By Audrey Garem – DWU Journalism Student
A framework will soon be developed that will address issues of climate change and adaption within coastal communities of Madang.
Executive Dean of UPNG Natural and Physical Sciences, Professor Chalapan Kaluwin, who conducted a week-long workshop last week said the framework will give guidelines on how Madang people can become resilient to the risks and impacts of Climate Change.
During the workshop, Professor Chalapan and his team from the UPNG School of Natural and Physical Sciences discussed with community representative’s issues of climate change affecting coastal communities and how people can improve their livelihoods and the environment.
Professor Chalapan also stressed on the importance of adaptation measures and for education and awareness to be carried out in these communities.
Community representatives from the three districts; Bogia, Sumkar, and Madang responded positively towards the presentations given by the UPNG Team.
Raymond Sagerom from Malala, said that there is still a lack of awareness and right information is not provided to the people about the importance of conserving their marine resources.
He said training needs to be carried out in communities, so people are aware of the negative effects of climate change and take measures to conserve their marine resources.
International conservation NGO, World Wide Fund (WWF) facilitated the workshop under its Living with Change, Community Based Fisheries Management project.
WWF Marine Program Coordinator, Rebecca Samuel, said that basically the workshop was conducted to train community members to manage fisheries at the community level.
Ms. Samuel said WWF has been working with these coastal communities for many years to address issues of declining fish stock and through this workshop, with the collaboration of experts from UPNG, a framework will be developed that will address climate change and adaptation issues affecting community-based fisheries management and conservation practices.
The weeklong workshop ended with field trips by the UPNG experts to various WWF project sites within the Madang, Sumkar and Bogia districts.
