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Asia Pacific Postcards from the Field

Click to Enlarge: snorkeler on reef, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea ©Suzanne Case/The Nature Conservancy Papua New Guinea Postage Stamp
August 28, 2002. East of New Guinea the island of New Britain hangs like a green waxing crescent moon. Near its center the Willaumez Peninsula projects 30 miles into the Bismarck Sea cradling Kimbe Bay and some of the most magnificent marine biodiversity in the South Pacific. For eight years, Mahonia na Dari (which means ‘Guardians of the Sea’ in the local Talasea language) has been working in Kimbe Bay with our partner, The Nature Conservancy, to build support for conservation. This year I have joined Mahonia as their new Executive Director. Yours in Conservation,
Mark Solon signature
Executive Director, Mahonia na Dari
A skin diver hovers over a protected reef in Kimbe Bay. (Click on the image above to see the whole postcard.)
   

Learn more about the Conservancy's work in Papua New Guinea

    
   

 

    
   

 

Mahonia na Dari Administrative Building, Kimbe Bay ©Chris CrowleyTwenty five years of my life were spent as an educator in colleges and universities in Papua New Guinea, a country only known in colonial days as "land of savages and headhunters" and considered of little value to the western commercial world.

Today this "valueless" landmass and its surrounding ocean have become one of the world’s conservation hotspots. Papua New Guinea’s remaining tropical rainforests are the biological storehouse for nearly 5% of the world’s biodiversity. Its ocean and coral reefs harbor some of the world’s richest, most diverse marine environments. Kimbe Bay alone is home to at least 860 species of reef fish and 360 species of coral.

Incredibly, this marine diversity exceeds species known to the Australian Great Barrier Reef, the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean Ocean combined.

Nevertheless, this biological heritage is threatened by unscrupulous loggers and million dollar international fish traders. The situation is compounded by the country’s agro-industry plan for extensive oil palm developments and an explosive population rate with growing demand for fuelwood and arable land for agriculture.

Mahonia Student works on hands-on exercise ©Florence Bernsdorf/The Nature ConservancyGiven such threats, the spread of the conservation message in Papua New Guinea must be pursued with commitment and vigor before one of the world’s last biological treasures is destroyed. When I was offered the chance to work with Mahonia, I knew that I had an incredible opportunity to raise awareness about the need to protect this remarkable place. Our organizational belief is that one of our best hopes for preserving Papua New Guinea's marine biodiversity is to build a grassroots constituency for conservation. Our highly successful marine education program has already proven to be a powerful tool in building this support by increasing environmental awareness and inspiring local action to protect coral reefs. The marine education program has attracted the interest of the National Department of Education and key elements are being integrated into the National School Teaching Curriculum.

As Mahonia’s new executive director I am looking forward to the challenge of leading this young organization in its mission to mainstream the cause of conservation in Papua New Guinea. Together, we hope to draw the world’s attention to conserving this last ecological treasure for future generations

Yours in Conservation,

Click to Enlarge: Mark Solon, Executive Director, Mahonia na Dari ©Anne Krumme/The Nature Conservancy Mark Solon signature
Mark Solon
Executive Director, Mahonia na Dari

About Mark Solon, Ph.D.:
Mark Solon was educated in village primary schools and colleges in Papua New Guinea and completed his masters and doctorate degrees in Australia and Canada in management and administration. He is credited with more than 25 years of experience as a teacher, professor and administrator. He was principal of Goroka Teachers College, and founding Vice Chancellor of the University of Goroka. He has a wealth of experience in the education system in Papua New Guinea and is currently appointed by the National Executive Council as Chairperson of the State’s Office of Higher Education.