Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Department of Environment and Conservation, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea Strengthens relations with Australia in the protection of environment and conservation
Joint meedia release
1 December 2011
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between Secretary for Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Dr Wari Lea Iamo and Australian Deputy Secretary for Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) Ms. Kimberley Dripps.
The MoU aims to strengthen ties and encourage the exchange of environment protection, conservation and heritage information and skills between Papua New Guinea and Australia.
"The Papua New Guinea Government has an ambitious and important agenda to protect this country's environment for future generations," Dr Wari Lea Iamo said.
"This agreement is a vehicle for engaging and exchanging valuable information and skills with Australia so that we can achieve this."
The memorandum builds on the existing strong partnership between the two departments. Currently there is substantial cooperation in the areas of heritage including the Kokoda Initiative, the marine environment (Coral Triangle Initiative, turtles and dugongs), the prevention and detection of illegal wildlife trade and meteorology.
"The signing of this memoradum is a significant step in strengthening the existing cooperation through sharing of policy and technical experience, information exchange and capacity building," Kimberley Dripps said.
"This agreement will provide both departments' with the opportunity to engage on issues of mutual interests and progress key projects that are important to our two countries."
The memorandum will strengthen co-operation in the;
- management, conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, in particular the Coral Triangle Initiative and oceans and coastal management,
- management, conservation and sustainable use of current and potential World Heritage areas, including further implementation of the Kokoda Initiative, and
- enhancement of PNG's capacity to effectively gather and use weather and climate information to support its environmental and climate change adaptation and mitigation policies.
The memorandum will also be pivotal in progressing DEC's ministerial priorities such as; developing a Protected Area Policy which includes the protection of Kokoda, Brown River Catchment; the review and upgrade of the Environment Act legislation; and implementation of the Plastic Bag and Waste Disposal policy.
ENDS//
For further information please contact:
Kay Kalim or Gunther Joku +675 301 4500; officesec@dec.gov.pg;
DSEWPAC Media ph 02 6275 9880 or media@environment.gov.au
Additional Notes:
PNG Department of Environment and Conservation website www.dec.gov.pg;
Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities website www.environment.gov.au/heritage
Media enquiries
These contacts are intended for journalists only. For other queries please see our contact us page.
Phone: +61 2 6275 9880
media@environment.gov.au
Before you download
Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.