LocationsFor two days, managers of protected areas, owners of green and blue businesses, and environmental activists from across the country gathered at the Loloata Island Resort to learn about conservation and sustainable business initiatives being carried out across the country.
UNDP co-hosts the first PNG Protected Areas Series of 2025
June 26, 2025
The session of the Protected Area Series 2025 took place at the Loloata Island Resort in Port Moresby.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, hosting approximately 7% of the world's species within less than 1% of the Earth's land area. This remarkable concentration includes over 18,000 plant species, 719 bird species, 271 mammals, 227 reptiles, 266 amphibians, 341 freshwater fish species, 600 species of coral, and 3,000 species of reef fish. Such diversity places PNG among the world's 17 megadiverse countries, underscoring its critical role in global ecological health.
In a concerted effort to protect this invaluable natural heritage, UNDP joined the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) of the Government of Papua New Guinea in hosting the year's first session of the PNG Protected Areas Series at the Loloata Island Resort in Port Moresby. The two-day event brought together dozens of protected area managers, environmental activists, and owners of green and blue businesses from across the country. The forum was held with the generous support of the Global Environment Facility through UNDP's 'Sustainable Financing of Papua New Guinea's Protected Area Network Project'.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth, during the opening ceremony of the Protected Areas Series.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta
The sessions facilitated dynamic discussions on various conservation topics, such as harnessing renewable energy, preserving coral reefs, and rehabilitating degraded ecosystems. Participants also engaged in hands-on training sessions, including a tour of the nearby Motupore Island and demonstrations of mangrove and coral planting techniques. These activities provided practical insights into sustainable conservation practices and fostered a collaborative approach to environmental stewardship.
At the end of the forum,UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth, emphasized the importance of sustainable resource management for the sustainable development of Papua New Guinea:
“Papua New Guinea must find a way to leverage and not exploit and exhaust its remarkable natural resources. The initiatives we have learned about during these two days provide a model for what this country could look like if they were scaled up, turned into policies, and made into the economic foundation of this country.”
The participants engaged in lively conversations on management of protected areas and other conservation issues in the country.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta
Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Kay Kumaras Kalim, Director for Sustainable Environment Programmes at CEPA, highlighted the significance of collaboration:
“This series gives us a unique opportunity to make new partnerships. You are the experts of conservation in this country. Unless we actively learn from and collaborate with each other, we will not progress in our efforts to secure our natural heritage for our future generations.”
The participants undertook practical trainings on mangrove and coral planting.
UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta
The PNG Protected Areas Series serves as a pivotal step towards fostering a unified approach to conservation. By strengthening partnerships and sharing knowledge, PNG is poised to enhance its protected area networks and ensure the preservation of its unique biodiversity for future generations.
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