by Conservation International
Project Overview
The 2500 square kilometer Lakekamu-Kunimaipa Basin (the "Basin") contains
the largest expanse of unbroken humid forest in the southern watershed of
peninsular PNG. The Basin contains two areas deemed "of very high
priority" for biodiversity conservation by the PNG Conservation Needs
Assessment. The site contains healthy populations of many globally
vulnerable species of birds, mammals, and other taxa. Although the Basin
currently has a low human population density, a number of threats are
looming in the near future, particularly industrial logging, creation of
oil palm plantations, and mining.
To counter these threats, CI and local communities are working to set-up
landowner-owned and operated scientific field research and adventure
tourism enterprises in the Basin. The research tourism enterprises are
establishing and providing support for a tropical forest field station
that eventually will include a central lodge, a mapped trail system, and a
series of blinds for observing wildlife. Community members are also
providing food, portering, and guide services to researchers. The
adventure tourism enterprises being planned will establish and provide
support for a walking trek that will include a rustic lodge near the
airstrip and series of seven overnight rest huts along, in part, the
historic Bulldog trail. Community members will also provide guide,
naturalist, and support services. In both enterprises, community members
will benefit from user fees paid by the visitors.
A central project component is monitoring the biological and socioeconomic
impacts of project enterprises and other activities. It is expected that
these enterprises, which depend upon the continued maintenance of large
tracts of undisturbed forest, will provide a substantial incentive for
conservation of the area's biological diversity, and will demonstrate to
policy makers at the national level that community management of
ecotourism is an alternative to logging and mining.
