Kimbe Bay Marine Awareness (PNG/00/03)

Project Details & Results

Th project aims to raise awareness of the Kimbe Marine Environment by producing and deseminating awareness materials on Coral reefs and life in the sea.

The project mobilised local schools and carried out marine environmental awareness at selected sites. Local villages in the awareness programmes had puppets shows with marine conservation messages, booklets and pamphlets and other promotion materials. This approach strengthen the conservation message on marine biodiversity in schools and villages that were visited. The proponent saw that these approaches to build the capacity of the local people had effective impact. Alot of the resource owners agreed to legally establish their marine areas under the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and encourage sustainable development.

The project was successfully completed.

Notable Community Participation
The surrounding communities are involved in the infrastructure development and other day to day activities to collect the information

Capacity - Building Component
The project capacity building components included:
* video documentary on the marine protected areas.
* puppet shows as part of the awareness programs in schools and villages.
*books and other publications for school students in the local institutions.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The MPAs have rules and laws that the local people developed themselves to harvest at certain sites at certain times to maintain their daily needs. The practice allows time for the marine ecosystem to maintain its biodversity composition.

Gender Focus
Both men and women are focused on in the project's activities. Youths groups and womens groups are part of the awareness programmes.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The local resource owners have contributed their marine sea areas to be established legally as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) to sustainably develop their marine resource.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The project promotes public awareness of the local marine ecosystem and thus contributes to the overall global environment conservation.

Policy Impact
Increase in the number of marine protected areas of the governmental department for environment and conservation.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms
Nil

Project Results
* Project developed:
* a video documentary on the environmental mooring facilities on the project sites and the NGO and broadcasted on the local T.V
* educational materials for students to be educated on the importance of their marine resources;
* marine protected areas at the project sites;
*build capacity of local trained divers and local communities to promote marine conservation and use that approach as an alternate to earn cash. Several communities are involved and hope to replicate their approach to conserve and sustainably develop their resources to other areas in Kimbe Bay.