Wetlands of Papua New Guinea

By ROBERT RAGE of Department of Environment and Conservation

In celebration of World Wetlands Day, Feb 2, 2011

Forests for Water and Wetlands

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2011 was specially chosen to link with the United Nations International Year of Forests.

It provides an ideal opportunity to focus on those forests that are often or always wet.

 They are marine, inland wetlands and human-made wetlands and coastal wetlands or intertidal forested wetlands dominated by mangroves.

Whether we live near them or not, wetlands provide many positive benefits for people. Inland swamp forests protect catchments while coastal swamp forests protect our coastline against storms and rising sea levels in some cases.

 All swamp forests provide diverse habitats for an impressive range of animal and plant species.

Riparian forests along or around rivers, streams and lakes play a significant role in stabilising banks, trapping sediments and carbon, removing harmful nutrients, reducing water velocity after storms and providing shade for aquatic life.

 And of course, forests and wetlands together, have a vital role to play in the provision of freshwater for human health and wealth.

World Wetlands Day is a time to reflect on the importance of wetlands in our lives; to celebrate what has been achieved but also, to rise to the challenge to do more for wetlands, not just on one day but throughout the year.

 So, what is World Wetlands Day?

World Wetlands Day is held on February 2 every year and marks the signing of the International Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention), on February 2,  1971,  in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

World Wetlands Day was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and since then, events and activities are held world-wide in February each year to raise awareness of wetland values and benefits.

So where are Papua New Guinea's wetlands?I asked this question to Ms Rose Singadan, manager of sustainable terrestrial protection:

 "First, there are, many types of wetlands under the three Ramsar classifications but I will name three major types generally recognised as wetlands in PNG.

"They are: the alpine wetlands or high altitude wetlands, for example,  the two lakes on Mt Wilhelm in Simbu Province (plus three other smaller ones]; Mt Victoria wet grasslands in the Central province, and many other unknown lakes up in many of our mountain tops.

"There are the arid wetlands and they are usually dry and wet in wet seasons but we could include the manmade Waigani Swamp and the Tonda wildlife management area (WMA) in the Ramu / Markham valley.

 "The third is the estuarine wetlands.

"Usually these are locations where the rivers meet the sea like the Gulf Basin, Galley Reach in Central province and Sepik River Basin.

"These are basins that hold vast mangrove forests".

For the record, according to surveys and studies carried out in the last two decades by the Department of Environment & Conservation, PNG has a total record of 5, 383 lakes with a surface area greater than 0.1 hectare; 3, 003 with a surface area of equal to or less than 2 hectares and 22 lakes larger than 1, 000 hectares.

Seventy-five per cent (75%) of theses lakes are found in the Western province and East Sepik province.

The largest of these lakes is Lake Murray in Western province with a surface area of 650 sq km at an approximate depth of 10m and the second largest is the Chambri Lakes in East Sepik province with a surface area of just less than 600 sq km and filling a shallow depression of the Sepik flood plains.

 These wetlands are home to large tracts of mangrove and nipa Palms, the most-extensive spread found in the Kikori and the Purari Delta in the Gulf of Papua.

Collectively, the mangroves forests in these basins occupy an area of about 162, 000 to 200, 000 ha,  providing habitation to an enormous treasure house of wildlife and fauna.

So why conserve wetlands?

 Wetlands are among the world's most productive environments.

 They are cradles of biological diversity, providing the water and primary productivity upon which countless high concentrations of species of plants and animals depend for survival.

 In turn, this biological diversity is the food source for our people.

 Wetlands are also important storehouses.

They trap carbon (dead trees, leaves, grass etc) in their mud banks and hold edible plant genetic material which supports the livelihood of many of our people.

 Sago, for example, which is a common wetland plant, is the staple diet of more than half of the country's population.

Seventy-five per cent (75%) of our population does not have gas and electricity and almost all of their cooking is fueled by wood, harvested from wetland forests.

 Wetlands are nature's water filter for fresh, clean drinking water.

 Therefore, the multiple roles of wetland ecosystems and their value to PNG must be understood by all of us.

Department of Environmental and Conservation (DEC) is mandated to contribute to the conservation and wise use of wetlands in PNG, through the strengthening of capacities based on the technical implementation of the Ramsar Convention.

DEC's vision is to minimise the loss of wetlands because it continues to happen in PNG through various impacts  like mining and urban expansion, for example,  the loss of the Era Kone (Ela Beach) wetland.

 Therefore, wetlands must be conserved, protected or rehabilitated through integral management practices based on the Ramsar Convention guidelines that will guarantee sustainable enjoyment and livelihoods of wetland communities.

DEC objectives therefore are to promote research and education on the wise use of wetlands in PNG;  promote and encourage biodiversity conservation in wetlands; promote and increase the number of protected areas in wetland areas;  promote sustainable livelihoods in wetlands;  prepare available human resources;  increase capacity building for the management and conservation of wetlands;  and implement the objectives of scientific-technical plan of the Ramsar Convention for the wise use and conservation of wetlands in PNG.

World Wetland Day is a global call for all including Papua New Guineans to become concerned about the importance of wetlands preservation, its uses and its significance to man's livelihood and derived cultures.

In the face of rapid urban expansion, population increase, the effects of climate change, and the accelerating crisis of safe drinking water, PNG must appreciate the value of wetlands.

Wetland values

These values range from economic benefits, for example, water supply (quantity and quality); fisheries (over two-thirds of PNG's fish harvest is linked to the health of coastal and inland wetland areas); agriculture, through the maintenance of water tables and nutrient retention in floodplains and swamp; timber production in our lowland swamp forests; energy resources, such as peat and plant matter; wildlife resources; and recreation and tourism opportunities.

These functions, values and attributes can only be maintained if the ecological processes of wetlands are allowed to continue functioning with minimum of threat.

University of Goroka holds 2011 student orientation for the first time

The University of Goroka on Wednesday launched its first-ever orientation week for new students, as part of their introduction to the 2011 academic year. 

The programme, to officially welcome newcomers to the university, was also an opportunity to acquaint new students with staff of UOG.

 International students were also given a special welcome to the campus.

Guest speaker was the UOG pro chancellor, Jerry Tetaga, former secretary for education.

Tetaga spoke to the students on behalf of the University of Goroka Council in an effort to improve relations with students and the university, so that UOG may be an institution comparable to those around the world.

Tetaga also highlighted several points in his address to the students by commenting on the UOG council's commitment to change to people's mindsets, work ethics, attitudes, structure and development to improve the situation at UOG.

 Students were also reminded of their responsibilities, rights, expectations and of the laws and policies whilst attending the university.

Tetaga congratulated the students for choosing to study at UOG and wished them the best for their future years at the institution.

The programme also included sessions for students from student services department on motivational talks on personal attitudes and stress management; services available on campus including chaplaincy; security; IT access on campus; a tour of the UOG library; and issuing of registration forms.

 The day's programme ended with an evening showing of a movie to students in the Mark Solon Auditorium.

The orientation program will continue for the whole week, with a programme for registration beginning on Monday, Feb 7.

Kokoda Track Authority appoints new CEO

The committee of the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) has announced the appointment of James Enage as its chief executive effective as of February 7.

 "We are pleased to announce Mr Enage's appointment as he is a local man with a deep understanding of the Kokoda Track, its people, the trekking industry and  government processes," said acting chairman of  KTA, Ruben Maleva.

Enage has been chairman of the KTA for the past two years and brings a wealth of experience and understanding to the position.

 He has previously held positions such as KDP health programme manager, policy analyst with Department of Prime Minister and NEC, and human resource manager with Central provincial administration.

 He also holds various honorary positions such as chairman of the Kokoda Track sports development programme and president of the Dobbo Warriors rugby league club.

The KTA's management committee will now seek a landowner representative from the Koiari people to represent their interests.

Enage will convene a series of meetings to elect the KTA Koiari landowner representative.

Ruben Maleva will act as the KTA chairman until a management committee meeting in May where the committee will elect a new chairman.

"This is an important day for the KTA where a local man takes on the most-senior role within the organisation and we thank the Australian and PNG Governments for their support through the Kokoda Initiative over the past three years," Maleva said.Current expatriate chief executive, Rod Hillman, will work closely with Enage throughout the rest of 2011. 

A timeless connection

By DAVID NALU

Like seagulls, the ancient mariners with their kasali (sailing canoes), with hand-woven sails displaying the insignia of the capatain of the voyage , plied the Huon Gulf from the south to the north, often into Madang and across the Vitiaz Straits to the south coast of West New Britain trading claypots and sago for mats, bilums, garden produce and obsidian.

Serene...Dot Island in the background

They were critical in sustaining the intricate trading network that had existed before the arrival of the first Lutheran missionaries.
They feature in folklore, and in certain traditional stories and songs from Sabic to Sia genre – and is testimony to the often romanticised status that the seagull people once held amongst the people of the Huon Gulf coastline and the role they played in trade in traditional society.

Inlet to Laukanu

It was the the Ahi, Bukaua and Jabem people of the northern part of he Huon Gulf coastline of Morobe that called them the seagull people, thus the name Laukanu in “Jom Kawa/Jabem”, their lingua franca ,
Laukanu, originally called Apoze, is a small Kela-speaking village past Salamaua point.
It is my mother’s birth place and is where she spent her early years.

Dinghy at Sawet against the backdrop of Laukanu

It is still the place where my maternal relatives live and is where I retreat to escape.
Located in a closed inlet marked by Dot island, it is sheltered from the open sea and sits at the foothills of a majestic mountain range that rises immediately from coconut palm-fringed shorelines past several rows of thatched roof houses, into sago swamps on into waterfalls and lush tropical rainforest.
An hour out of Aigris Market, next to the main wharf in Lae by banana boat takes you to Salamaua Point, another half hour on leaves the point a blue haze in the background – and will have you approaching Dot Island.
It is then through a coral lined canal with calm turquoise green waters that separates Dot Island from AliawePoint which then gradually merges into the tranquil calmness of crystal blue waters as you round Sawet Point, emerging into of a secluded mangrove lined inlet, strangled between touring mountains covered in the dense canopy of lush tropical rainforest which rise from the sea shores.
We then pull alongside a small jetty outside where my Uncle Janganouc lives, near the old sawmill “Sawet”, in the inlet across the bay from the main village.
It is then, that the breathtaking beauty of the scenery and tranquility dawns on you, never ceasing to leave me in awe, as I step off the dinghy.
Adding to the mystique, as if on cue - the deep haunting, cooing sounds of the giant hornbill and pigeons breaks the eerie silence of the early evening.
The sound bounces and echoes through the inlet and over the bay, from the mountains to the sea almost as if the ancestral spirits stand to acknowledge and greet the return of a lost son and sense the true agenda of my trip.
The sweet serenity, familiar sights and sounds quickly puts you at ease - it is only then, that you know you are home.
This trip was a personal pilgrimage to put to rest the silent cries of the same ancestral spirits.
My late mother had been laid to rest near her late husband, far from the tranquil settings of her ancestral home.
I was there, simply to make amends.
Arriving in the main village at dusk, I opted to head for the mountains to bathe in the cool waterfalls.
My cousin Stanley, and myself tred along a dried river bed that weaves its way through the rain forest into the mountain, to the head of a stream where waterfalls cascades icy cool water over moss-covered rocks and is where we settle in for a long refreshing dip.
As we return, night sets in quickly.
The night forest comes alive as cicadas, crickets, birds, flying foxes, mammals and various insects conspire to blend their sounds and perform their orchestral manoeuvres in the dark
On our return, dinner awaits, smoked tuna with taro and a cup of sweet black nevers taste this good.
And then late into the night , I sit on the canoe decks of one the many canoes that line the water front, around a fire and over more cups of black sweet black tea, buai and tobacco to catch up with my maternal uncles.

Maternal uncles and relatives

Early the next morning, with the first rays over the sun creeping up over the horizon, I rise to see the silhouette of lone fishermen on canoes paddling in or anchored in the distance.
Looking around, I notice the trunks of fallen coconut palms evidence of rising sea levels which have definitely wiped away all remains of my late grandfather’s footprints and eroded away the very shoreline where his small bungalow once stood amidst remnants of his epic kasali voyages.
Familiar sights, smell and the rhythmic roll of breaking waves evoke childhood memories that arouse nostalgia, of long days I spent here with my grandfather, who would enthrall me with tales of his exploits sailing the kasali.
Memorabilia and remnants from those epic voyages stored in the rafters and under the flooring of his thatched roof bungalow, each had a story.
He would pause , give me this strange, distant look, as his mind wandered back to the days of his adventurous past, proceeding then to earnestly relate and recount the details of these stories to me, but always in Jom Kawa, never in Kela.
Flicking back to reality, I set off to leave the village and to trek around the bay back to Sawet where I had arranged to be picked up for the return trip to Lae.
The walk takes me through the Kaiwa village of Kelkel where I am stopped to have buai and a chat with acquaitances of my late mother.
I move on along the beach hearing the screams of delight, as a group of children swing from a cane cable tied to a tree and drop into the sea.
I pass another small hamlet at Gomara where mountain streams have been piped by bamboo and PVC hoses into a steady gush of the same cool water and is where I stop to have a quench my thirst and dip under.
I walk on mesmerised by the magical visual effects that the early morning light has, as it bathes and dances on the foliage, sea and the mountains.

The old man and the sea

Finally, now midway around the bay – I pause on the beach at the entrance to the village cemetery .
I take a quiet moment of reflection , to remember aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents who lay here, but moreso to finally let the ancestral spirits of my grandfather know, that though my mother was laid to rest far from her ancestral home, her very essence will always remind me of the timeless connection I have to the people of this tranquil paradise.

JK ‘might have been’ governor general

By MALUM NALU
On Wednesday evening, while my kids were laughing away at Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy on my laptop, I was flicking through a scrapbook belonging to well-known media personality Justin ‘JK’ Kili and wondering what might have been.
The scrapbook basically contained old newspaper and magazine cuttings dating back to the early 1970s when JK began his colourful career in radio.

JK grtduating from a course at BBC London in 1985

In fact, so much has been written about JK over the years, that I need not ditto.
The cuttings jumped out at me, as I am a child of the 1970s, and feel very much of an affinity to this iconic pilot of our airwaves.
Suddenly, I was a child again, listening to JK, and singing these unforgettable words from the Carpenters’ Yesterday Once More:

“When I was young
“I'd listen to the radio
“Waitin' for my favorite songs
“When they played I'd sing along
“It made me smile…”

Ironically, I became familiar with this song while growing up on Sohano, the island off JK’s home of Buka, back in the halcyon days of the early 1970s.
What if JK was our current governor general instead of the incumbent-elect, North Bougainville MP, Michael Ogio?
But for all sad words of tongue and pen, wrote the great American writer John Greenleaf Whittier, the saddest are these, “it might have been”.
Early last month, through another good mate and former radio personality, Emile ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa, I found out that JK had out his hand up to be in the running to be governor general.
Then-acting governor general Ogio, also minister for higher Education, was understood to have met prime minister Sir Michael Somare to declare his unavailability for election and to lobby for JK to contest on behalf of the people of Bougainville.
The government was understood to have asked for Ogio’s candidacy for the governor general’s seat, however, he had decided against it because of political commitment to his people as North Bougainville MP.
JK was said to have the support of all four Bougainville MPs in Ogio, South Bougainville’s Steven Kama, Central Bougainville’s Jimmy Miringtoro and governor Fidelis Semoso.
JK, 58, from Lemanmanu village on Buka, confirmed his availability for the governor general’s election when I met him at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, Jan 6.
.For those who came in late, he is a Queen’s awardee, PNG Logohu medal awardee, two-time prime ministerial awardee, Australian senatorial awardee and the most-trained, most-honoured, and, most-celebrated media and industry manager in Papua New Guinea.
JK needed the support of another 11 MPs to meet the required 15 to be eligible to contest, however, was confident of garnering the support because of his nationwide popularity as a radio icon.
“If the people (through their MPs) want me to contest, then I will oblige,” he told me then.
“If anything comes to fruition, I can honestly say that I am qualified as a citizen of Papua New Guinea.
“I have the international exposure and the regional experience for the job, if the people so want me to do.
“I think I’m capable, willing and able.
“If Parliament elects me, that’s on merit.
“I have not put my hands up, but the people of Bougainville have put their hands up for me.
“Our (Bougainville) members are pushing for me, so I leave it to them.”
However, by the time deadline for nominations for the governor-general’s post lapsed at 4pm on Wednesday, Jan 12, only two candidates – JK not included – were confirmed.
Government candidate Ogio and Sir Pato Kakaraya were the only nominees who would go through the secret ballot on Friday, Jan 14.
Ogio seemed to have made an about-turn on JK, and the man who had been campaigning hard for him, ‘Uncle ET’ Tenoa.
“I see him (JK) as a very-qualified candidate,” ET, another charismatic former radio man from Bougainville (Mortlock islands) told me.
“On top of that, he is not politically-aligned with any party and is well respected by the people of PNG, because of his services to them as a radio broadcaster and a journalist.
“”He’s a household name who is known to MPs from both sides of parliament.
“There’s a misconception that governor general’s position is for former politicians.
“The governor general’s position has got to be a neutral one.
“The governor general has got to be elected on merit.
“I totally agree with having someone from the outside!
“Let’s not create the misconception among ourselves that the position is for former politicians, as well as based on regionalism!”
On Friday, Jan 14, Parliament elected Ogio as the ninth governor-general of PNG.
Voting for the new governor general went ahead despite a notice of appeal being served to the acting speaker, the clerk of parliament, the acting prime minister and the state solicitor.
The government, with its strength in numbers, elected Ogio, defeating his rival Sir Pato 65-23 while another eight votes were declared informal.
Papua New Guinea was left wondering what might have been if JK had become governor general, as so many MPs on both sides of the house, grew up listening to his voice on radio.
I leave the last word to JK: “I am young, intelligent, and have the charisma to do the job very, very well.
“I bring to the position of governor general 38 years of a wealth of experience in the public service, private and corporate services.
“I have a very strong knowledge of regional and international relations and co-operation, and the necessary understanding of how government and provincial governments work.
“I have many, many years of national exposure and international exposure, which places me in the right position and the right level and tilt, to make this job work successfully for PNG and our people.”
American writer John Greenleaf Whittier: “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”

Yasi vents fury on Popondetta

* Dam busted
* Taps run dry
* Police on alert

By JASON GIMA WURI

A lone villager crossing the Bango River which had provided Popondetta residents water until Wednesday when it flooded its banks and washed away the temporary dam. Part of the wire fencing at right is what is left of the dam. – Picture by JAMES WILA

POPONDETTA in Northern is without water after the Bango River flooded its banks and washed away the town’s dam following heavy rain since Wednesday night, The National reports.
Reports said rain was still pouring yesterday with local police stepping up patrols to deter opportunists and looters.
The National Weather Service had confirmed that the heavy rains experienced in Popondetta and other parts of Oro and Milne Bay were directly related to Cyclone Yasi.
Weather service acting director forecasting and warning centre Jimmy Gomoga yesterday said Popondetta, the Owen Stanley Ranges and Milne Bay’s Misima and Rossel Islands were experiencing rain bands.
Gomoga said: “This may also suggest continuous rain in the days ahead.”
Oro provincial disaster office acting coordinator Lawrence Baisa said the town’s water supply had been cut off after the dam was destroyed.
He also reported the flooding of Kausada village along the North Coast but there was no casualty.
“The flood waters have risen to post levels with every good gardens destroyed.”
Baisa said the creek next to the St Margaret’s School of Nursing was flooded but there were no reports of any infrastructural damages.
“Although the Girua River is flowing dangerously fast, the bridge and airport have not been affected,” he said.
The provincial administration was arranging a vehicle for Baisa to visit the affected areas and assess the damages.
Popondetta police station commander Insp Noboya Zozowa had instructed his men to stay on full alert following rumours of possible looting and other crimes.
PNG Water technicians were understood to have retrieved the main raw water pump and were trying to get it repaired.
“While that is going on, there will be no water supply for the township for an indefinite period,” Baisa said.
“Fortunately, we have not received reports of any casualties.”

TWL, Lynden ink JV deal

By PATRICK TALU

 

PAPUA New Guinea’s biggest prime and logistic mover Trans Wonderland Limited (TWL) will venture into air and sea transport services to meet the growing logistics demand from the PNG LNG project and other new resource developments in the country, The National reports.

This was revealed yesterday by TWL managing director Larry Andagali during the signing of a deal with one of world’s leading logistic movers – Alaska-based Lynden Logistics.

Lynden Logistics’ country manager Greg Vaughan lauded TWL’s plan and said: “From PNG we can build a sustainable global business.

“We are looking forward to the possibilities of developing a sustainable multimodal transport business and providing the best possible services in PNG and the Australasia region.

“It’s perfect for us to begin here in PNG and I have no doubt we can achieve that,” Vaughan said.

The companies signed the deal that would pave the way for them to develop an integrated transport and logistic company for fast, efficient and quality services to clients and explore other opportunities in the Australasian region.

Andagali said the deal marked yet “another significant milestone for TWL in its quest to becoming a truly integrated transport and logistics company”.

“I admire the commitment and determination for Lynden Logistics in developing a world-class company from its humble beginning as a two-truck company some 60 years ago.

He said Lynden and TWL have some parallel in history as both companies started small then grew with resource based development project.

“We also have an opportunity to use this relationship to explore benefits derived from setting up well-managed landowner future funds like Alaska Permanent Fund.

TWL, with a fleet of more than 70 prime movers and growing rapidly, makes the joint venture the biggest road transport company in PNG.

Meanwhile, Education Minister and Chairman of the Hela Transitional Authority James Marape commended TWL for achieving success as a landowner company.

Marabe has urged all the LNG project area landowners companies to unite for successful business ventures.