Figure 1: Emotional CMC members with Benson Bailam (Yasina Conservation Manager - third from right), Paul Pake (Yasina Conservation Chairman - far right), Mark David (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - third from left), Harshad Karandikar (WCS - centre) and Bennie Atigini (WCS- second from right) © WCS | Elaine Vaina. Yasina CD signing, Upper Bena, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 2025
The Yasina community in Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands Province has taken an inspiring step towards sustainable environmental management by signing a conservation deed to formalise its recently launched land-use management plan. This milestone reflects a strong commitment to community-led stewardship of the land – and fostering a sustainable landscape where biodiversity is safeguarded, cultural traditions are respected, and community livelihoods are strengthened for generations to come.
Yasina Community Conservation Area in Megabo, Upper Bena Local Level Government (LLG) in Unggai-Bena District, Eastern Highlands Province, commits to protecting and sustainably managing its land and resources – including its flora and fauna – with the signing of a conservation deed and the launch of their land use management plan in Flayafalo Hamlet, Safanota Village on Wednesday 4 June 2025 – a day prior to the World Environment Day celebrations.
The name "Yasina" refers to a prized local orchid native to the area. Initially, the area was referred to as the Yasina Nature Park, reflecting the significance of this native orchid and the natural environment. Community residents were thrilled to have achieved this milestone and renamed the area Yasina Community Conservation Area.
Figure 2: (Left - Right) Pic 1: Yasina orchid growing in its natural environment, Pic 2: Yasina orchid in a flower garden (centre) supplied images: WCS © Stanley Geremba. Yasina, Upper Bena, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 2025 and Pic 3: the Yasina orchid used to decorate the stage for the conservation deed signing. © WCS | Elaine Vaina. Yasina CD signing, Upper Bena, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 2025
The conservation deed covers five clans (the Semeya Nagai, Ekesa Gegiya, Gakuhu Nagai, Migotahi, and Gosi Nagai clans) with a combined estimated population of over 500 people and covering a total of 2,307 ha of customary land that lies in the eastern part of the Bismarck Forest Corridor. The signing signifies the clans’ commitment to protecting their natural resources and creating a thriving, sustainable environment where biodiversity is preserved, cultural traditions are respected, and community livelihoods are improved.
The chairman of the Yasina Community Conservation Area, Paul Pake, said that “the signing of this conservation deed will enable the people to protect their land and resources and allow them to take ownership and responsibility of their actions towards their land and resources.”
Figure 3: Paul Pake (Yasina Conservation Chairman) giving his speech and signing the conservation deed. © WCS | Elaine Vaina. Yasina CD signing, Upper Bena, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 2025
The Community Relations Manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Papua New Guinea, Bennie Atigini, stated that “the signing of the conservation deed will help the community members in managing and protecting their land, including its flora and fauna”. He further explained that the “Yasina Land Use Management Plan serves as a strategic guide to the conservation deed and will help communities make informed decisions about how to use and manage their land and natural resources sustainably, while protecting this important ecosystem, cultural values and biodiversity. Both the deed and the plan will also help communities attract external support and partnerships for long-term environmental and social benefits.
This community is the second in Eastern Highlands Province to sign a conservation deed to formalise the management of their customary land and to conserve the local environment.
The rules for the management area were decided by the residents of Yasina and collectively cover three different land-use zones.
- Zone 1 (1, 465 ha) encompasses a restricted area where no human activities or settlements are allowed.
- Zone 2 (358 ha) is a buffer area where some activities can be conducted following the rules defined in the management plan.
- Zone 3 (484 ha) is for general use and settlement by residents.
Since 2022, the development of the land-use planning process was supported by the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme, funded by the European Union, and implemented in PNG by the Wildlife Conservation Society. WCS has assisted six communities in the PNG Highlands to prepare and sign respective conservation deeds, with the Yasina conservation deed being the most recent.
The six conservation areas are:
- Manga tribe: Mt Goplom Conservation Area, in Kwiop, Middle Jimi LLG, Jiwaka Province, signed in August 2021.
- Wamiufa tribe: Mt Dorehere Conservation Area in the Upper Asaro LLG, Daulo District in Eastern Highlands Province, signed in June 2022.
- Inaugl tribe: Inaugl Natural Resource Management Area of the Mitnande LLG in the Kundiawa-Gembogl District, Simbu Province, signed in August 2023.
- Denglaku Mauglak: Mt Wilhelm Biodiversity Nature Conservation Area of the Mitnande LLG, Kundiawa-Gembogl District, Simbu Province, signed in December 2023
- Kuglkane tribe: Kuglkane Protected Area Sustainable Management of the Mitnande LLG, Kundiawa District, Simbu Province, signed in October 2024.
- Yasina Community Conservation Area of Ward 7 in Upper Bena LLG), Ungai-Bena District, Eastern Highlands Province, signed on June 4, 2025.
Keynote speaker from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Eastern Highlands Office, Mark David, when speaking at the gathering, urged the CMC members to work in collaboration with other partner organizations to allow sustainable livelihood projects to develop, and to support the management and protection of their respective conservation areas.
These achievements mark a long journey with the support of several project partners and donors, including the SWM Programme.
Figure 4: CMC members (Conservation Manager, Benson Bailom) and Jessica the only female signatory of the conservation deed take their turns to sign the deed. © WCS | Elaine Vaina. Yasina CD signing, Upper Bena, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. 2025
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The SWM Programme is a major international initiative that aims to improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems. It is being funded by the European Union with co-funding from the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Projects are being piloted and tested with governments and communities in 17 participating countries. The initiative is coordinated by a dynamic consortium of four partners, namely the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). For more information please visit: https://www.fao.org/in-action/swm-programme/en