GOLBA Protected Area Gains Support from Landownders

By-line: Abagain MARA

Dikasuna Nature Conservation Inc. (DNC) continues to strengthen conservation work at the GOLBA Protected Area through close collaboration with local landowners and community leaders.

The organisation has supported the construction of model houses for landowners who donated their land for preservation, recognising their vital contribution to the project’s success.

SUAI Land Chairman, Mr. John Kwime, has led the mapping of the conservation boundary, which has been formally registered with the district and provincial lands offices. The registration makes part of the GOLBA Protected Area legally recognised.

These steps mark major progress toward creating a sustainable and community-driven protected area that balances environmental protection with local development.

The restoration of degraded parts of the forest will be managed through the establishment of a native tree nursery at Gomani Kua, near GOLBA. The nursery will supply seedlings for replanting and long-term forest rehabilitation.

“Working closely with landowners ensures the project’s success,” DNC said. “They are not only the custodians of the land but also the guardians of the forest’s future.”

Community involvement in mapping, restoration, and sustainable management reflects a growing movement in Papua New Guinea to protect natural heritage through local stewardship.