By Lilian Sopera Keneqa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
After many years, Varirata National Park is on the verge of becoming a major attraction within the country. Varirata National Park outside Port Moresby officially opened a new Information Center Complex today.
A partnership between the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), saw the construction of this center successful in which the information center is part of the CEPA-JICA Biodiversity Project 2015-2020.
With the opening of its new information center complex, visitors can now sit and be in comfort as they plan out their journey through the park.
During his remarks CEPA Managing Director, Gunther Joku said, “This will improve the program of the park and we will have more people, especially students… who will experience the rich biodiversity and natural environment…”
To address bio diversity conservation, the government of Papua New Guinea and Japan jointly launched a technical cooperation project called the Project for Biodiversity Conservation through Implementation of the PNG Policy on Protected Areas.
Through the project, the partnership hopes to enhance the Varirata National Park as a native Protected Area management model for the nation and establish a new marine Protected Area, among others.
JICA-PNG Chief Representative, Takashi Toyama, while officiating the event said, “It is estimated that, Papua New Guinea contains five percent of the world’s biodiversity. Much of this diversity has remained intact for thousands of years.”
He concluded saying, “It is JICA’s hope that each time someone pays a visit to the Varirata National Park information complex center, they will not only leave with a new sense of appreciation for PNG and it’s priceless biodiversity, but also they will leave with the important lesson that conserving biodiversity is everyone’s business.”
