MACBLUE project holds climate-related GIS capacity-building for PNG representatives
The workshop was held from March 17 to March 21 at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Port Moresby. Photo: PNG Climate Change Development Authority
20 March 2025 - 32 representatives from Papua New Guinea graduated today from a week-long course on geospatial analysis of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems.
The workshop, led by the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Earth and Oceans Observations team in collaboration with the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Pacific), aimed to build capacity on Geospatial Analysis of Seagrass and Mangroves Ecosystems and Carbon Stock Assessment using Open-Source Geographic Information Systems and Tools.
The training further supports ongoing agency-based use case projects around preserving both biodiversity and ecosystem services of important coastal ecosystems.
Acting General Manager for the Measurements, Reporting, and Verification Division of CCDA, William Lakain shared that these partnerships are key to ensuring lasting impacts on preserving natural resources.
“This training equips Papua New Guinea with the critical tools and knowledge needed to meet the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By empowering our local experts in geospatial analysis and ecosystem management, we are ensuring that all areas, especially those of high biodiversity importance, are included in participatory, integrated spatial planning processes.”
“The knowledge gained here will directly contribute to the sustainable management of our seagrass and mangrove ecosystems which is crucial for both climate resilience and biodiversity. The collaboration with the Pacific Community, GIZ Pacific, and other partners ensures that Papua New Guinea continues to take a proactive role in addressing the climate crisis that faces us, empowering both local communities and agencies alike”.
SPC’s Earth and Oceans Observations Team Leader Sachindra Singh remarked the integration of regional public good services like Digital Earth Pacific and open-source geospatial software opens new avenues for data-driven decision-making.
“With these capabilities, participants are now equipped to address the challenges faced by seagrass and mangrove ecosystems, ensuring better analysis at a national level in order to make evidence-driven decisions around food security and climate resilience for coastal populations in Pacific Island Countries, such as PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji”.
The training was made possible through the Management and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems (MACBLUE) project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI).
The MACBLUE project is jointly implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Pacific Community and GIZ Pacific in close cooperation with their four partner governments Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.