PAPUA NEW GUINEA COUNTRY STUDY on Biological DIVERSITY
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA COUNTRY STUDY ON BIOLOGiCAL DIVERSITY edited by ni. Sekhran and S. Miller A study prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation, Conservation Resource Centre, and the Africa Centre for Resources and Environment (ACRE) with funding from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) "m First released as a public document in November 1994 Published for mass distribution in August 1995. © The Department of Environment and Conservation All rights reserved Material from this publication may be freely used, but authorship must be acknowledged (see pages xi-xii for a list of authors). It is requested that a copy of all publications which draw on material contained in this report be deposited with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Conservation Resource Centre, P.O. Box 165, Waigani, N.C.D., Papua New Guinea. ISBN 9980 85 111 2 National Library of Papua New Guinea ABCDE 98765 Printed by Colorcraft Ltd., Hong Kong Cover Photograph Papua New Guinea is renowned for the diversity and splendour of its coral reefs. These provide a wide range of direct and indirect use benefits to coastal communities, and have a number of potential future uses, including possible medical applications (Bob Halstead). Printed on wood free paper CONTENTS AUTHORSHIP OF CHAPTERS xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii LIST OF ACRONYMS xvii DEFINITIONS xix MAP 1: PAPUA NEW GUINEA SHOWING PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES xxi WILDLIFE WONDERS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA xxii PHOTOGRAPHS xxiii CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Summary 1 Section 1: Introduction 1 Section 2: The Linkages Between Biodiversity Country Studies and the Convention on Biological Diversity 1 Section 3: Abstracts of Chapters 2 to 19 4 CHAPTER 2 The Economics of Maintaining Papua New Guinea's Biodiversity 13 Introduction 13 Natural Capital: An Essential Component of the Production Function 15 The Earth as an Interactive System: A Systems Approach to Understanding the Linkages Between Ecosystems and Economic Activities 17 Ecological Pricing 22 Gross Versus Net Values 29 The Valuation of Biological Resources Versus Biodiversity 30 Valuation Methods 30 Applications of Valuation Methods 32 Papua New Guinea's Biodiversity Country Study 33 Some Preliminary Comments 34 CHAPTER 3 The Global Benefits of Conserving Biodiversity in Papua New Guinea 37 Introduction 37 Forests 37 Mangroves 39 Coral Reefs and Pelagic Marine Environments 39 Future Discoveries 40 Forestry Development in Papua New Guinea 156 Landowner Participation in Forestry 158 Forestry Practices and Logging in Papua New Guinea 159 Selective Logging 159 Clear-Felling 159 Choice of Logging Methods 160 The Impact of Logging on the Floristic Diversity of Papua New Guinea's Forests 160 Forest Plantations and Diversity of the Vegetation 161 The Effect of Logging and Plantations on Animal Biodiversity 162 Clear-Felling for Large-Scale Agricultural Projects 163 Selective Logging 163 Portable Sawmill Operations 165 Status of Research 165 Conclusions 166 CHAPTER 10 Fisharies in Papua New Guinea 169 Introduction 169 The Fisheries of Papua New Guinea 170 Commercial Fisheries 170 Artisanal Fisheries 174 Subsistence Fisheries 179 Sports Fisheries 180 Estimates of Coastal Fisheries Production 180 Aquaculture and Mariculture 181 Fisheries Habitats 181 Threats to Aquatic Resources, Habitats and Biodiversity 181 Discussion and Conclusions 184 CHAPTER 11 The Natura of the Human Threat to Papua New Guinea's Biodiversity Endowment 187 Classification of Activities 187 The Problem of Regional Diversity 189 Evidence of Pre-Colonial Ecology 190 Attitudes Towards 'Development' and 'Conservation' 192 Population Growth, Migration and Resettlement 194 New Technologies and New Consumption Patterns 195 Social Differentiation and Political Authority 197 CHAPTER 12 Direct Productive Use Values for Papua New Guinea's Biodiversity 201 Introduction 201 Major Issues 202 Forest Resources 204 Timber 204 Ecotimber 205 Fuel Wood 206 Handicrafts 206 vu Fruits, Nuts and Wild Plant Foods 207 Other Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPI 207 Exudates: Resins, Gums and Latex 207 Aromatic Oils 209 Candlenut Oil 209 Tannins 209 Rattan 210 Orchids 210 Sago, Nipa and Coconut Palms 211 Mushrooms 211 Bamboo 211 Multipurpose Tree Species 212 Insects and Other Wildlife 214 Coastal, Marine and Aquatic Resources 217 The Crocodile Skin Industry 217 Fisheries 221 Other Products 223 Biodiversity Prospecting 223 Medicines 223 Germplasm Collections of Food Crops 224 Genetic Erosion of Crop Species 226 Unknown Future Uses 226 Integrated Conservation and Development (ICAD) 226 Opportunities,Problems and Constraints in the ICAD Process 228 CHAPTER 13 The Subsistance Values of Biodivarsity in Papua Naw Guinaa 231 Introduction: A Caution 231 How Extensive Is the Subsistence Sector? 231 What Are the Subsistence Activities? 234 Agriculture 234 Hunting and Gathering 235 Fishing 240 Traditional Medicines 240 Other Subsistence Uses 242 What Changes Are Occurring in the Subsistence System? 242 How Are Subsistence Activities Valued in the National Accounts? 243 Food Production 243 Collection of Firewood 245 Services of Owner-Occupied Dwellings 245 Expansion of Food Gardens for Own-Account Production 245 Construction of Equipment for Own-Account Production 246 Conclusion 246 CHAPTER 14 Tha Indiract Use Values Darived from Biodivarsity Sarvicas in Papua Naw Guinea 273 Introduction 273 The Biodiversity Existence: Ecosystem Stability Hypothesis 273 Biodiversity Services 274 Atmosphere and Water Quality Control 274 VIH Hydrological Cycles 274 Carbon Cycles 275 Climatic Regulation 275 Nutrient Retention and Cycling 275 Soil Development and Conservation 277 Mangroves in the Coastal Zone 278 Services Provided by Coral Reefs 278 Ecological Linkages Between Species in Papua New Guinea's Rainforests 278 Plant-Plant Interactions 278 Plant-Animal Interactions 279 Frugivory 279 Nectivory 281 Insectivory 281 The Value of Human Activities Underpinned by Biological Services 282 Agriculture 282 Ecotourism 285 The Utility Value of Varirata National Park 286 The Dive Industry 292 The Value of a Shark 294 Sport Fishing 297 Conclusions 297 CHAPTER 15 Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: The Costs of Ecological Degradation 299 Introduction 299 The Implications for Papua New Guinea of Climate Change 299 Key Issues 302 CHAPTER 16 Human Health and Ecological Loss in Rural Papua New/ Guinea 305 Introduction 305 Malaria 306 Arboviruses 307 Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS 307 Enteric Diseases 308 Nutrition 308 CHAPTER 17 Capturing Global Values for Biodiversity to Enable Conservation in Papua New Guinea 309 Introduction 309 Are Financial Transfers Defensible? 309 Voluntary Contributions 312 Involuntary Contributions 314 Existing Funding Mechanisms 315 Global Environment Facility 315 Other Donor Support 316 IX CHAPTER 18 The Attachment of Spiritual and Cultural Values to Natural Resources in Papua New Guinea 318 Introduction 319 The Melanesian Knowledge Base and Attachment to Natural Resources 319 Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Conservation in Papua New Guinea 320 Case Study; The Mekeo 321 The Environment as a Source of Mystical Powers 322 The Future: Whither Tradition? 322 The Penetration of Christianity 322 The Colonial Administration 323 School Curricula 323 Commercialisation of the Rural Economy 323 Preservation of Traditional Knowledge 324 CHAPTER 19 Integrated Envjronmentel and Economic Accounting in Papue New Guinea 325 Introduction 325 Double Entry and National Income Accounting 326 Extending National Income Accounts 328 Estimating Consumption by Aggregating Defensive Expenditures 328 Social National and Environmental Accounting 329 See the Difference SEEA Makes! 329 Why Go to and Beyond SEEA? 331 Green Accounts for Papua New Guinea 331 Green National Accounts 332 Cost Estimates of Environmental Degradation 33B These Estimates Are Significant Achievements 337 How Can One-Off Become Always? 338 CHAPTER 20 Overview of Current Conservation-Oriented Policies, Legislation and Interventions 339 The Papua New Guiñean Constitution 339 Conservation Legislation 339 International Conventions and Treaties 341 Conservation Initiatives in Papua New Guinea 342 Integrated Conservation and Development Projects in Papua New Guinea 349 Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area 349 Lak Conservation Area ' 350 Lasanga Islands Conservation Project 351 Hunstein Range Conservation and Development Project 351 Community Resource Conservation and Development Project 351 Kikori River Basin Integrated Conservation and Development Project 351 Oro Butterfly Conservation Project 352 Lakekamu-Kunimaipa Basin Project 352 Other Conservation Initiatives 353 National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) 353 National Forest and Conservation Action Program (NFCAP) 353 Non-NFCAP Projects 358 Environmental Management for Western Papua and the York Straits 358 Marine and Coastal Resource Management Project 358 CHAPTER 21 Expanditure on Biodiversity Conservation in Papua Naw Guinea 361 Introduction 361 Classification and Response 361 Explanation of the Matrix 363 Economic Incentives 364 National Government and Donor Expenditures 364 Biodiversity Expenditure by Non-Government Organisations 366 Expenditure by the Mining Companies 367 Biodiversity Expenditure in Papua New Guinea; An Overview 368 Final Comments 369 Appendix 21.1: Organisations Whose Environmental Expenditure Was Directly or Indirectly Incorporated in the Tables 371 Appendix 21.2: The Financial Information Matrix 372 Appendix 21.3: Public Expenditure between 1992 and 1995, Including Extra Budgetary