The USAID PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) aims to protect Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) rich biodiversity, which is under increasing threat from industrial development, population growth, and other anthropogenic factors.
"Lukautim graun" means “protect the environment” in Tok Pisin. The Program aims to improve the conservation of biodiversity and equity among genders in priority terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems.
LGP is also the recipient of the White House-led Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP) and will support women across the value change in PNG, from farming in rural and remote areas to women entrepreneurs developing new businesses, to women employees and leaders in the formal sector.
WHO WE ARE
Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd. - a DT Global Company, implements LGP with a consortium of four partners at the national, regional, and local levels: The Nature Conservancy, The Woodland Park Zoo’s PNG Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, and CARE International. Our unique approach to program design allows partners to implement the project as a single team based on the strengths of each organization.
WHAT WE DO
The objective of LGP is to create an environment and facilitate mechanisms through which communities, the private sector, and government work in partnership for the common goals of conservation and sustainable development; in which customary owners have the skills, knowledge, and incentives to sustainably manage their lands to reduce the threats to biodiversity; and each level of government has the capacity and political will to create an enabling environment supporting biodiversity conservation.
WHERE WE WORK
PNG is home to an estimated 6% of the world’s animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else. LGP operates in the Bismarck Forest Corridor, Eastern Highlands Province, Jiwaka Province, Madang Province, Morobe Province, National Capital District, Simbu Province, Milne Bay, and YUS Conservation Area, supporting the Government of PNG and its communities by strengthening the management of customary lands and waters, including key areas of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
NEWS
PNG’s biodiversity is of global significance. The country is fully committed to the effective management of biodiversity and environmental services within production landscapes, including the implementation of best practices for land use and the creation of a protected areas network to conserve habitat and biodiversity. In the news section, we share LGP’s press releases and success stories but also weekly updates about biodiversity-related challenges and achievements in PNG and globally.
