Tio calls for stakeholder support

Participants during the first day of the PNG National Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap Workshop

Speech by Ms. Yvonne Tio – Executive Manager, Marine Environment

Papua New Guinea National Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap Workshop

Dear Esteemed stakeholders and partners in the Blue Carbon Space;

A very good morning to you all. Let me start by Firstly, acknowledging and welcoming representatives from our key Government Agencies; the Climate Change Development Authority, PNG National Forest Authority, the PNG National Ocean’s Office, Department of Lands and Physical Planning and all others who are present in this room.

Secondly, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our Donor partners, Industry leads, and very important project partners; the MACBLUE and GIZ team, who have travelled into PNG for this workshop.

Thirdly, let me also welcome and also acknowledge our CBO and  key NGO partners, The Nature Conservancy, World Wide Fund for Nature, Wildlife Conservation Society, FORCERT, as well as our other provincial government participants and those that have joined online.

It is a privilege to stand before you all today to highlight an emerging issue of importance to our nation and the world at large: the significance of Blue Carbon ecosystems, their potential value, and the urgent need to protect them.

 Blue Carbon refers to the carbon captured by the world's oceanic and coastal ecosystems, specifically mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. These ecosystems are not only vital for their rich biodiversity but also play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.

These ecosystems store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, significantly mitigating the effects of climate change. Scientific research has shown that Blue Carbon ecosystems are among the most efficient natural systems for sequestering carbon, making them essential allies in our fight against global warming.

The ocean, also stores eight times more carbon than terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting the critical importance of protecting and preserving these marine habitats.

Papua New Guinea is blessed with a rich array of coastal and marine ecosystems. We support at least 8% of Global biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine.  Our mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs provide a habitat for numerous species.

Our nation is home to 5% of the global coral reef area, and mangroves alone account for 4% of the global total, covering around 482,000 hectares, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These mangroves provide critical habitat for a variety of species, many of which are endemic to our region.

The Coral Triangle, of which PNG is a part of, is recognized as the global center of marine biodiversity, hosting over 600 species of reef-building corals and more than 2,000 species of reef fish. These facts alone are enough to warrant our full attention to the issue of protecting our marine ecosystems.
Our seagrass ecosystems in the country, cover an estimated 700 square kilometers and play a vital role in coastal health by stabilizing sediments, providing food and habitat for marine life, and sequestering carbon.

Regionally, PNG is a proud participant in several key agreements, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security, the Melanesian Spearhead Group Framework for Environment and Climate Change, the South Pacific Regional Environment Program the Blue Pacific Continent and many others.

These agreements highlight our dedication to regional cooperation in addressing environmental challenges, however, they must be translated into clear national frameworks that can be implemented and achieved.

The PNG government, through CEPA, is in the process of establishing a framework for coastal and marine environmental protection. Using the existing regulations under the Environment Act 2000, the Protected Areas Policy, and the newly enacted Protected Areas Act 2024; our government, through these legislations provides a point of intervention for protecting our Blue Carbon ecosystems.

Protecting and Conserving Blue Carbon Ecosystems, as well as restoring degraded sites is outlined clearly in the PNG Marine Program and a key output of this is to develop a National Policy, showing a clear mandate of stakeholders and quantified economic, social, and environmental benefits.

To ensure the long-term protection of our Blue Carbon ecosystems, we must develop and implement a comprehensive Blue Carbon policy. This policy should align with our existing national and regional strategies and integrate Blue Carbon considerations into broader environmental and climate change policies.

Stakeholder engagement is crucial in this process. Local communities, NGOs, and academic institutions must be involved in the development and implementation of Blue Carbon policies.

Convening workshops such as these are extremely vital to gather stakeholder views and are part of the over-all process. Partnerships and collaboration between Agencies such as CEPA, CCDA, PNG Forest Authority, National Oceans Office, and NGO’s who work with communities on the ground, are extremely necessary for progress to be achieved.

I would like to commend the efforts of the Blue Carbon Policy Technical Working Group, who have worked tirelessly to plan and execute this workshop; and will have the task of progressing the Policy and drafting of the framework towards 2025.

Today, I urge all stakeholders to support the development and implementation of a Blue Carbon policy for PNG.

In closing, I want to thank each of you for your attention and commitment to protecting PNG's natural heritage. Our collective action and collaboration are crucial in safeguarding our Blue Carbon ecosystems.

 It is my hope, that the objectives of this two-day workshop are fully achieved. Let us continue to work together to ensure that our marine resources are preserved for the benefit of our environment, our economy, and our people.

Let us envision a future where our Blue Carbon ecosystems are protected and thriving, contributing to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Together, we can create a legacy of stewardship and sustainability for future generations.

Thank you.

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY