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Mahonia Na Dari - Guardian of the Sea Understanding and conserving the Natural Environment of Kimbe Bay and Papua New Guinea for the benefit of present and future generations
What We DoMahonia is active in: · Marine Education and Awareness · Community-based conservation · Locally Managed Marine Areas · Supporting Eco-Tourism Initiatives
Marine Education and AwarenessMahonia Na Dari’s marine education and awareness program has proven to be a powerful tool in building support for conservation, increasing environmental awareness and inspiring local action to protect reefs, waterways, turtle nesting areas, sea grass beds, mangrove areas and cultural sites. It has three main components. • The Marine Environmental Education Program (MEEP) • Field excursions • Outreach activities The Marine Environmental Education Programme (MEEP) The Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP) was first developed in 1997 and targeted secondary school children in the Kimbe area. Today it runs as four programs targeting secondary school students (Intensive MEEP), Grade 9 primary school students (Junior MEEP), primary school teachers, (Teachers MEEP) and Elementary school students (Baby MEEP). Sections of the MND MEEP manual have been incorporated into the mainstream primary school curriculum under the Curriculum Reform Implementation Project (an AusAid and PNG government initiative), recognizing the value of the program. A draft manual will become an official resource material for primary and secondary school teachers.
INTENSIVE MEEP. Currently it runs as a 13 day program, repeated 4 times per year with a maximum intake of 20 students per session. The classes are usually spread over 13 weeks and include classroom theory and extensive practical sessions. The 20 students who are selected to complete the course learn general reef biology, environmental problems of the pacific islands, ways to protect marine ecosystems, and the importance of marine resource management. Students also learn about basic coral reef survey and data collection techniques. When possible visiting researchers and scientists will contribute to the program explaining their research activities and demonstrating practical field biology. Although most of the students come from coastal areas, many are not familiar with the underwater side of the marine environment. Snorkeling and boat trips to a variety of reefs show the students both the fragile nature and abundance of life associated with these environments. JUNIOR MEEP. The MEEP program has also been adapted to suit students in primary school and each year grade 9 students attend the modified classes. BABY MEEP. This MEEP program targets elementary school students aged between 6 and 10. Their course is one day per week for three weeks and involves storytelling, reef walks, videos, drawing and puppet shows. TEACHERS MEEP. Primary teachers do not currently receive any training in marine or environmental studies. Mahonia Na Dari has designed a teachers workshop lasting 5-10 days to help equip these teachers with the information and skills they need. Each year up to 20 teachers from the Talasea, Hoskins or Bialla inspectorates (and further afield if funding is available) attend this workshop.
MEEP Graduates in PNG are encouraged to contact Mahonia Na Dari and let us know how their participation in the Program has influenced them in future endeavours. Schools and community groups interested in participating in one of the MEEP programs, should contact Mahonia.
Field Excursions Field excursions run by Mahonia Na Dari, based at Walindi Nature Centre, take many forms depending on the specific requests from the community and schools. Community groups sometimes want those placed in positions of responsibility regarding marine resources to have the opportunity for hands on experience of coral reefs and their inter-relationship with reef inhabitants. Similarly, secondary school students with a particular interest in the marine environment can request a Biology Field Excursion or Intensive MEEP. Students then have practical hands on sessions in subjects and issues of their choice. Primary and elementary students are also catered for along with other interested groups. The participants can come from anywhere in the country or overseas for up to five days at a time. The groups are accommodated in the dormitory style facility at Walindi Nature Centre with options for catered or self catering available. Mahonia Na Dari staff conduct the program with input from visiting scientists and researchers. Costs and facilities available are listed under the Research page.
Students attending a marine field excursion at Mahonia Na Dari. Photo by Steven Aparo
Outreach Activities In order to deliver its educational message to as many people as possible, Mahonia conducts outreach activities, visiting schools and villages both in West New Britain and further afield. These outreach activities are suitable for adults and students and are conducted by Mahonia Na Dari staff and trained marine educators. Although style and content will differ to suit both the topic in question and target audience, this work has allowed discussion about important issues including over-harvesting, dynamite fishing and pollution. There is a very popular puppet show, conducted in pidgin, which outlines the damaging effects of "poison rope" and dynamite fishing. "Poison rope" fishing uses a highly toxic substance derived from a local plant known as derris root, which kills fish indiscriminately and also affects corals.
Primary School students from Bereme Community School visiting Mahonia Na Dari. Photo by Lorna Romaso
Mahonia Na Dari has concentrated its conservation efforts around the coastal areas between Kimbe town and Talesea, through the implementation of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA’s). This compliments the wider work being carried out by the Nature Conservancy to establish Marine Protected Areas within Kimbe Bay. Community awareness is the foundation of the LMMA program as the entire community has to embrace it’s concept for it to work. The awareness programs focus on the importance of reefs to communities, the interrelationships between reefs and other habitats, and ways to sustainably manage marine resources to ensure the preservation of the high levels of biodiversity found there. Mahonia trains local community marine educators through workshops and discussions as well as carrying out its own awareness program. The Marine educators become responsible for continually spreading the message about the marine environment in the community and also picking up on issues that might arise with the management and monitoring of the LMMA.
Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) are a tool for local village communities to protect, use and sustainably manage their marine resources. The LMMA is an area defined by the community to be managed under a set of rules and regulations by the people who live in and own that area. Mahonia Na Dari, aware of the success of Marine Protected Areas throughout the world, introduced the concept to Kimbe Bay in 1996 and by 1997, a no-take Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) was established by the Kilu community adjacent to the Walindi Nature Centre. The Kilu LMMA project involved a wide range of stakeholders, including community leaders, local and international NGOs, dive operators and university researchers. The Kilu LMMA was one of the first community-based marine reserves in PNG and as such is a focal point for significant scientific research as well as being the cornerstone of an effort to develop a network of LMMAs in the wider Kimbe Bay and New Guinea Islands region. Since the project’s inception, managers have used ecosystem monitoring to assess the ecological effectiveness of the LMMA, identify major threats, and characterize reef health. However, managers were also interested in socio-economic monitoring so they could customize conservation strategies to reflect the specific needs and concerns of the local community. Mahonia Na Dari, jointly with The Nature Conservancy, now works with targeted coastal communities in the Kimbe area to help develop Locally Managed Marine areas. These LMMA’s under development include, coral reefs, inshore sea grass beds, island and mangrove forests. The majority of the LMMA’s are located within one kilometer of the main island and will provide basic management of approximately 60 square kilometers of near shore and marine habitats. Signs indicating “No-take zones” have been installed, but the harsh marine environment means they are constantly in need of replacement. Mahonia has also contributed to the establishment of “no-take” zones in Manus, a nearby, remote Province of PNG. Loniu and the Ambahan Clan of Ahus Island have set aside a certain number of their traditional fishing reefs as ‘no take’ zones after Mahonia Na Dari conducted the marine environmental education and awareness programs in their villages. The closures were initiated by the resource owners with the objectives of replenishing the reefs with harvestable resources and strengthening their traditional management practices. Mahonia conducted baseline biological monitoring surveys on these recently-established LMMAs. The data collected from these surveys will act as the basis for future monitoring plans to assess the effectiveness of the LMMAs.
Environmental research and education go hand-in-hand. Mahonia Na Dari offers a unique opportunity for marine scientists and other researchers to work on a wide variety of projects that both advance collective knowledge and benefit communities. While not a big research facility, Mahonia can provide a base for those interested in doing research in this part of the world and offers accommodation, boating and diving access to Kimbe Bay, laboratory space and access to telecommunications. Researchers using Mahonia’s facilities are not restricted to exploring Kimbe Bay’s marine environment. Terrestrial, Archeological and Anthropological studies are also conducted. In keeping with the philosophy of education and community conservation, the researchers who use the facility are encouraged to give some of their time to talk to the local community and school students who visit the Centre. For examples of the wide variety of research successfully undertaken at Mahonia, please click here. If you would like more information on the unique natural environment and facilities available to researchers staying at Mahonia, please click here. If you are interested in using Mahonia's facilities to undertake research, please click here for information on arranging your trip.
Supporting Ecotourism Initiatives Mahonia Na Dari is interested in promoting eco-tourism opportunities in the Kimbe area, as a way to contribute positively to the economic well being of the local people whilst also having a strong conservation and education focus. While eco-tourism cannot compete as a direct alternative to other income generating activities such as forestry, cash crops and the utilization of marine resources, it can be one of a range of options that collectively contribute to sustainable land and sea management in the Kimbe area. Eco-tourism if carried out correctly can: • Contribute to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage • Involve all stakeholders in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the operation • Generate sustainable income for all stake holders in an equitable manner • Provide a learning environment for both visitor and host
Opportunities Kimbe Bay is rich in natural resources both on land and at sea and has a history of nature based tourist activities such as diving, birdwatching and fishing. Diving has dominated the tourism industry for the last 25 years and more recently specialist bird watching and fishing have also become relatively important.
Walindi Nature Center residents paddling a traditional canoe on Kimbe Bay. Photo by Tansy Bliss DIVING. Walindi Plantation Resort runs the main dive resort in West New Britain and is already world renowned for its professional operation offering access to some of the most pristine reefs in the coral triangle (see Research page). The involvement of the local communities is a key element in this operation as they have customary rights over the reefs, sea mounts and islands.
Susan's Reef. Photogaph courtesy of Franco Banfi
Walindi Plantation Resort has developed its diving hand in hand with the conservation and protection of the reefs. It was the main driving force behind Mahonia Na Dari and the Walindi Nature Centre. Walindi Plantation Resort has contributed to the international recognition and support for the conservation and protection of Kimbe Bay. The local communities have benefited from the continuous receipt of concession fees for use of their reefs and also from international donor funds attracted to the area to assist with local reef conservation.
FISHING A high quality fishing lodge at Baia village to the east of Kimbe Bay has also brought monetary and other benefits to the local communities in the form of employment, training and upgrading of village facilities. In addition, the strong need to maintain a clean and viable habitat for the highly sought after Black Bass has meant conservation initiatives have had to accompany this tourism development (www.baiasportfishingpng.com).
BIRDWATCHING Specialist international birdwatching tours visit Kimbe Bay to seek out the West New Britain endemics. These include the Black-headed Paradise Kingfisher, the Blue- eyed Cockatoo, and New Britain Buzzard on land, while out at sea, the recently discovered Heinroth’s Shearwater can be seen along with the Nicobar pigeon on several of the remote off shore islands. Please, visit Walindi Resort Plantation for more information (www.walindi.com).
Birdwatching on Schuman Island, Kimbe Bay. Photo by Tansy Bliss Both species and habitat protection are essential for bird watching to remain a viable tourism activity in West New Britain. Many of the endemics are now only found within Wildlife Management Areas established in the 1970’s as other habitats have been degraded due to logging or converted into oil palm plantation and food gardens. Eco-tourism may provide the incentive for communities to protect the last vestiges of lowland forest and riverine habitats, forming buffer zones and conservation areas that link the remaining important bird habitats.
Mahonia Na Dari’s involvement Mahonia Na Dari is actively seeking funding to develop the Eco-tourism programs already initiated and is currently liaising with businesses, local communities and government agencies. Mahonia Na Dari also hopes to develop terrestrial education programs encompassing eco-tourism for students, teachers and the community. Ecotourism activities currently operating in the area include local bush walks, general birdwatching, village tours, forest walks and butterfly farming. Mahonia Na Dari is working with the different stake holders to ensure the following: • The product, be it a bird watching site, guided walk or locally made handicraft, is of a high standard and conforms to the eco-tourism principles • Interpretation materials are available for the visitors • The local people involved are well trained and able to develop their product • Suitable marketing materials are available • Links are made between the resource owners, the tour operators, appropriate local and provincial government departments, and potential eco-tourists
The challenges Developing eco-tourism is a complex and challenging task relying on strong partnerships to ensure that the multiple goals of conservation and equitable development are met. In West New Britain eco-tourism opportunities are directly affected by • the high cost of airfares to West New Britain, • the low number of non specialists tourists visiting the area, • landownership conflicts and difficult access to natural resource sites, • a predominance of oil palm plantation on lowland accessible sites • limited facilities and services for family orientated holidays, • continual law and order issues
Despite all the above Mahonia Na Dari believes that small scale eco-tourism activities if developed and managed carefully can contribute to successful income generation for local communities whilst also strengthening conservation of the natural resources upon which the activities are based. Watch this space for profiles on developing eco-tourism initiatives!
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Last modified: 07/11/09 |
