NGBRC were able to successfully convene the first mountain dialogue in Port Moresby inviting varied number of participants with majority representation from CSO, that are implementing natural resource management and conservation efforts with mountain communities, government officers from different national government departments with mandates that have an impact in and or are likely to influence initiatives aimed at supporting efforts that will uphold mountain ecosystem values.
A report was prepared and delivered highlighting context of discussions held and issues identified around the different SDG discussed and its challenges in context of implementation in PNG.
After media coverage of the Dialogue, SGP NC and a representative from the PNG National Forest Authority were invited to be interviewed on national radio.
It was generally agreed that many mountain communities across PNG are facing similar issues with respect to lack of government services and foresight with development planning with high altitude communities in mind. Many communities remain isolated, vulnerable with zero presence of government in the form of health facility and related personnel and infrastructure, road infrastructure, schools, electricity - in spite of clean energy readily available for access (solar, river-hydro) access to clean and safe drinking water. it was considered that while effective government planning has been absent, increasing population placing pressure and increased demand for forest based products is contributing to threats with mountain ecosystems. Additionally, climate change trends are more evident at high altitude with species distributions being disturbed.
There is commitment from government and CSO participants to look into opportunities to hold a subsequent technical group meeting that will likely develop a ToR for the working group focusing on mountain communities and ecosystem.