USAID to help PNG implement sustainable land use policy

Department of Lands and Physical Planning [DLPP] and USAID have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the implementation of Papua New Guinea’s National Sustainable Land Use Policy [NSLUP].

The partnership will pave the way for the comprehensive review and enhancement of existing policies and legislation, including the revision of the Physical Planning Act 1989.

DLPP and USAID team will focus on Madang and Morobe as the project target areas for land use planning as data collected from the two provinces will assist the department for the NSLUP objectives.

The 2022-2032 land use policy is set to achieve 3 key objectives which are development of a national land use plan, national land use information management system and national capacity building.

“It's basically a bottom-up policy we are trying to implement where the land use in each of the districts and our provinces, even down to the ward levels are also kept in our plan,” DLPP secretary Benjamin Samson said.

Mr Samson said the policy will guide the way on how the department will manage and use land and its resources throughout the country.

With the agreement signed, the joint effort will promote conservation and livelihood developments, also empower women as decision-makers and leaders, and advance sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and other land use sectors.

USAID’s energy environment resilience office director David Burt said United States was committed to working with the government and people of PNG to promote sustainable use of the country's forests and natural resources to drive economic growth, improve livelihoods, without compromising the essential role that the ecosystem plays in preserving the climate.

“PNG's forests and peat lands provide livelihoods to many and serve as a cornerstone for PNG's economy and store massive amounts of carbon,” Burt said during the signing today.

“Preserving these ecosystems is critical to achieving PNG's climate objectives and to fighting global climate change.

“Achieving PNG's climate objectives requires a shift in traditional land use approaches to sustainable forestry, agriculture, and land use.

“The agreement builds on USAID's current support to DLPP's implementation of the NSLU, national sustainable land use policy.”

USAID has provided $18.5 million [US dollars] for the implementation of the program across its 10-year lifespan.

They will work in close consultation with DLPP, PNG Forest Authority, Conservation Environment Protection Authority and the Climate Change Development Authority as key partners for the NSLU policy.

DLPP deputy secretary for Lands Services Michael Gidion said the Physical Planning Act of 1989 will be reviewed and updated with the aim to create a more robust framework that will support sustainable development and responsible land use.

“We are confident that this collaboration will bring about positive change, ensuring that our land use policies are not only effective but also inclusive and forward thinking,” he said.

“Together we will work towards a future where sustainable land use is at the heart of our national development strategy.”