COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS

This project is an initiative of well over 12 organizations from both the Government and NGO with representatives of more than 50 individuals. The project's life span's from the year 2001 to 2006. Over the first 3 years numerous workshops have been conducted to gauge the views of conservation minded people and organizations alike to identifying strengths and weakness, the gaps and over laps in implementing conservation activities in Papua New Guinea. As a result of collaboration and networking, a proposal was put forward to the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation for possible funding to address the issue of strengthening conservation capacity in PNG. The proposal subsequently got funded in 2002 but actually got off the ground in 2004 with the recruitment of a full time Project Coordinator. Since 2004, the project has conducted 5 workshops to prioritize training themes, identify resourceful people and eventually to collate and document training course modules.

The project is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The University of Papua New Guinea is administering the financial resources in consultation with the School of Natural and Physical Science. The University of Papua New Guinea with support from World Wide Fund for Nature and The Nature Conservancy share the management responsibility of the project. While these three organizations share the management responsibility, the technical direction of the program is a collaborative effort developed through a "Core Group" of eight organizations including UPNG, WWF, TNC, the Foundation for People and Community Development, Bismarck-Ramu Group, Partners with Melanesians, Research and Conservation Foundation and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Other organizations that have participated in workshops or contributed in tailoring the course modules includes, the Conservation Melanesia, Melanesia Peace Foundation, Conservation International, Department of Environment & Conservation, The Department of Justice & Attorney General, The National Forest Research Institute, Environment Law Center, Centre for Environment Law and Community Right, PNG Mama Graun, The PNG Investment Promotion Authority, The National Museum & Art Gallery, Community Conservation Network, SeaWeb, EcoForestry Forum, Conservation Forum, Village Development Trust, The National Research Institute, Motupore Island Research Centre and resourcesful persons from the national and international community.