Scientific and Eco-Tourism in the Rain Forests of Crater Mountain, Papua New Guinea

by Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG

Partners:

Research and Conservation Foundation of PNG (RCF) Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Success Stories

In a traditional culture where tribal rivalries and fighting have been in place for centuries, the Crater Mountain WMA has had unprecedented success in bringing together representatives from 21 clans representing two language groups to discuss and draft legislation to manage the second largest WMA in PNG. In 1996, the WMA annual meeting gained national attention with representatives from the Department of Environment & Conservation, the Tourism Promotion Authority and the University of PNG addressing the convention of clan delegates. This has boosted the pride and appreciation of Crater Mountain communities in the unique natural resources and associated enterprises they possess. Although yet in a very early state of development, this fledgling structure has provided valuable lessons for viable management structures in privately-owned protected areas in PNG.

An associated landmark in national leadership has been the increased involvement and capacity of the national project staff who work as trainers with the Crater Mountain communities, and who have taken a lead in this extremely challenging conservation initiative. Based on their innovations in the project, the Senior Project Officer, John Ericho, and his staff including Business Development Coordinator, Stanley Kundal and Field Research Coordinator, Robert Bino are recognized as important leaders in integration of conservation and development in PNG.

Challenges

Our greatest challenge in the development of the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area continues to be the community's low level of literacy and experience with the modern cash economy as well as the historical presence of inter-clan conflict and suspicion of one another. The average level of formal education is grade one, most residents have never traveled beyond the boundaries of the WMA and have only recently begun to personally manage small sums of cash. Fear of traditional sorcery and loyalty to clan affiliations underlies social behavior. Resident field extension staff with excellent communication skills have been essential to meet this challenge. They provide slow-paced, ongoing training conducive to traditional village lifestyles. Their constant presence provides the communities with an invaluable source of information to answer queries to dispel misconceptions about the outside world and the cash economy beyond the WMA boundaries, and they may serve as an unrelated third party to very carefully mediate clan conflict or misunderstanding.

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