ABOUT PNG

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is endowed with exceptional natural values including enormous biodiversity.

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7% of the world’s biodiversity in less than 1% of the world’s land

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One of 17 megadiverse countries in the world

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280,000 km2 of forests (60% of the area of the country) store a significant amount of carbon, maintain water quality, and preserve soil stability

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2.4 million km2 of ocean including 7,000 km2 of coral reefs and 4,200 km2 of diverse mangrove forest

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87% of Papua New Guineans are dependent on natural resources for livelihoods and sustenance

Global Data, Local Insights: Environmental Data Available in the Natural Resource Hub

However, PNG’s biodiversity is under threat and the country is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change:

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Population growth, logging and industrial-scale monocultures have contributed to increases in habitat clearance

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Papua New Guinea’s low altitude forests are being lost at a rate of between 3 and 5% per year since 2010

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Maximum temperatures in PNG have increased at a rate of 0.11°C per decade; sea levels have risen by about 7mm per year since 1993, and the level of ocean acidification has been slowly increasing

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Rural subsistence communities are particularly vulnerable due to their dependence on natural resources and a reliable climate, combined with their limited capacity for climate adaptation

PNG'S BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE STRATEGIES

The Government of Papua New Guinea has articulated its biodiversity and climate strategies through the Protected Areas Bill (in preparation stages) and the Climate Change Management Bill (2020). The Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) are charged with coordinating these efforts for the Government.
Climate Change and Development Authority
The Government of Papua New Guinea REDD+ Strategy further articulates PNG’s approach to one aspect of climate change mitigation.
REDD+ Strategy

PNG BIODIVERSITY WEBSITE

UNDP’s PNG Biodiversity website provides a comprehensive set of resources for protected area management, including a toolkit of PA management guidelines, templates, checklists and training videos.
(Photo Credit: Elodie van Lierde)
PNG Biodiversity

UNDP NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT HUB

The UNDP Natural Resource Management Hub (NRM Hub) will house a range of support tools designed to help policymakers, civil society organizations and other stakeholders make informed decisions on natural resources and sustainable livelihoods in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Taking data from a variety of sources, the NRM Hub can assist with project planning, reporting and evaluation of natural resource processes. This includes a variety of use cases such as: collecting data from communities in protected areas; making global spatial data available for mapping at the local level; and sharing data in new ways through interactive articles and visualizations. This collection of tools aims to improve environmental policies and prioritize investments to secure long-term sustainable use of natural resources.

Visit the Natural Resource Management Hub