UNRE celebrates World Environment Day
PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment through the new School of Environment and Climate Change was challenged to be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation in the Pacific region.
Dr Kichawen told staff and students that conservation of biodiversity remains a great challenge for PNG and that there is a need to integrate the goals of conservation of biodiversity areas into plans and policies of other sectors so that they are not undermined by incompatible developments.
Dr Kichawen called on UNRE to lead the way to protect the East Melanesian biodiversity due to high levels of plant and animal endemism and accelerating levels of habitat loss caused by widespread of commercial logging and mining, expansion of subsistence and plantation agriculture, population increase and the impacts of climate change and variability.
He said the East Melanesian Islands Hotspots are found in island nations of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands and the islands region of Papua New Guinea, which includes the provinces of Manus, New Ireland, East New Britain, West New Britain and Autonomous Region of Bougainville; and these are the most threatened and vulnerable regions found in the Melanesian Region.
The VC said over the last two decades countries in the hotspot have developed conservation strategies and International Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) have established programmes in the region but these have not always delivered the expected results or left a legacy in terms of local capacity and appreciation of conservation objectives.
UNRE Vice-Chancellor Dr Pongie Kichawen made the call at the University’s World Environment Day celebration last Friday.
The day was celebrated with tree planting with tree species from the Department of Forestry; and other activities, which were witnessed by University acting Chancellor Dr Andrew Masta.
Speaking on this year’s theme Biodiversity, the VC explained that Biodiversity means the variety of the biological species present on the Earth.
He said Biodiversity can be summed up as the combination of all the life forms on Earth.
Dr Kichawen said East Melanesian Islands qualified as hotspots due to their high levels of plant and animal endemism and accelerating levels of habitat loss due to the mentioned activities.
He added that the entire rural population relies heavily on biodiversity for food security and livelihoods.
Nevertheless, Dr Kichawen said domestic civil society organisations focusing on biodiversity conservation have begun to emerge in all three countries and the conservation of biodiversity approach that has been community-managed conservation areas, especially locally managed marine areas.
Acting Chancellor Dr Masta in his address, said UNRE is unique in its programmes to manage and sustain Papua New Guinea’s natural resources.
He said these programmes must be practical and applicable after students graduate.
