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Papua New Guinea harbors it all — from cradles of corals, dense mangrove forests, high-altitude forested mountains and freshwater lagoons and blue holes. Its status as home to some of the most unique landforms and life on earth reflects the meeting point of two tectonic plates: Movements of the earth’s crust resulted in the collision of the northward-moving Australian Plate, with the westward-moving Pacific Plate.
The country is a refuge for the third largest area of surviving tropical rainforest beyond the Amazon and Congo, home to over 7% of the world's species, which shadow the Pacific’s largest area of healthy mangrove forests. Papua New Guinea's rich marine ecosystems have earned its place at the heart of the six countries that form the Coral Triangle, where over 75% of all coral species are found alongside over 2,000 different types of fish.
The survival of thousands of communities across the country, from remote highlands to sprawling coasts, depends on the health of this rich and unique biodiversity. For generations, these communities have played central roles in sustainably managing these resources. Yet, with intensifying threats such as rampant deforestation, dwindling fish stocks, climate-induced coral bleaching, coastal erosion, sea level rise, and extreme weather events, urgent action and investment are needed.
WWF-PAPUA NEW GUINEA
WWF has been working in Papua New Guinea since 1995 and has become a trusted conservation leader in the country. Its main office is now based in Madang, on the Bismarck Sea.
Across all our work, which encompasses the breadth of Papua New Guinea's diverse natural assets — from rich underwater marine seascapes to dense mangrove forests and rolling forested hills — community-led conservation is at the heart of every programme and intiative. Recognizing that nature conservation is linked to strengthening the resilience of Papuan people, we also focus on sustainable development through financial mechanisms, livelihoods, and climate change adaptations. Reducing deforestation is central to our mission, with PNG's forests facing particularly urgent threats.
📌 Address & contact:
Main office:
Lokua Avenue, Port Morseby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea
+675 4221337
infor@wwfpacific.org
Field office:
Diwai, Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
+675 4222291
There are endless opportunities for WWF to work with the almost incalculable biodiversity of Papua New Guinea and the communities who live amongst it.
Together, we are protecting unique habitats, driving positive policies, securing sustainable fisheries, developing sustainable livelihoods, evolving land-use planning and adapting to climate change. Through all of our conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea, WWF champions community-led conservation that values traditional knowledge and fosters community ownership, with a particular focus on women, youth and other marginalized groups.
Our work includes...
- Supporting community-led conservation in Papua New Guinea through the setup of Community Conservation Areas, part of Papua New Guinea’s Proposed updated Protected Areas legislation. For example, WWF helped communities set up the Tonda Wildlife Management Area, Papua New Guinea’s first Ramsar site. In these areas, people and nature have historically lived together to create places of significant ecological, biological, cultural and scenic value.
- Providing training and support to coastal communities in sustainably managing and conserving their spaces, including governance mechanisms set up, planning and livelihood support.
- Raising awareness of depleting resources to build a greater appreciation for "blue foods" (the animals, plants and algae that deliver vital protein and nutrients to local communities). This has resulted in remarkable changes including a reduction of pressures in overfished stocks.
- Improving legislation at a national level, with clear targets for reducing the number of unsustainable fisheries.
- Supporting the development of Papua New Guinea's national land use policy.
- Working with various stakeholders to better understand market linkage opportunities, particularly between Papua New Guinea and Europe.
- Mapping processes to make supply chains more sustainable and benefits better shared with smallholders.
- Understanding and filling data gaps to conserve habitats for priority marine species, including turtles, sharks and rays.
- Training and working with community rangers to carry out vital nesting surveys and initiatives to protect turtles and sharks.
- Collaborating with local communities to establish sustainable coastal fisheries management practices.
EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMMES TO POMIO
In 2024, WWF formally expanded its programmes to Pomio, East New Britain. The aim? To deliver community-led Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and tackle the district’s most pressing threats to people and nature.
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COMMUNITIES LEADING THE WAY ON FOREST CONSERVATION
In 2023, communities managing 762,000 ha of intact forests in the Kikori River Basin have reached out to WWF seeking support to conserve and protect their area. We are currently securing funding and conducting programme scoping consultations amongst communities to support this strong commitment. Our first in-person scoping programme took place in early 2024.
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CORAL TRIANGLE INITIATIVE
The Coral Triangle is a vital spawning ground for tuna, breeding ground and migration route for whales, dolphins, dugong and whale sharks, and home to six of the world’s seven marine turtle species — and Papua New Guinea is considered 'its heart.' WWF has been working in the Coral Triangle with the aim of creating more sustainable marine industries such as fisheries, aquaculture and tourism, and improving livelihoods in coastal communities to ensure food security for the future.
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