Case Studies UNDP: SEPIK WETLANDS MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE, Papua New Guinea

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: SEPIK WETLANDS MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE, Papua New Guinea

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Papua New Guinea

SEPIK WETLANDSMANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Empowered live

Resilient nation

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative, and in particular the guidance and inp

o Jerry Wana (Chairman) and Reuben Wak. All photo credits courtesy o Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative. Maps courtesy o C

World Factbook and Wikipedia.

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative, Papua New Guinea. Equator Initiative Case Stu

Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/events/2012events/Book_Launch/power%2520of%2520local%2520action%2520final%25202013%25208mb.pdf


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PROJECT SUMMARYIn its work with 50 communities along the Sepik River the longest river in New Guinea the Sepik WetlandsManagement Initiative has transormed the local economyand local treatment o wetlands. The sustainable harvest ocrocodile eggs rom nest sites along the river has become animportant source o income or local residents. Previously,crocodile nest sites were being indiscriminately destroyedby wetland res set or hunting, agriculture, or as part oland ownership disputes.

The initiative instituted a program in which local crocodile

egg collectors ollowing specied conservation guidelineswould receive a guaranteed return rom a commercialcrocodile egg retailer. The combination o egg collectionand crocodile arming to produce high-quality skins hasdoubled the annual income in participating communities,all while raising the awareness o wetland values andstressing the cultural importance o crocodiles.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2006

FOUNDED: 1998

LOCATION: Ambunti, East Sepik Province

BENEFICIARIES: Communities in upper & lower Sepik regi

BIODIVERSITY: Saltwater & freshwater crocodiles

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SEPIK WETLANDS MANAGEMENTINITIATIVEPapua New Guinea

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 5

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 8

Policy Impacts 8

Sustainability 9

Replication 10

Partners 10


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4

he Sepik River is the longest river on the island o New Guinea. The

majority o the river ows through the Papua New Guinea provinces

Sandaun and East Sepik, with a small section owing through

he Indonesian province o Papua. The Sepik was identied in

apua New Guineas 1993 Conservation Needs Assessment as Very

High Priority, the category o highest priority, due to its range o

istinctive landorms, associated biota in particular its extensive

erbaceous wetlands cultural diversity, and economic value.

A local response to loss o wetland resources

epik Wetlands Management Initiative (SWMI), based in Ambunti,

ast Sepik Province, was ormed in 1998 to address re-relatedwetlands degradation in the middle regions o the Sepik River.

During dry seasons, local people were burning grassland or

unting, cultivation, or as part o landowner disputes, and in the

rocess destroying vast areas o wetlands and nesting habitats or

he New Guinea Freshwater Crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae)

nd Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). By 1998, more than

al o crocodile nesting sites surveyed had lost over hal o their

uitable nesting area; at a third o the sites, more than 80% o the

egetation had been lost.

ince its establishment, SWMI has promoted crocodile and wetlands

onservation work in the Sepik through various strategies. These

ave included raising community awareness o the importance owetlands and wetland resources; the acilitation o a sustainable

rocodile egg harvesting program between community members

nd a commercial collector; increasing local awareness o and

aking action on controlling the spread o invasive species; crocodile

opulation monitoring; and developing community-driven

wetlands and wetland resources management plans. The link

etween community participation in conservation and the viability

livelihood activities based on natural resource management has

een at the centre o SWMIs work.

Its our main objectives are developing a community-orien

sel-help approach to conserve local wetlands, and in parti

herbaceous habitats; halting the degradation o locally-impo

wetland habitats, especially crocodile nesting areas,

rehabilitating sites where possible; enhancing the conserva

o local biological diversity; and strengthening the sustain

utilization o local wetlands resources.

SWMIs multi-stakeholder approach to conservation has invo

maintaining strong relationships with both government age

and non-governmental actors. The latter category has inclu

international conservation NGOs as well as the private sector

Papua New Guinea Department o Environment and ConservaPacic Island Ministries, and the district-level government o

in Ambunti village have all played important roles in coordina

responses to ecosystem threats and strategies or conservation

project has been unded and supported since 2005 by the W

Wildlie Fund (WWF) through its Sepik River Programme. S

has also partnered with Mainland Holdings Limited, a Papua

Guinea-based commercial crocodile egg collector.

The project does not have a guaranteed unding source, how

relying on grants to operate on a ull-time basis. The seven

members, made up o ve men and two women, work on a volun

basis or the majority o the time. The organisation consists

chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer, secretary and three eld oA technical advisory board comprises two community mem

one representing village crocodile armers, another on b

o crocodile habitat landowners representatives rom WWF

Papua New Guinea Department o Environment and Conserva

and a private expert.

Background and Context


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Key Activities and Innovations

KEY ACTIVITIEShe initiatives main activities are centered on providing adequate

normation to change community members behavior, encouraging

more sustainable harvesting o crocodiles and their eggs. A

econdary ocus has been on increasing awareness o the existence

o invasive species and nding ways to minimize their expansion.

WMIs work can be categorised into ve program areas. Their

management o natural resources has been underpinned by

nitial resource mapping and planning with local communities,

sing a Participatory Rural Appraisal ramework. This process o

ngaging local people is reinorced by awareness campaigns on themportance o wetlands and their resources, and actively involving

ommunities in minimizing their impacts on their environment. A

hird area o work has been monitoring populations o crocodiles.

his has been carried out by crocodile night counts, aerial crocodile

est counts, and tagging o crocodile individuals. Many o these

monitoring activities involve local people, while aerial counts have

been carried out in conjunction with government agencies. SWMIs

ole in improving local livelihoods, meanwhile, has been based

on its work with Mainland Holdings. The initiative oversees the

elationship between this commercial collector and local people

by acilitating the sustainable harvesting o crocodile eggs, and

nsuring that payments are made according to a signed contract,

or Tok Orait, between communities and Mainland Holdings. Finally,

SWMI provides training on crocodile arming and crocodile

harvesting techniques to improve the sustainability o these inc

generating activities. This has involved training on regulation

ensure that harvesting o crocodiles and their eggs do not de

crocodile breeding stocks; other training has ocused on impro

the quality o crocodile skins rom village arming pens, allo

armers to generate higher prots.

These work areas have involved approximately 50,000 peop

the lower and upper Sepik regions. SWMI has engaged aro

50 villages in these regions while conducting awareness ra

trainings, and monitoring activities. SWMI has also spent

with these communities conducting Participatory Rural Appexercises. The populations o these villages range rom an estim

300 to 1,500 inhabitants.

INNOVATIONS

Various innovations have enabled substantial success or S

Wetlands Management Initiative in both biodiversity conserva

and poverty alleviation. These have included the exte

engagement o local communities in all aspects o SWMIs w

utilizing the cultural and traditional signicance o crocodile

underpin their conservation, and creating tangible incentives

reinorce local action.

The region has seen unprecedented changes in water levels. Crocodile farmers have been urge

to elevate crocodile farms to about three meters and improve water outlets and feeding area

SWMI intends to conduct more awareness in the area of flooding and saltwater intrusion.

Jerry Wana, Chairman, Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative


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Using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) processes, maps were

nitially developed between SWMI staf and community members

o display the various land use activities in their areas. The

ommunities then played a key role in deciding what to protect, and

ow this should be undertaken. The PRA activities were explained

o communities using role-playing and drama conducted in local

anguages. Ultimately the challenge o establishing sustainable use

ractices was overcome through intensive community involvement

n all activities relating to the protection o natural resources, andncorporating their needs in the aims o the project. SWMI has also

sed participatory approaches to gain a clear understanding o local

eoples perceptions o development, especially in the context o

he utilization o natural resources or this.

he annual Sepik River Crocodile Festival was initiated in 2007

n collaboration with WWF. The estival is used to promote the

mportance o the crocodile a culturally signicant species to

nhance conservation in the Sepik. Integrating conservation into

ocal cultural traditions in this way has rooted the impetus or

ustainable resource use in local capacities.

inally, communities have gained substantial economic benets

rom protecting their wetlands and their wetland resources. This has

een supplemented by incentives or communities and individuals

who have taken lead roles in implementing skills given in training,

nd in coming up with innovative ideas.


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7

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The initiatives work in the Sepik region has achieved substantial

environmental impacts, measured both in terms o the numbers o

altwater and reshwater crocodiles, their eggs, and their improved

habitats.

Biodiversity monitoring and results

Crocodile population monitoring has involved three methods: aerial

urveys using helicopters and GPS or nest counts, night specimen

ounts using ashlights conducted in canoes, and numbers reported

rom egg and hatchling harvesting. Members o SWMI and thePapua New Guinea Department o Environment and Conservation

y in helicopters approximately 50-60 meters above ground to spot

rocodile nests, which are recorded using GPS. Two SWMI members

ct as spotters during the survey; one member acts as a navigator,

ommunicating with the pilot and giving directions.

Night counts are carried out by SWMI staf members in lagoons,

using ashlights to count crocodile populations based on the

ght illuminated rom the eyes o the crocodiles. Yellow eyes are

young specimens, while red eyes are adult crocodiles. Sometimes

ndividuals are caught to identiy their species type, to be weighed,

nd occasionally tagged or ollow-up surveys.

A survey in 2007 estimated a total o 220 saltwater crocodile nests,

ompared to 150 in 1997 prior to SWMI beginning their work. Positive

mpacts can also be seen in reshwater crocodile nesting trends, with

sharp increase o almost 80% recorded between 1996 and 2007.

Aerial surveys have revealed a steadily increasing total crocodile

population between 1998 and 2010. The latest survey, covering 50

villages, counted over 500 nests.

There has also been a reduction in burning o grassland areas w

crocodiles nests. By 2005, saltwater crocodile nesting habitats i

million ha o the middle and upper Sepik had been rehabilitate

regulations prohibiting burning.

Improvements in biodiversity are also reected in the commun

receiving improved income rom the sale o crocodile eggs

skins since the initiative began its work. Between 2002 and 2006

annual number o saltwater crocodile viable eggs and hatch

ound in SWMI canoe harvests increased rom 3,465 to 13,491.

Invasive species eradication campaigns

SWMI has also been active in raising awareness o the har

efects o invasive species on crocodile habitats. Pacu (Piar

brachypomum - see image below) and Javu Carp (Puntius gonion

destroy oating grass mats that serve as nest sites; Water Hyac

and Bush Morning Glory plants intrude on nesting areas. In vil

in the mid-Sepik region, SWMI has begun activities to com

the spread o these species. This has involved conducting sur

in villages to determine the extent o these species, colle

anecdotal evidence rom community members on where

when exotic species have been ound, and taking photograp


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collaborate these reports. These ndings are discussed with experts,

who advise on developing posters to describe the adverse efects

o these species and provide inormation on how to minimize their

pread. SWMI then conducts awareness-raising in villages using

posters. Actions have been taken in some villages to remove Bush

Morning Glory and Water Hyacinth.

Signs stating community management rules have been erected in

ourteen villages, with a urther seven planned or communitiesn the upper and middle Sepik areas. SWMI is working with WWF

and SWMI is working with WWF and DEC to develop community-

managed crocodile and wetland areas. Management areas and

plans will be developed by communities as part o their ward

development plans, as required under the Local-level Governments

Administration Act (1997). The ward development plans will then

be endorsed by local government administrators through the Joint

District Budget Planning and Priorities Committee. Community-

based management o natural resources is thereore rooted in the

context o decentralized development in Papua New Guinea: SWMI

s playing a key role in this process o devolving control over habitats

o the local level.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

While SWMI has not been able to create direct employment or many

community members ve local staf primarily work on a voluntary

basis they have been able to substantially increase local incomes

hrough an agreement with Mainland Holdings. Increases in the

value o crocodile skins and eggs have also underpinned SWMIs

conservation eforts.

Local people sign a written contract, or Tok Orait, agreeing to

egulations on the harvesting o eggs and skins in return or a

guaranteed high price rom the collecting company. Currently this is

around 660 Papua New Guinea Kina (PGK), or USD 250, or a nest o

ixty good eggs. Regulations limit the burning o crocodile nesting

ites, protect nesting crocodiles, and establish a maximum size

or crocodile skins. These stipulations have helped to ensure that

breeding stocks o crocodile populations are not depleted.

Communities in the upper and lower Sepik region earn a

PGK120,000 (USD 46,000) annually rom sales o crocodile e

predominantly to Mainland Holdings, and over PGK50,000

19,000) annually rom the sale o skins. An estimated tot

PGK200,000 (USD 77,000) is received by the communities in

upper and middle Sepik, meanwhile, rom sales o crocodile

and skins. Overall, SWMI estimates that there has been a greater

100% increase in the income o the communities currently invo

in the initiatives work (based on village proles conducted on bo a local NGO in 2005).

There has also been interest rom local communities to dev

their own crocodile harvesting acilities. A WWF-European U

initiative, titled the Sepik Livelihoods Project, is working with S

to assess crocodile ranching potential, develop a Wetland Resou

Management Plan, and directly assist local communities to imp

existing crocodile acilities and build new ones. Some ranches

constructed ater 2009, but were destroyed by heavy oo

Improved designs and advanced management techniques

needed to promote protable ranches.

Many o the armers have invested their increased prots into scees or their children; in other cases, revenues have been use

purchase outboard motors or canoes; set up uel sheds;

water tanks to be used by communities; build a primary sch

and renovate a traditional building. In two cases, guest houses

been built using revenue rom sales o crocodile eggs, while

have also been invested in three trade stores.

POLICY IMPACTS

Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative has been able to

considerable inuence on policies at the local level, and s

inuence at regional and national levels, while its partnership

WWF has inormed planning processes or the wider Sepik regi

Many o SWMIs activities are supported by the Ambunti dist

ve year development programme. The district allocates und

the annual crocodile estival, and is also actively involved in p

to establish local crocodile arming. SWMI representatives

attended a workshop on developing a National Biodiversity Stra

or Papua New Guinea, held in Milne Bay in June 2007. Finally, S

is working with WWF to advocate or policies on water catchm

and watershed management in Papua New Guinea, including

Sepik River basin.

There have been obstacles to the initiative successully inuen

policy decisions, however. To date, the Papua New Gu

Department o Environment and Conservation has not

proactive in developing policies or crocodile and wetl

management. The department as a whole is underunded, w

repeated re-structuring has resulted in a lack o continui

personnel. In addition, SWMI is situated in a remote area o

country. Communication and transportation costs are high, mea

that opportunities or consultations with government oces

other stakeholders are limited.

8


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9

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYWMI has managed to achieve a high degree o social and cultural

ustainability, while its impacts on biodiversity and local incomes

re testament to its ecological and economic viability. As an

rganization, however, the initiative remains dependent on external

esources in the orm o unding and technical assistance.

ncreasing egg and hatchling harvests demonstrate that SWMIs

work has encouraged a more sustainable approach to resource

management; the sustainable egg harvesting program generates

USD 46,000/year or local communities. Ongoing work in increasing

ncome-generating opportunities or local communities ensureshat the nancial incentives or conservation will be reinorced. For

xample, many armers have been trained in increasing the value o

rocodile skins; as a result, some crocodile pens are now producing

igh quality crocodile skins. SWMIs work has also emphasized

dentiying communities needs, and subsequently developing

trategies to address these needs. One example o this is their

artnership with WWF-EU to develop local arming o crocodiles.

hese positive environmental and economic benets are

nderpinned by a high level o cultural awareness o the importance

conservation. The annual Sepik River Crocodile Festival has grown

n size, promoting crocodiles as an iconic species in the Sepik, and

urther encouraging communities to take action in protecting thenimal and its habitat within the region.

WMI has identied various strategies to enable their sustained

rganizational existence. They are currently bidding or contracts

rom the governments Department o Environment and

Conservation to lead natural resource management projects

lsewhere in the country. They are also negotiating with Mainland

Holdings or the payment o management ees or acilitating the

rocodile egg harvest programs conducted annually in the Sepik.


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1010

WWF has provided unding and technical assistance through theirepik River Programme, based out o Wewak, in East Sepik Province;

onger-term unding and improved oce acilities would greatly

move this work orward. Having a representative based in Wewak

would enable greater coordination with other groups based in this

egional centre.

REPLICATION

WMI is currently working in about 50 villages in the upper and

middle Sepik regions, representing a substantial scaling-up o their

nitial work in the region. In 1998, SWMI was working with sixteen o

hese villages. It has used its experience and lessons learned romach community to inorm its work in other cases. New villages

pplying the SWMI model or sustainable crocodile egg harvesting

nclude Wanamoi, Waniap, Houm 3, Luluk, Japandai, Aibom and

hambri.

his work has also been published in conjunction with WWF. In June

010, SWMI developed a training manual or crocodile armers,

ased on their work to date. Approximately 30 armers attended a

raining session conducted in Ambunti in September, 2010. SWMI

as also acilitated peer-to-peer learning exchanges or armers.

PARTNERS

Mainland Holdings Ltd.: only buy eggs rom armers that com

with SWMI rules or sustainable harvesting, specied in the tok

agreement.World Wildlie Fund (WWF): provides technical support and resou

Papua New Guinea Department o Environment and Conservati

provides technical support and advice on government policies.

UNDP/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program(USD15,000, 2001-2002)HELP Resources: local NGO conducting socio-economic developm

projects.Pacifc Island Ministries: have assisted in communications, prin

and photocopying, etc.Sepik River Crocodile Festival Committee: conducting awaren

raising during estivals on the sustainable egg harvesting progrAmbunti District Level Government: has included SWMIs work

the districts ve-year development plan, and works closely

communities.University o Papua New Guinea: has provided training on rep

writing and establishing protected areas.

Most o these partners provide technical and nancial support to

organization. SWMI partners with these organizations to con

awareness on socio-economic issues (HELP Resources), prom

sustainable harvesting o eggs (Mainland Holdings), unde

sustainable use and management o wetland resources (W

UNDP), and conduct crocodile population monitoring sur

(Department o Environment and Conservation).

WWF in particular has been critical to the work o SWMI. They h

given training to build the capacity o SWMI staf, provided tech

guidance, and shared resources with SWMI where needed. Pa

New Guinea Department o Environment and Conservationprovided technical support to SWMI through a rancher base

Ambunti. This rancher spends 50% o his time working with SW

The organization would not be also to continue unctioning i

partners such as WWF, UNDP, or Mainland Holdings withdrew

support.


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FURTHER REFERENCE

Darwin Initiative. 2007. Sustainable Use o PNGs Wildlie: Report o a Workshop. Madang, Papua New Guinea. http://www.geog.cam.a

research/projects/insectarming/WildlieSustainableUse.pd

Cox, J. H., Gowep, B., Mava, A., Wana, J., Genolagani, J. M., Kula, V., Solmu, G., Sine, R., Wilken, D., and Langelet, E. 2006. The saltwater c

dile Crocodylus porosus egg harvest program in Papua New Guinea: linking conservation, commerce and community development. Proc

ings o the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) 18, 2006. http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/NS-2006-001.pd

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nvironment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change and

necting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

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Case Studies UNDP: SEPIK WETLANDS MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE, Papua New Guinea