Establishing a Papua New Guinea Conservation Trust Fund
Key Concepts & Choices
This site is designed to provide stakeholders concerned with biodiversity conservation and climate change resilience in Papua New Guinea to the growing world of Conservation Trust Funds. We have assembled here materials and links which should cover the important principles and concepts, international best practices and an introduction to existing funds.
This site is maintained by the Wildlife Conservation Society during the design phase of the project. For assistance, suggestions or corrections please contact: Stephen McCormick (stephen@skillfulmeans.org), Katy Mathias (kmathias@wcs.org) or Ray Victurine (rvicturine@wcs.org). Page heading photos © Elodie Van Lierde
Project Sponsors
Conservation and Environment Protection Authority
Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Conservation and Environmental Protection Authority (CEPA), has initiated the “Sustainable Financing of Papua New Guinea’s Protected Area Network” project, a seven year effort to “(i) secure stable and long-term financial resources for the management of protected areas across the country; (ii) ensure that these financial resources are allocated to contribute to improving effectiveness of the management of the protected areas across the country; and (iii) ensure that they are managed cost-effectively and efficiently with respect to their conservation and other complementary development objectives.” For more complete summary of the project, please see the most recent presentation by Andrew Rylance of UNDP on the Updates & Links page.
Component 2 of this project provides for the "...establishment, operationalization and mobilization of funding for a Biodiversity Fund..." to support funding of PNG’s Protected Areas Network. The Wildlife Conservation Society has been contracted by UNDP to provide consultancy services toward the establishment of this fund.
UNDP's project plan calls for broad consultation with representatives from civil society, communities/land owners, the private sector, and government to analyze options and make initial recommendations on the mission, purpose, structure and operations of the fund. Key questions for stakeholder input include:
the SCOPE of the Fund
How broad should its mandate be?
How can it address the range of biodiversity challenges facing PNG and still maintain a clear institutional focus?
the appropriate LEGAL STRUCTURE for the Fund
What kind of PNG legal structure is most appropriate (company, trust, association...)?
Will there be a benefit to an allied international (off-shore) entity?
the appropriate GOVERNANCE of the Fund
How big should the board of directors/trustees be?
What kind of representation should it have? How should the various sectors be balanced?
What are appropriate qualifications for board members?
the appropriate NAME for the Fund
and other matters arising requiring the advise of a broad based stakeholder group.
More information on the UNDP project is available here.
Overview of Conservation Trust Funds
The following narrated presentation is designed to serve as a general introduction to the main elements of Conservation Trust Funds.
A note on presentations. These are Google Slides embedded in the website. All have audio, but we have had difficulties with audio playback on Safari (Apple) web browsers; if possible, please use an alternative (Chrome, Firefox, Opera...). IF the slides advance too rapidly or too slowly, or if the audio stops, please pause the presentation and run through the slides manually. If you wish to exit the slide show and it continues, please click on Home, at the top of the page, to reload the page and pause playing.