Kiwa Initiative IUCN-ORO Team Supports Locally Led Conservation in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands
Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea (24 August- 5 September 2026) — The IUCN Oceania Regional Office (ORO) Kiwa Local Projects team has completed a field mission to the highlands region of Papua New Guinea for on-grantees – KGWan Eco Habitat Inc., Dika Suna Nature Conservation Inc. (DNC), and Kup Reforestation.
The mission marked IUCN-ORO’s first official visit to the Dika Suna Nature Conservation Inc. and Kup Reforestation, and the second to KGWan.
The project team met the project coordinators, visited all three project sites, and saw first-hand progress in locally led conservation and climate resilient work supported by the Kiwa Initiative. The on-grantees then came together for one-on-one technical and financial sessions, strengthening organisational capacity and peer-to-peer learning.
KGWan Eco Habitat Inc.
The project team travelled to the KGWan office located in Danbagl village within the Kundiawa Gembogl district of Simbu Province. In July 2023, KGWan Eco Habitat began adopting and promoting sustainable forest management and climate-smart farming targeting local communities and montane forests within the Inaugl area. The project aimed to improve biodiversity conservation of vulnerable plant species, support climate resilient livelihoods, and drive community awareness and participation. The project was completed in March 2026, having successfully established a Deed of Conservation covering more than 12,000 hectares.
During the visit, the team toured the project’s native plant, coffee and mushroom nurseries, beekeeping facilities and engaged with members of the KGWan staff implementing project activities. Then across two days, the project team facilitated a collaborative session with KGWan to provide targeted support and coaching as the on-grantee completes the grant closure process. Key outcomes include on-grantee submission of key documents, long-term communication strategy and a commitment to deliver on the action plan.
Dika Suna Nature Conservation Inc.
The team followed this with a visit to Dika Suna Nature Conservation Inc (DNC), based also in Simbu Province. Launched in August 2025, this ongoing project works to conserve community forests, restore native plant habitats, and boost climate change awareness and resilience by working together with local village communities. The team visited the Gomani native plants habitat preservation area, a degraded, mountainous area where replanting is taking place. Another degraded site nearby, Kelu’Kelu – a grassland area – is currently being restored with introduced plant species. DNC staff then led a tour around the Drekami community and Dika Suna reforestation areas supporting native planting activities, nursery management, and beekeeping adjacent to the Dika Suna Community Center.
Kup Reforestation
Kup Reforestation is leading forest restoration and conservation efforts in the Kerowagi District of Simbu Province. Since July 2025, Kup Reforestation has raised, distributed and planted tree seedlings within the project site and beyond to restore degraded lands and preserve vulnerable forest ecosystems. The project supports local communities to be active partners in this conservation work, training and upskilling men and women in plant propagation, nursery management, and tree planting.
Kup showed the project team the progress achieved so far, including the central nursery facility critical to reforestation activities along with the Kup project site, tree planting efforts and the stories of landowners implementing reforestation and forest preservation work within and outside the Kup community.
Joint on-grantee sessions
The Kiwa team then held a joint session with Kup Reforestation and Dika Sun Nature Conservation Inc., providing further assistance in finance, grants management, Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS), Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL), procurement and communications in line with Kiwa Initiative guidelines.
As beneficiaries of the Kiwa Initiative, the on-grantees welcomed the opportunity to learn from the project team and receive support necessary for project implementation, monitoring and quality assurance.
With this support, KGWan Eco Habitat Inc., Dika Suna Nature Conservation Inc. (DNC), and Kup Reforestation are now equipped to meet pending action plans, deliver targets on time, and maximise funding and project impact.
