Yasina community signs Community Conservation Deed and Land Use Management plan

The five clans in the Yasina Community Conservation Area in Ward seven of the Upper Bena Local Level Government or LLG of the Unggai Bena District in Eastern Highlands Province have signed a conservation deed this week

This now legally enforces their rights to protect their land and preserve its biodiversity for current and future generations.

The signing of the conservation deed marked a significant achievement for the Yasina people in their efforts to legally protect their forests.

The achievement has been funded by the Sustainable Wildlife Management Program [SWM], Agence Francaise de Development [AFD], and overseen by the PNG Conservation and Environment Protection Authority [CEPA].

With the support, Wildlife Conservation Society and other partners have been facilating environmental management and conservation initiatives with the communities in Yasina since 2021.

WCS PNG Conservation Director Dr Harshad Karandikar [PhD]said this was a milestone achievement for customary landowners' empowerment in PNG.

Dr Karandikar says apart from the legal protection of their forests the communities will enact and enforce rules to ensure that the environment is protected.

Director of the Yasina Community Conservation Paul Pake thank the assistance provided through the WCS and its partners.

Mr Pake says it has taken a long process to come this far and for everyone to come to an agreement to give their consent for a conservation area alone is not easy.

Mr Pake says by developing laws to protect what they have in their forests and on the land, is an achievement.

The conservation deed covers over 2000 hectares of habitats that harbour local biodiversity, including over 900 unique species of flora and fauna.