PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Sariba Island, Milne Bay Province - July 2005
School buildings for the community of Sawasawaga in exchange for the establishment of a 25-acre coastal conservation area
The area surrounding the Sawasawaga community has exceptionally high marine biodiversity and is characterized by extensive mangrove forest and seagrass habitat, which are regularly frequented by the globally vulnerable dugong and are home to the increasingly threatened crocodile. Seacology will provide funding to construct a new school for the Sawasawaga community and rehabilitate three existing teachers' houses, as the present ones are in a serious state of dilapidation. In exchange, the community will set up a minimum 25-acre protected area (encompassing an area of coral reefs, open sea, seagrass, mangrove and forest), which they will commit to protecting for a minimum of 10 years. *
UPDATE January 2006 - Villagers have held a community meeting and designated rules for management of the protected area, which will now be demarcated by GPS. Plans are being drawn up for the school building and construction will take place in the first half of 2006.
UPDATE June 2006 - Building plans for the school have been drawn up and the site cleared. Construction of the school buildings will take place over the next few months. The conservation area has been GPSed and rules for its management designated. Three fish aggregation devices (FADs) have also been placed within the protected area. Logistical support for the FADs, training and GPS work has been provided by the Asia Development Bank/PNG National Fisheries Authority and the PNG Coastal Fisheries Management and Development Project.
UPDATE January 2007 - Construction of the school buildings was completed in August 2006. An opening ceremony took place on October 28, 2006, attended by government and church officials and field representative Helen Perks.
UPDATE June 2007 - As of May 2007 the building remains in good shape and floors were recently varnished. The protected area continues to be enforced and in April 2007, villagers helped the University of Papua New Guinea conduct a seahorse survey and educational awareness program for the coastal conservation area.
UPDATE June 2008 - As of May 2008 the Fisheries Management Area that was established at Gabutau Point and in front of the Sawasawaga Village continues to be respected and enforced. Villagers are reporting increases in coral growth, fish and sea cucumbers within the area. The Seacology funded classroom is being maintained and in good condition.