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Strengthening Community-Based Governance and Management for Papua New Guinea’s YUS Conservation Area

Indigenous and Community Conserved Area (ICCA) Key Biodiversity Area Terrestrial Protected Area

Governance

Local Communities Protected Area Agency Subnational Government

Medium Grant | 400,000$ Papua New Guinea; Pacific 01.07.2023 – 31.12.2024

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

YUS Conservation Area

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Enhance the management and governance of priority areas by addressing existing limitations.
Support local communities’ initiatives aiming to enhance the livelihoods of local people whilst effectively contributing to protected areas’ management.

Priority need addressed

Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and Social Impact for Protected and Conserved Areas (SAPA) Assessments undertaken in 2021 indicate that local support for, and participation in, YUS Conservation Area management efforts have waned in recent years. These declines have been driven by several misalignments and gaps in the protected area’s governance and management planning, which have diminished the communities’ agency and engagement in, and perceived benefit from, conservation initiatives.
While the YUS Conservation Area is relatively well-established in terms of its legal framework, technical and operational capabilities, and planning procedures, the governance systems and management processes need to be refined and aligned to more fully enable community participation, foster strong local leadership and representation, and strengthen stakeholder accountability. By addressing these limitations, the YUS Conservation Area Management Committee will be better equipped and positioned to provide resources and assistance in accordance with the needs, priorities, and plans as defined by the local communities, landowners, and by the timely collection of relevant data.

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

The long-term sustainability of the YUS Conservation Area, and the protection it provides for the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources across the landscape is primarily dependent on the continued endorsement and support of the local (indigenous) communities and customary landowners among the 50 villages of YUS. The structures, systems, and processes for governing and managing the YUS Conservation Area must be aligned to recognize and support the interests and priorities of the YUS communities, as they are the owners and stewards of their landscape in perpetuity. This project will facilitate the participatory review, alignment, and implementation of the YUS Conservation Area’s governance and management mechanisms in support of the communities’ collective leadership, agency, and participation.

These impacts will be realized through the achievement of four mutually reinforcing results:

Increased stakeholder coordination and opportunities for community/landowner participation in YUS Conservation Area management planning, processes and actions.
Improved YUS Conservation Area Management Committee governance effectiveness and increased functional integration of management directives into government action plans and budgets.
Improved stakeholder accountability for YUS Conservation Area management actions, with greater alignment among ward action plans, stakeholder support, and key management metrics.
YUS community members participating in the YUS Conserv