The first landowner conference in PNG to develop sustainable
alternatives to large scale forestry has proven a success.
With the threat of PNG's largest logging operation hanging over
their heads, the two Sepik NGOs (Friends of the Sepik and the East
Sepik Council of Women) held a conference with landowners of the
Hunstein Range on thedle Sepik River to look at options for
protecting 380 000 ha of rainforest and creating that provide
income sustainably from them. Landowners roundly agreed to oppose
the logging operations, to establish an indigenous association and
to work with FOTS/ESCOW to set up conservation areas and small
scale industries.
The following report of the conference was written by conference
organizers, Denis Waliawi (FOTS).and Mary Soondrawu (ESCOW).....
SUMMARY: HUNSTEIN RANGE CONFERENCE
The Hunstein Range Landowners Conference scheduled to run for
three days commencing 4th November 1991, and ending on the 6th,
pated.
The venue, Ambunti Local Government Chamber, Ambunti in the East
Sepik Province.
Landowner participants involved are village rpril- Salumei
proposed TRP area. Due much to the rugged terrain and the
isolationonsiderable number, more of the minority were absen in
terms of logging came from villages mainly around the Hunstein
Range constituency. The villagers namely were from the following
[villages]:
Biaga,uki, Beka, Makipuka'e, Yigei and Wagu.
[20 landowners represented almost 1000 people]
The conference aiming to equip landowners with factual advantages
and disadvanogging while at the same time presenting both theed to
have the landowners assess and possibly come up with immediate
actions.
Conference organizers Mrs Mary Soondrawu, President of the East
Sepik Council of Women and James Yandingo (ESCOW) with Denis
Waliawi, of the Friends of the Sepik, expressed slight
disappointment at the government's non attendance but regarded
Nigel Umi's presence from the Provincial Forestry Office as
valuable, although he was the only government representative
involved in the conference. The three provincial NGO's were
helped out also by a representative from the Melanesian
Environment Foundation, Mr Steven Pesto.
Although the conference was, for the first two days, more of a
question and answer session caused mainly by local observers
claiming to be part landowners and more politically oriented, the
conference chairperson, Mrs Soondrawu, demanded strongly that
political views had no place in the conference and would not be
entertained. But seeing there was no complying from the
observers, the third and final day was strictly given to the
landowners to express themselves, go into discussion and finally
come up with their intentions.
As a result of this conference, the landowners participating had a
chance, away from observers, to assess, discuss and work together
to come up with village plans that demanded immediate actions for
the best interests of the forests and the peoples welfare.
Receiving a great response ... the landowners specifically
announced they had no intentions of having or seeing the logging
concession come into effect. The NGO's assisted [by] presenting
alternatives and immediate options for development. These options
included small scale income earning projects that would solely
benefit the landowners and that required the landowners themselves
to be actively involved to ensure fruition of these options. The
options ranged from bilum [string bag] weaving, carving sales,
massoy bark sales, cassowary sales, copal gum sales to the
initiating of Wildlife Management Areas as brought about by
immense interests and concerns for protecting both flora and fauna
species.
After presenting the above options, the NGO's informed the
landowners that for all the above to come about, cooperation was a
vital factor and the NGO's would assist to see them come through.
Finally, to the very end of the three day conference, the
landowners were assisted into forming an association that would be
the strength of the people and would act as overseers for all
immediate and future developments for the people of the April
Salumei.
The landowner association was named: April/Salumei Landowners
Association
Office bearers were also voted into office and when that was done
both the landowners and the organizers focused back on the three
days. Yes, of course the days were tiring, confusing and at times
it did occur to most that achievements were not going to be met.
Working together with genuine beneficial interests and
determination were the driving factors that made sure the three
days were all not for nothing."