About Us

The country of Papua New Guinea is made up of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and includes the Bismarck Archipelago and the island of Bougainville.  It is a large tropical country rich in biodiversity, potentially containing around 7% of global species in less than 1% of the global land area.  

Papua New Guinea retains large areas of intact rainforest and iconic wildlife such as birds of paradise, giant flightless cassowaries, tree kangaroos, and enigmatic egg-laying long-beaked echidnas. If that weren’t enough, surrounding Papua New Guinea is the world’s most diverse coral sea. Papua New Guinea is also the most linguistically and culturally diverse nation on earth, with over 800 recognized languages and more than 1000 cultural groups.

WCS is the longest established international conservation organisation operating in Papua New Guinea, and has been undertaking conservation work in the country since the 1970s. Today, WCS Papua New Guinea program (WCS PNG) employs more than 60 staff based at four offices around the country. WCS works with local communities on a wide range of conservation issues in a variety of locations spanning coral reefs to mountain rainforests.

WCS PNG’s vision is: “Gutpela sindaun, gutpela solwara, gutpela bus”, which translates to, “Empowered people with healthy forests and seas”.  This vision fits within WCS’s global vision which “envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth”.

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Papua New Guinea triples ocean protection, announcing two new Marine Protected Areas
Protecting Papua New Guinea's Unique Biodiversity: Celebrating 48 Years of Independence

As Papua New Guinea (PNG) marks its 48th year of independence, it is anopportune moment to reflect on thenation's sovereign right to protect its exceptional biodiversity and it’s theintrinsic link between conservation of this biodiversity and national identity. 

Inaugl tribe members commit to legally protect more than 12,000 ha of high biodiversity forest

Today, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Indigenous landowners of the Inaugl tribe have joined their neighbours in the Bismarck Forest Corridor to commit to legally protecting 12,241 hectares of forest under a conservation deed. The deed protects this high integrity forest from logging, while allowing for sustainable use of natural resources within marked zones. 

Kiwa WISH+ to address Water-Related Disease Risks, Climate Resilience and Biodiversity

Through systems health and Nature-based Solutions approaches, the Watershed Interventions for Systems Health Plus (WISH+) project, funded under the Kiwa Initiative, will deliver co-benefits for climate resilience, biodiversity and human health and well-being in Papua New Guinea.

More traditional clans in the Bismarck Forest Corridor of Papua New Guinea agree on legally protecting their forest lands together

Seven clans of the Wamiufa tribe, with a total estimated population of over 4000, have today (29.06.22) signed a legally binding contract to protect their forest biodiversity from growing threats of over-exploitation of their forest land and wildlife.

NFI and WCS conduct the first filmmakers selection in Mauberema and kick-start the Conservation for Culture programme in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea

In every household and every community in Papua New Guinea, telling stories is how one generation connects the next to the past and prepares the next for the future.

WCS PNG leads the first community ranger training in Kwiop and builds up the community-based organisation operational capacity to protect the Mount Goplom Conservation Area

The SWM Programme is developing innovative solutions based on field projects in fifteen countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah and wetland environments.

First camera trap videos of Dwarf Cassowaries in Mt. Goplom Conservation Area along the Bismarck forest corridor ecosystem.
The first Conservation Deed signing in the highlands paves way to Community-led protection of high-value intact forest

 

 
Bilas Preservation Reduce Threats to Wildlife

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