining which Committee already starting ing pigs have been shot by tion Area are continuing, a good making it unsafe in rough working on a room for the kiosk police to enforce this sign is that no one was caught weather this quarter Uafato (Samoa) A workshop was held by project Takitumu (Rarotonga) In February after SPBCP visited staff with the Ministry of Agricul- A new CO was employed to A tour guide workshop was held Uafato and a subsequent CACC ture & Forestry on nursery replace one who resigned last in February which had emphasis meeting, to discuss the pig development and management year on bird watching, with partici- problem, it was decided to pants from different islands of implement the Pig Fencing Seven fact sheets have been Komarindi Rarotonga attending Program immediately. This was completed in English and (Solomon Islands) followed by a 3 days survey of Tuvaluan, concerning the Three articles on the Takitumu the village and quotes obtained Conservation Area, turtles, A cross-island tour leadership Conservation Area were for associated costs biodiversity, coconut crabs, fish, training was conducted by terra produced for the newspaper corals and community conserva- firma and was attended by 10 An avifauna survey was carried tion and planning guides from Kusumba and 6 Takitumu Conservation Area out by visiting ornithologist Dr. from Veraboli. This involved the staff conducted a public survey Ulf Beichle over a 3 day period - Radio programme every week guides spending 4 nights in the to see if people supported pearl the results are yet to be pub- on biodiversity conservation bush working out the logistics of farming development on lished the trek, which included deciding Suwarrow Atoll or if they A CACC member from the on interpretational and opera- preferred to maintain it as a Area was cleared on land for tourism department gave a talk tional plans as well as meal, National Wildlife Reserve. Of the construction of a green house on the importance of the evacuation and emergency people surveyed, the vast nursery Conservation Area to a youth plans majority wish to leave it as a group, discussing rules and aims reserve. A submission was of the project at the latest Youth Discussions were held with A community tourism awareness presented to the Cook Island Workshop Forestry personnel to discuss workshop was held at Kusumba Investment Corporation based assisting with tree nursery in March for one day which was on their survey results Held discussions with professor construction conducted by terra firma of Law from Victoria University Associates, Solomon Islands Nature tours were busy this New Zealand about setting up a Sa’anapu/Sataoa (Samoa) visitors Bureau, a travel agent quarter, especially in comparison trust fund for the Conservation and the CASO. It helped give to the same time last year. A part The Conservation Area office Area everyone a better idea of how time guide started working and was officially opened in March, the tourism industry operates in is paid from funds generated which was started with a kava The AVA biodiversity officer has the Solomon Islands from the tours greeting by the village chiefs, extended her contract for a followed by a religious speech, further 7 months There has been ethnic tension in Huvalu (Niue) then the keynote address by the the Guadalcanal Province which Director of the Lands, Survey Community fisherman have An awareness programme was has caused fear amongst people and Environment Department. reported increased numbers of prepared by the Hakupu Village on both sides and adversely The SPBCP representative, seabirds on the fishing grounds Committee and Taskforce, with affected implementation of some Francois Martel, cut the ribbon beyond the Conservation Area information provided by the of the projects activities. Tourism which marked the official and also complained that the Conservation Officers, for school opening of the office. This event Tuvalu national Fishing corpora- children. This involved declaring a was covered by Televise Samoa 9 9 CALLCALL Newsletter Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Issue no 1 December 1999 Staff changes in Takitumu Conservation Area

Ian Karika Conservation Area Support Officer, Takitumu Conservation Area and also reported in several introduced themselves to the The first quarter of 1999 was a period of much personnel local newspapers CACC and gave a presentation movement in the TCA which affected both the project staff of their work and the CACC. A project Office sign was completed and posted in front of CASO attended meetings to Rebecca Blackburn - Australian Volunteer the office resolve land issues and allega- tions of mismanaging the Firstly on the 5th of January Rebecca Blackburn our AVA (Australian CASO attended a video training tourism business, between Volunteer) completed her 18-month term with us. Her innovative con- workshop in January which villagers tribution to the TCA will be greatly missed as she was instrumental aimed to enhance the quality of in the setting up of our Ecotours i.e. track design, marketing research, videos produced for its public An officer from the department price structure and the setting up of transportation and lunch suppli- awareness campaign of Water Resources carried out ers from within the community. She was also very active in ‘Aware- a feasibility study on the different ness’ by featuring the TCA in the local Environment Exhibition in Another workshop attended was options for a water supply 1998 by speaking at schools and to community groups and she also “Learning by Doing” run by the system for Vatthe Lodge. The produced a children’s tape for radio. She gave invaluable assist- Visitors Bureau, which dealt with viable option identified is to use ance to Anna Tiraa our CASO and was also a very keen competitive Attraction Site problems - how the rain water. We are waiting a sportswoman in the Takitumu district. She was well liked by the CACC tourist operators can maintain written report and costs and the community as a whole, kia manuia (good luck) Rebbecca. their long term sustainability and what activities should not be As part of developing Sara Philomena Williams Chairperson of the CACC done Tours, Nelson began working on My appointment as CASO commencing at the beginning of the year organising the communities and meant I stepped down as Chairman of the CACC and a new mem- In March, a Conservation Area came up with a 1999 tourism ber from my family, Tukurangi Hosking Jr, was elected to the com- evaluation exercise was workplan for Sara. Bill Tavue mittee. The CACC subsequently elected Mrs. Philomena Williams undertaken with SPBCP staff and his brothers cleared the to the position of Chairperson as she had been involved with the and key people involved in the tracks and made them accessi- project from 1995 well before it being part of the SPBCP. Her social Conservation Area from the ble again, within two weeks after involvement in the community will play an important part with organ- villages, talks discussed the the cyclones izing activities within the TCA. I understand that she is the only woman continuation of the project in chairperson amongst all the SPBCP Conservation areas. future when the funding is Being member of Vanuatu Island eventually phased out. Possible Bungalow Association, Nelson Anna Tiraa leaves the TCA Income generating activities attended the first VIBA manage- were also discussed and ment meeting for 1999 early in I worked along side Anna all January and February to familiarize prioritised January myself with the CASO’s position before she quietly made an exit from the project. The TCA is not going to be the same without her, in In January, the CASO accompa- Is your fact, I’m not so sure if she is going to cope with not being involved nied, and talked to visitors to the with the project. Anna has spent 10 years within the area initially as Conservation Area -these Conservation conservation officer with the Kakerori Recovery Program in 1989 included school children, a film and then as CASO for the TCA in 1996. She has seen the area crew, and members of the UNDP Area slowly transform under the guidance of the SPBCP, a program she office mentioned worked hard to get the TCA to be a part of. Her regular articles in the Cook Islands News and many other publications have made many Vatthe (Vanuatu) here? people aware of the TCA locally, regionally and further afield. Anna has been able to take ideas suggested by the CACC and implement Promotion of Vatthe Lodge with them but at the same time been able to speak out against an issue if Island Safaris Vanuatu and she thought it not appropriate, sometimes not without a few tears. Destination Vanuatu, both of She has served the Takitumu Conservation Area admirably and which, are Vanuatu based leaves behind a project that has been very efficiently established promoters. Island Safaris is a Tour and ready to move confidently into the new millenium. Anna’s genu- Operator which provide marketing Well, its up to you! To make this newsletter more useful ine concern for the wellbeing of our environment has meant she has services for Vanuatu Island been very active with our local conservation organizations such as Bungalow Association (VIBA) and interesting, we need input from you. Contributions Taporoporo Ipukarea Society, PICCAP and WWF. Her zealous cam- to this newsletter are always paign for the preservation of the national park status of Suwarrow In March, Francois Martel and during the release of the EIA for the Development of Pearl Farming Sue Maturin assessed the welcome. Any one of the SPBCP staff at SPREP would on Suwarrow in my opinion came second to none. Not only are we damage caused by cyclones going to miss Anna in the TCA but she will be missed by the nation. Hella and Danny. They also be grateful to receive an article from you. The Staff & Management of the TCA wish her every success in her 10 CALL Newsletter new ventures in Samoa. Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Peacemaking - the conservation dividend

Tamari’i Tutangata Director, SPREP (Reprinted from Islands Business)

Where there’s land, there are boundaries, and where there are boundaries, there are disputes. But a pioneering programme set up to conserve the Pacific’s biodiversity has seen boundary disputes dissolve as previously warring commu- nities discovered they shared a common desire to protect their natural heritage for future generations.

Conservation of valued resources Pacific’s natural resources. Five years ago, SPREP, the World-Wide Fund for Nature and The Nature In Vanuatu, on the island of Espiritu Santo, the vil- Conservancy designed the programme, basing that lages of Sara and Matantas had for decades dis- design on the recognition that in the Pacific, at- puted ownership of parts of the Big Bay forest. The tempts to lock away valuable areas of biodiversity dispute periodically erupted into raids, one of which by declaring them national parks or nature reserves Their decades-old resulted in Vanuatu’s Supreme Court being asked were unlikely to work. to rule on which village had legal rights to the for- differences be- est’s resources. But then, with the support of Setting up conservation areas came irrelevant: SPREP’s South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP), working through the Govern- In the Pacific, the communities which own 80 Ð 90 instead of arguing ment of Vanuatu, both villages decided they wanted percent of land and coastal resources will not ac- boundaries and to protect the resources in the forest, which by then cept that they should be forbidden access to natu- ownership of was the only remaining extensive lowland alluvial ral resources that have nurtured their families for and limestone forest in Vanuatu that had not been generations. They do, however, have a strong in- resources, both logged. Their decades-old differences became ir- terest in protecting these resources, and this is villages found relevant: instead of arguing boundaries and owner- borne out in the ongoing demand from communi- ship of resources, both villages found they were in ties for SPBCP assistance in setting up conserva- they were in full full agreement on the importance of conserving a tion areas. agreement on the mutually-valued resource. The SPBCP approach is a softly-softly one which importance of To symbolise this new accord, Chief Lus of Sara takes the time to establish trust between commu- conserving a and Chief Moses of Matantas planted a cycad tree nities and outside partners and experts. SPBCP in Matantas village. That tree still stands, and to- programme officers help establish a coordinating mutually-valued day, members of those communities can sleep in committee, made up of representatives from the resource. each others’ villages – something they were never community, Government agencies, non-govern- before able to do. They work together in what is mental organisations, and regional and international now the Vatthe Conservation Area, establishing an agencies working in the conservation field. The ecotourism venture which includes six bungalows communities themselves decide on the appoint- and a small restaurant for tourists. Young men and ment of a Conservation Area Support Officer, who women from both villages have been trained to guide acts as the liaison point between the coordinating tourists through the forest, and other community committee and the community. members are building up a market for vegetables, forest and craft products, and transport services. Income generation options The coordinating committee supplies the expertise Community owned the resources which the community needs to make its decisions Vatthe is only one of many examples where con- about how best to use its resources, but all deci- cern for protecting a precious environment eventu- sions are the responsibility of the community itself. ally overrode age-old community rivalries. To date, After the area’s biodiversity has been researched, funding from the Global Environment Facility, the feasibility studies are made of potential income United Nations Development Programme and generation options. Some of those options now in AusAID has made it possible for the SPBCP to help operation around the Pacific include: Pacific island communities establish 17 conserva- ❚ ecotourism tion areas in 12 Pacific island countries. Other or- ❚ ganisations have established a further 17. In all butterfly farming cases, the first principle has been that the commu- ❚ beekeeping nities own the resources and must always be the ❚ ones who make the decisions about using those sports fishing and resources. ❚ handicraft production. The emphasis on a community-based approach It all takes time. The SPBCP experience has been arose out of earlier failed efforts to conserve the continued on page 15 11 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Community-driven biological surveys do work!

Larry Orsak (Reprinted from The New Guinea Tropical Ecology and Biodiversity Digest)

Biodiversity surveys in PNG happen now and again in different parts of the country and it is likely these activities will continue, if not increase, if PINBio gets off the ground. This essay describes a process of planning for biological surveys that seems to avoid a lot of problems that such surveys have faced in the past.

I started thinking about all this after several years these requests were related to trying to stop of carrying out insect surveys in Madang with a team nonsustainable industrial logging. of “mangibinatang” school leavers, where we did a lot of collecting mostly of butterflies and other in- Collaborative work with communities sects. Through all those collections, in many vil- Probably the most important key to working col- lages, we never had a problem or misinterpretation laboratively with communities was that they had with the landowners. This was in stark contrast with asked us to work on their land first, rather than us some experiences I had had with more formal bio- asking them. Sounds like a minor variation, but the logical surveys, including those arranged by PNG- results were dramatically different. More villages NGOs. Why the difference? found out that we offered a service Ð biological survey. And they must have felt they got significant Why biological surveys? information out of that service, because they in- First, there’s now little doubt in my mind that even vited us to work on their land, and after the sur- the ‘difficult’ landowners we’ve worked with, base veys were over, we didn’t hear any complaints. their reactions on fairly simple assessments of our There’s an important detail in all this Ð when I say survey work. In essence: what do they feel the re- people in the village asked us to carry out biologi- searchers are getting out of the survey versus what cal surveys on their land, this does not mean that do they think they’re getting out of it? Indeed, what we planted the idea into their head, and they re- DO landowners think they’re getting out of these What were the land- sponded with their request. Nogat tru! That is what biological surveys? And what do they want to reap? the big biological surveys have often done in the owners getting out of Money? Work? Certainly money and jobs seem name of “letting the people decide”. In reality, it’s our work that made particularly prominent anytime I’ve been involved nothing more than passive imposition of the sur- in big biological surveys. But ironically, when we car- them so receptive to vey on local communities. When that’s the strat- ried out biodiversity surveys in Madang, apart from what we were doing? egy, it’s pretty hard for people to feel, deep down, the first area we visited, no jobs were given and no that it was really their idea to have the scientists The answer is: money was paid as a result of these surveys. In come survey. So my “lesson learned” is that there fact, this was made very clear from the beginning. can be no imposition, either passive or active, on Information! So what were people in the village getting out of the communities in arranging biodiversity surveys what we were doing in those cases? They must have ...A few times, the on their land, if you want the highest guarantee of felt they were getting something else out of what information we pro- trouble-free results. I’m not so naïve to think that we were doing. If not, we most certainly would have vided was in re- villages throughout PNG are so enamoured with faced difficulties. sponse to a specific biodiversity surveys that they’ll contact us before community need. Let’s analyse this further. During these small sur- we contact them. But we can make contact in a veys, what we did never looked like a big produc- different way than how it tends to be done now. Invariably, these tion, big money programme. The school leavers did When we were carrying out our small biological requests were re- most of the work. Apart from the first survey in the surveys along the North Coast and in the Gogol lated to trying to stop Adelbert Mountains, we never needed carriers or Valley area, we didn’t tell people what we were nonsustainable other major village assistance, and we most cer- doing directly. Instead, people found out what we industrial logging. tainly never used helicopters. Which begs this ques- were doing through the educational materials we tion again: what were the landowners getting out of produced, talks at local schools, and via word-of- our work that made them so receptive to what we mouth from both the Papua New Guinean staff at were doing? The answer is: Information! This com- CRI and the villagers we had already worked with. prised two types: In time, our activities became fairly well known. 1 information on interesting and unique species Even when only a small fraction of people who had we were finding, and heard about our work came to invite us to go to their land, this still resulted in us doing 2 Ð 3 local 2 information on wildlife (always insects or surveys a year. It could have been even more than plants) that people could sell or farm if they that, had we made a specific effort to develop this wanted. activity. A few times, the information we provided was in re- sponse to a specific community need. Invariably, 12 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 ❚ Develop, produce, and disseminate a villager- relevant, villager-absorptive permanent product that describes the results of the biological survey. The technical, English-as-a- first-language reports full of species lists that normally come out of these surveys are virtually useless as a transmitter of information to village communities. Such reports are no longer sufficient. A “time tax” block should be Working with communities in the bush devoted to preparing a number of copies of a colour-illustrated, tok pisin language (or The planning of biological surveys whatever is the local lingua franqua) publica- tion that is laminated or printed in such a way PNG is becoming increasingly information-starved. to guarantee a long shelf life, then presented Villagers are usually smart enough to figure out if Researchers both to local schools/churches, and local whoever is speaking to them is a much better re- communities. involved in source person than themselves, or is someone who biodiversity surveys knows only a little bit more than they do. The latter, ❚ Personally present to the community the basic need to tax them- they often dismiss; the former, they are often at- findings of the survey, after it is finished. selves a consider- tracted to. This is how “sources of information” fit Of all researchers that I’ve seen working in PNG, able block of time to into the big picture of PNG today, and shows more overseas graduate students have been the best at clearly how it can fit into the planning of biodiversity interact with local paying this “time tax”. Most outstanding of all the surveys. researchers I’ve known was bat biologist Nancy communities, both You’ll notice that our experiences in “pleasant bio- Irwin, who devoted 1Ð2 days per week teaching at before the survey logical surveying” concerned small-scale, limited local schools. Her “time tax” puts the rest of us to and afterwards. activities. Does this have relevance to doing large- shame! More established researchers tend to scale, multi-taxa biodiversity expeditions? Can such spend a lot less time doing anything other than the large-scale events become problem-free simply by actual field research. As a result, increasingly in being community-driven mechanisms for acquiring PNG, as communities become more empowered, information on the local plants and animals? I don’t they are likely to face problems. Or, if they finish know. But I do know what 2 prerequesites would their work and have left before the problems sur- be, even for the large-scale expeditions. First, if we face, those coming after them will suffer. In es- truly want biological surveys to be community driven, sence, if you don’t pay the time tax, someone else we can’t put our fingers on a map and say, “that’s will suffer the results of your lapse, somewhere where we will carry out the survey.” If we do that, down the line. we automatically prevent the result from being com- munity-driven. It’s okay to select a general region “Time tax” and areas of communication as the survey focus, but beyond that, flexibility is In biodiversity surveys I’ve been involved in over the name of the game. the last 5 years, I’ve noticed that Papua New Guinean biologists largely don’t pay a “time tax” in Time interaction with the community preparing written results of survey but, they are and The second prerequestie is time investment. Re- can be quite effective at doing the other ground searchers involved in biodiversity surveys need to work communications with villagers. tax themselves a considerable block of time to in- The large-scale biological surveys I’ve been in- teract with local communities, both before the sur- volved in thus far, have been commendable in pay- vey and afterwards. As a field biologist, you should ing the “time tax” in pre-survey community meet- plan on contributing a “time tax” to…. ings. But they haven’t paid much “time tax” in post- ❚ Get out information to the community related to survey meetings, and so far have paid zero “time the wildlife in that area, or on whatever other tax” in preparing village-appropriate written prod- topics that might stimulate community discus- ucts that describe the survey results. I stand among sion, followed by a community request for a the accused. biological survey on their area. Villager’s assessments and surveyers ❚ Fully explain, prior to the biological survey, benefits what the survey will or will not accomplish. If you don’t sleep in the village so that you can Sometimes even all that investment won’t stop story at length with people and provide follow misinterpretations and unhappiness within the lo- up discussions, forget it! If you can’t speak cal communities over the survey. Villagers are not either tok pisin or the local vernacular, forget it! only assessing “what we’re getting out of the sur- Such things can’t be compromised, if you want vey” but also, “what they [scientists] are getting out to effectively interact. of the survey”. They’re comparing what rewards 13 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 they see as going to each party as much as they’re to be expended for larger, more involved expedi- looking at the absolute rewards being gained. The tions. use of helicopters automatically suggests consid- To summarise. Paying a “time tax” to local com- erable benefits accruing to visiting researchers. munity to explain what we’re up to, when we want Fancy foods in the bush, while good for expatriate to carry out biodiversity surveys, seem to bring scientists’ morale, adds to the perception. Use these good payoffs in terms of the cooperation we then things at your peril. Be forewarned: none of it goes get from the communities on whose land we work. unnoticed by members of the local community! Even more importantly, a key to trouble-free sur- Biological surveys organised by Papua New veys seems to be to create a situation where these Guinean biologists tend to go very smoothly but only biodiversity surveys are sensed by landowners as if that biologist is not only actively involved in the being community-driven, not just community- survey work but also pays the pre-survey and post- based. This is easier to do than it might sound, survey “time tax”. Our small-scale surveys in but the strategy has to be carefully implemented, Madang always created an impression that relatively and above all, it takes time. few benefits were going to us. Thus, the “time tax” Ah, my appetite is whetted now. When are we go- we had to pay to achieve an acceptable balance ing to the bush again? was probably a lot lower than would probably need

The story of Ikataea (Paddle Snapper) - Part one

A story from Tuvalu As the big group of small fish floated on the ocean currents, This is the story of how ikataea grew up in Funafuti was one of a very big group of very very small fish. they realised that lagoon. Her parents were part of a big school of In fact they did not look at all like their parents yet. taea who lived on a reef slope at Nanumea or was Ikataea was very skinny and clear like a small piece they were partly it Vaitupu? Anyway it was an island quite far from of glass. protected from fish Funafuti. As the big group of small fish floated on the ocean who wanted to eat Around the time of the full moon, all the men and currents, they realised that they were partly pro- them because they women taea came together in a big group and re- tected from fish who wanted to eat them because were so small and leased their eggs and sperm into the water. Then they were so small and clear they were almost in- clear they were they separated and continued gathering their food visible. Unfortunately, many of ikataea’s cousins almost invisible. without any further thought for the children they had and brothers and sisters did get eaten by other just given birth to. animals. Those who survived had a very hard job Unfortunately, many to find enough food to help them survive and grow. Ikataea’s mother was quite a big fish and she re- of ikataea’s cousins Mostly they tried to catch other very small animals leased about four million eggs. Her sister who was and brothers and floating in the water, like worms and baby crabs. only half her size only produced about one million Many more of ikataea’s friends did not find enough sisters did get eaten eggs. Their eggs were fertilised in the water and food in the big ocean, so the group of fish became by other animals. quickly developed into larval/baby fish. So ikataea smaller and smaller. Ikataea and the other survivors floated for 60 days in the ocean before they entered Funafuti lagoon and came close to a reef. When they arrived they realised that they had lost some more of their cous- ins who must have floated past Funafuti and would probably die in the ocean. The remaining 4,000 fish who had entered the lagoon became excited when they could feel that they were close to a reef. They found a nice place of small rocks at the bottom of a reef near Funafatu islet and decided to settle there. The next day ikataea woke up and looked for her friends but she could not see them anywhere. In- stead she was surrounded by 3,999 small grey and red fish. She was very confused, but when she looked down she realised that she too had changed colour (they had all metamorphosed - like the but- terfly from the caterpillar). In their excitement the group of fish split up and went to explore their new home. 14 CALL Newsletter Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 Part 2 will be continued in the next issue of CALL Peacemaking - the conservation dividend continued from page 11 that it takes at least two years to build trust in the building a project headquarters on one island. The community and establish solid linkages between key communities burned it down and barred any gov- decision-makers, key stakeholders and potential ernment officials from landing on the islands again. partners. In those two years, donors don’t see a lot But then, some time later, they decided to ask the of money being spent. But after the groundwork has Government what it had planned to do with those been done, things tend to move rather more rap- buildings. When they found out, they asked why idly, as the painstaking work involved in full consul- they hadn’t been consulted Ð they’d been talking tation and community decision-making begins to for a long time about establishing a conservation bear fruit. area there. The importance of consultation The Government stepped back, insisted that the community take the lead role with Government sup- Time and again, consultation has been shown to port, and now the Arnavon Islands Conservation be critical to the success of any project. Take the Area is a reality Ð providing yet one more example case of the Arnavon Islands, for example. of how concern for protecting the Pacific’s fragile The Solomon Islands Government decided to set ecosystems can overcome seemingly insoluble dif- up a conservation area there, but didn’t consult the ferences. Arnavon Islanders. Government officials started

Turtles in Vanuatu: Wan Smol Bag play tours 1996-99 continued from page 8

Releasing Turtles in Captivity Members of Wan Smol Bag, Health Force Theatre in action during the Banks/Torres tour last year

A dramatic accident last year on Aniwa brought tur- tles were killed and that it was still possible to find tles to the forefront of the people’s thoughts. A young turtles regularly when wanted. This was similar to man was drowned when trapped by the rope of his the situation on the neighbouring island of Aneitym spear gun with which he had hit a turtle. The turtle where in the village of Angelghowat they have a dragged him deeper and deeper. He could not break place called ‘backstore’ which means a place full free and drowned. A five year tabu has been put on of turtles and this is the place where people always the reef since the man’s death. Some seem to have go when they wish to eat turtle meat. interpreted the death as a signal from somewhere. Again on both islands, communities said they were The chief on Aniwa said they were very proud to resolved to change their ways now that they un- receive a visit from Wan Smolbag Theatre (it was derstood the turtle’s breeding cycle. Of course it is Wan Smolbag Kids who visited Aneitym & Aniwa.) very pleasing to feel that one’s work has planted a They had heard the name many times although seed for change, but experience tells us that we some thought it was Wan Smolbag Toyota! Perhaps must find ways of encouraging the villages to keep this might be a good reason to demand sponsor- their promises but you have to start somewhere ship from Toyota!! and both Health Force & Wan Smolbag Kids found 15 CALL Newsletter The chief readily admitted that on Aniwa many tur- the tours very rewarding. Issue No. 1 January to March 1999 El Nino drought destruction: the death of Papua New Guinea’s McAdam National Park

Larry Orsak and Lawong Balun

We’ve waited for months hoping to see some article or any announcement of a tragic setback in people’s uphill efforts to protect Papua New Guinea’s remark- able biodiversity for future generations. Nothing apparently has appeared, so we’re taking it upon ourselves to announce the death of McAdam National Park in Morobe Province. There are only a handful of national parks in PNG, so the loss is especially painful. The ultimate cause of death was a massive fire often have no significant source of revenue them- during the El Nino drought months in September selves. Thus, it can be stated with near certainty 1997. It started on the Bulolo end (from garden-mak- that the most beautiful piece of land on the long ing) and burned for weeks, generally consuming the road between Lae and Wau is gone. But few will For at least leaf litter layers. The park is mostly an island of for- notice, since obviously no one cared enough to 12Ð15 years, the est today, since much of the surrounding area has report the loss in the first place. We’ll still be able park has steadily already become kunai grassland, coffee plantation, to see Klinki pines in the backyards of Lae and in and non-native Piper scrub. The view from the Bulolo the monoculture plantations around Bulolo and been encroached Gorge shows nearly 100 per cent fire consumption, Wau. They aren’t the world’s tallest trees, but we by gardens and so the entire park of more than 1000 hectares has can still say they are, since at least they’re the right apparently burned. species. We can see many of the larger creatures coffee plots. of McAdam in zoo cages here and there, so we These breaks in Loss of the tallest tropical trees don’t have to think much that a native home is gone. Morobe Provincial officials recently embarked on a Opportunities for fooling ourselves and denying the the canopy c new tourism promotion. While we’ve missed any tragedy are endless. The zoos containing M Adam undoubtedly stories about the destruction of one of PNG’s few birds and animals, the tourism promotion, and eve- helped the flames national parks, we’ve seen several items about how rything else that exploits the park’s biodiversity much money tourists could bring to Morobe Prov- would be great, worth supporting and above criti- repeatedly ince, Klinki Pines are thought to be the tallest tropi- cism if people had put as much effort into protect- flare up. cal trees in the world, and the “world’s tallest” of ing the roots of these benefits. That is the greatest c anything is effective tourist bait. McAdam had that obscenity Ð reaping the rewards of M Adam’s potential because it was the best place in the world biodiversity while investing virtually nothing in its to see virgin stands of Klinki and Hoop Pine protection. We all share in the blame. (Araucaria). This tourism potential was occasion- Food for the termites ally tapped by Bulolo’s Pine Lodge Resort and Wau Ecology Institute. But it would be an obscenity now And yet, the local people will get one last short- for the government or anyone else to promote termbenefit fromMcAdam National Park’s bio- McAdam National Park as home for the world’s tall- diversity. For the dead and weakened trees are now est tropical trees, for the tallest of them all is prob- producing a phoenix of new life Ð millions of showy ably now a skeleton. wood-boring beetles which are now breeding in the dying wood. The last gasp of McAdam before the It’s not just the world’s tallest tropical trees that were CALL is the newsletter of termites commence? Hopefully all the village in- special. It was also the fact that these trees were SPREP’S South Pacific sect collectors around Bulolo will gather up the graced by various species of some of the world’s Biodiversity Conservation beetle bounty, and sell them to the nearby Insect most spectacular birds, including about 10 bird-of- Farming & Trading Agency. That way, overseas Programme, based in Apia, paradise species. And for those with more attention collectors can buy these beautiful specimens and Samoa. to detail, the bark of those trees were graced by be in awe of PNG’s megadiversity, while remain- Editor one of the world’s most remarkable stalk-eyed flies, ing blissfully ignorant of the fact that the PNG splen- a species whose eye stalks were several times the SPREP’s Publication Unit dour in their display cases were products of an even length of the rest of the body. It used to walk with a greater splendour being destroyed. Technical editor sense of purpose in shady, moist spots in the park. Joanna Sim The death of McAdam National Park should never Layout and graphics Efforts to restore this protected area be blamed on lack of money. Lack of money is a Catherine Appleton The fire has opened fantastic opportunities for gar- lame excuse, not a valid reason. The real reason c den-making; the final solution to the park is now in for M Adam National Park’s loss was disinterest, SPREP progress. At this stage, it would take some effort to inattention, and this intriguing prevailing attitude that PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa restore this protected area and there is no indica- it is possible to milk a biodiversity cash cow with- Phone (685) 21929 tion at all that any such interest exists. The PNG out ever having to feed it. Fax (685) 20231 Office of Environment & Conservation has decen- This biodiversity cash cow is dead. May you linger Email [email protected] tralised all national park management responsibili- in our memories, McAdam National Park.

16 CALL Newsletter ties and expenses to provincial governments who Issue No. 1 January to March 1999