Wildlife Australia - Spring 2017

In most cases, village schools in Papua New Guinea do not go

beyond grade eight; only a small percentage of youth in Papua

New Guinea (including many with great potential) are able to

complete high school and continue on to tertiary education. A

lack of available tertiary placements, insufficient grades, lack of

funds for fees, and a variety of other social and cultural factors

contribute to this and result in a significant number of youth

being unable to reach their potential or gain meaningful work.

The TKCP Junior Ranger Program employs a three-tier program

to target pre-kindergarten students, elementary and primary

school students and post-primary students. In all cases, the

program has been enthusiastically received, giving it a good

chance of a long-term future. Memories of the trainee teachers

enthusiastically throwing themselves into setting lessons such

as debating the merits of the wantok (a type of kinship system),

or charging around the village learning how to use a GPS or

binoculars, will stay with us forever.

Where to next?

Our current focus is on continuing to implement the post-

primary program, including extending the program to further

villages. The pre-kinder program will also be revised and an

elementary and primary Junior Ranger program will be added,

providing a logical and progressive learning program that segues

into the post-primary initiative. Further training will be provided

to volunteer teachers on all three levels, and the program will be

implemented as a three-step integrated educational package with

clear outcomes for participants and for the future management of

the YUS Conservation Areas.

How you can help

Implementing a much-needed but ambitious program in the

remote landscape of the YUS Conservation Area is challenging

on several fronts. Access is limited and resources are few.

To get involved or lend a hand, please visit http://www.treekangaroo.org

or http://www.facebook.com/tkcppng

READING Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Annual Report 2016, Seattle,

Washington, USA 2017 Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (2012) YUS Landscape

Plan 2013–2015, Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, Lae, PNG. Winderlich S. 2013.

The role of volunteers – a case study analysis. Masters in Philosophy from the University

of Queensland (topic Community involvement in Natural Resource Management).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many thanks to the landholders and villagers of YUS and the

staff of TKCP, in particular Danny Samandingke and Gibson Gala.

STEVE WINDERLICH and ANNE O’DEA have extensive experience in natural

and cultural resource management in both marine and terrestrial protected

areas. Together, they run Windydea Professional Services and Consultants,

specialising in environmental, cultural, and workforce project management

from inception to completion. They value training and development,

particularly building capacity of Indigenous people and developing innovative

mentoring packages. They have been working with TKCP to develop and

implement the Junior Ranger Program during 2016 and 2017.

CONSERVATION INNOVATION

‘If I could have people do one

thing to help tree kangaroos and

rainforests, it would be to take care

of wildlife in your own backyard or

community. If we all do what we can

locally, it will make a difference.’

• Lisa Dabek, director and
  founding member of TKCP

A significant number of volunteer
teachers were trained to implement
the first program. Eleven lessons were
developed, covering environmental,
health, sustainable living, economic and
leadership themes. Teachers quickly
become skilled at using microscopes
and GPS equipment, map-reading and
reporting. Photos: Windydea Consultants

Mambawe Manaono, TKCP advisor and

one of the first landowners in YUS to

pledge land for conservation. ‘I care

that YUS is protected because this

conservation initiative put YUS on the

world map. I was the first to meet Lisa

Dabek twenty years ago, and I showed

her where to find the tree kangaroos

in our forest. I used to be a great

hunter, but since then I decided not to

shoot any kind of wildlife. One day I

saw a Matschie’s tree kangaroo eating

in my pigpen! I am happy to see this

evidence of our success, although it is

still an uncommon sight.’ Photo: TKCP

Fifu Kuyo, YUS Conservation

Organisation leader. ‘I care that YUS is

protected because I have seen evidence

of tree kangaroos, cassowaries and

lots of possums, so I am happy that my

Sapun Clan made the right decision to

pledge land.’ Photo: TKCP

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