Sustainability of Protected Areas key for Nature Park

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Port Moresby Nature Park CEO, Michelle McGeorge participating online on the discussion panel at the National Protected Areas Forum on Thursday, June 4. Photo: supplied

PARTICIPATING in the National Protected Areas Forum 2021, Port Moresby Nature Park has recently joined other stakeholders of the PNG Protected Areas Network in highlighting key areas for managing Protected Areas in Papua New Guinea.

Speaking at a panel to discuss sustainable financing of protected area management, system level financing opportunities and how to leverage additional support from outside the conservation sector was Port Moresby Nature Park’s CEO, Michelle McGeorge.

“Globally zoos are the third highest contributor to in-situ conservation in the world and also represent a great resource for partnership collaboration, training, research and knowledge,” Ms  McGeorge said.

“Port Moresby Nature Park should be seen as a Protected Area partner which can help to advocate and raise awareness of Protected Areas in PNG as well as be part of the conservation efforts which ex-situ research and conservation projects a key activity of ours,” Ms McGeorge added.

Port Moresby Nature Park as a leading conservation park in Papua New Guinea, preserving PNG’s  unique natural environment and endangered animal species, shared its experiences in line with Pillar 5 of the PNG Protected Area Network, ‘Sustainable and equitable financing for Protected Areas’.

The two-day forum hosted by CEPA and UNDP is aimed at enabling protected area practitioners, researchers, academics, private sector, potential donors and local communities who manage or  support protected areas in PNG, to share their experiences, insights and any lessons learnt in  relation to factors impacting protected areas.

Safeguarding our Protected Areas is an important goal for Port Moresby Nature Park as they play an important role in sustaining biodiversity. The natural, ecological or cultural value that a Protected Area possesses gives enough reasons why they should be protected as well as to save the forests of PNG for future generations.

The Parks vision is to inspire in others the guardianship of PNG’s unique biodiversity.