Project news
Kiwa Initiative IUCN-ORO Team Supports Locally Led Conservation in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands
9 September 2026
© Kiwa Initiative
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.
Theme
co-benefits
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Project namePreservation of Native Plants Habitat
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Project LeadDika Suna Nature Conservation Inc
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Project StartAugust 2025
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Estimated termMarch 2027
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Amount of funding€50,000
Project locations
DNC is striving to preserve the remaining community forest and restore degraded areas to enable native plant species to survive. This remaining forest habitat is the home to indigenous plants species that hold significant values to the people of the local Dinga tribe.
Context
Dinga area as part of Suai Local Level Government of Sinasina Yongomugl District in Simbu Province of Papua New Guinea is known for its grassland, the few remaining community forest is starting to diminish due to the climate change effects intensifies droughts, heat that easily ignites fires in burning down of the forest habitat, this remaining forest is the home to many native plants species. Seeing the effect of climate change and human induce threats, Dika Suna has taken the initiative to preserve the remaining forest and restore degraded areas that can be adaptable in the face of climate change. Most of Dinga areas is covered with grassland and this is where DNC will gradually convert this grassland to forest. To restore priority landscapes, safeguard water and soils, and open livelihood options.
The purpose of this project is to preserve the remaining community forest and restore degraded areas to enable native plant species to survive. In this project Dika Suna will be Diseminating climate change resilience information through awareness reaching out to 6 villages in four ward areas of Suai LLG. Dikasuna Nature Conservation is now working in collaboration with local communities taking local actions in restoring and preserving the native plants habitat. With this project DNC is targeting to restore 100 hectares of degraded forest ecosystem affected by the effects of climate change and other human induced activities. In this project we will also preserve 130 hectares of native plants forest to be locally recognized as a preservation area and will be protected. With this project we are focusing on working with local communities residing in and around these ecosystems, including Indigenous Peoples who have traditional knowledge and cultural connections to the native plants in the area to build a climate smart resilience community in mitigation climate change for adaptation. DNC to establish nursery yard to supply enough native plant species in doing reforestation activities restoring degraded areas and preserve the remaining community forest which is the home to native plants species.
Project objectives
Objective 1 - To conduct gender inclusive community awareness on climate change resilience & adaption
Empower at least 6 villages in four ward areas community members, particularly women and marginalized groups, with the knowledge on climate change resilience and skills to implement climate adaptation strategies, leading to increased community resilience.
Objective 2 - To reforest 100 hectares of land with natives plants within the preserved habitat within the project period.
Implementing reforestation activity targeting to achieve a survival rate of over 80% for newly planted native species, restoring and enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services within the preserve habitat and other degraded areas
Objective 3 - To preserve 130 hectares of native plants habitat and establish conservation area within the project period
Secure legal protection for the 130 preservation and conservation area, ensuring long-term preservation of native plant species and their habitats, benefiting both local wildlife and the broader ecosystem.
Social inclusion and gender equity
In rural areas of our society, traditional knowledge and land owning is passed down through men only. Men make decission and women to follow. In this project we do away with this tradionally ideology by involving women as full time volunteers that are and will be involved in all activities of our projects. We emphasis in encouraging the participation of both men and women in our organization and with this project of preserving and restoring forest ecosystem. With the preservation of native plants habitat project we acknowledges vital role that will be provided by female by ensuring that women are not only beneficiaries but also part taker and leaders in implementing project activities. Women's contributions have proven to be both effective and equitable in our efforts to preserve and restore degraded land for climate adaptation
In our project we do the following:
- Challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes, promoting equal participation and valuing women's contributions in respective roles implementing NbS for climate change adaptation in Emai communities.
- Giving Women’s in our community the leading roles in our project activities such as nursery supervisor, field supervisors in transplanting restoring degraded areas.
- Encourages community engagement and ownership, helping to break down gender-based barriers.
