PNG, a step closer to blue carbon policy
Participants at the five-day writeshop in Papua New Guinea.
In a concerted effort to shape the future of blue carbon ecosystem management in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a five-day writeshop was held at Koitaki Country Club in Sogeri last week.
Organised by the Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), the event brought together national and international experts, government officials, and key stakeholders to draft a roadmap for PNG’s National Blue Carbon Policy.
This policy will be a cornerstone of PNG’s climate change mitigation strategy, aiming to enhance coastal biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem health, and improve the livelihoods of coastal communities. The writeshop builds on the outcomes of the recent National Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap Consultation Workshop.
“The writeshop marks a significant step in PNG’s progress towards a robust Blue Carbon Policy,” said Mr. William Lakain, Acting General Manager of Measurement, Reporting and Verification and National Communications Division, CCDA.
“By working together, we can establish measures to protect coastal ecosystems, combat climate change, and support the communities that rely on these vital resources”
The roadmap outlines a three-year plan (2025-2028) to develop the Blue Carbon Policy, addressing key government priorities and bridging gaps by leveraging existing governance and technical frameworks. It emphasizes the role of coastal communities as stewards of blue carbon ecosystems, ensuring that their livelihoods are enhanced through sustainable management practices.
Key contributors to the drafting process included representatives from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE), and the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs (DPLGA). Other key stakeholders, such as the National Oceans Office, National Fisheries Authority, and PNG Forest Authority, provided critical input.
Participants engaged in productive discussions to address gaps identified during earlier consultations, including governance, data availability, financing, and stakeholder engagement. Strengthening governance frameworks and data-sharing mechanisms were highlighted as critical steps for effective policy implementation.
The writeshop emphasised the need for collaboration among governmental and non-governmental entities to ensure systematic data collection and analysis. Improving data accessibility and accuracy is crucial for informed decision-making regarding blue carbon ecosystems. The roadmap outlines steps to enhance these systems, making data more actionable for policy implementation.
By the end of the writeshop, a draft Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap was produced. This will be refined in the coming months and presented to a broader group of stakeholders in early 2025. The roadmap ensures alignment with international commitments, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).
A central theme of the policy is community-driven conservation, with a strong focus on empowering coastal communities as custodians of blue carbon ecosystems. The writeshop participants stressed that the success of the policy will depend on supporting these communities in their critical role.
As PNG moves forward with developing its Blue Carbon Policy, the roadmap produced during the writeshop ensures the country is well-positioned to meet both national and global conservation goals. The collaborative efforts laid a strong foundation for a policy that will protect blue carbon ecosystems, contribute to climate change mitigation, and improve the well-being of coastal communities.
This policy and roadmap will guide PNG’s efforts to preserve its blue carbon ecosystems for future generations, positioning the country as a leader in blue carbon conservation within the Pacific region and globally.
The development of the Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap is supported by The Nature Conservancy PNG and the MACBLUE project.