upbeatBytes
Mongabay

New ‘conservation deed’ aims to protect tree kangaroos, forests, people in Papua New Guinea

On June 30, 266 clan leaders from 41 villages in Papua New Guinea's Torricelli Mountains signed a legally binding conservation deed to protect the region's rainforest, its unique biodiversity, and local communities. The agreement, developed over two years with community consent, bans commercial logging, mining, and hunting of threatened species, offering a model for similar conservation efforts in the region. The deed follows years of stalled efforts to secure formal protected-area status and provides legal protection against logging pressures. The initiative marks a significant step in preserving the area's rich ecosystem, including critically endangered tree kangaroos, and supports the livelihoods of local people.

What happened

Clan leaders in Papua New Guinea signed a legal "conservation deed" to protect the Torricelli Mountains' forests, tree kangaroos, and local communities from logging and mining.

Why it matters

This agreement offers a new model for community-led conservation, ensuring both environmental protection and the rights of Indigenous people in a region rich in biodiversity.

Why it belongs here

It shows how local action and legal tools can work together to safeguard nature and people, offering hope for sustainable solutions in threatened ecosystems.

communityenvironmentscience

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