Indigenous Peoples and Conservation Organizations

106 The Foi in Papua New Guinea
evolved, the project created the conditions for
symbiotic relationships to form.
The dynamic worked this way: By closing an
area, traditional clan leaders could proclaim and
reinforce their customary tenure rights. The
WMAC added a legal seal of approval by ratifying
the closure, helping to protect traditional
landowners from rival claims while gaining prestige
within the community by association with its
traditional leadership. The village magistrate and
local councilors reinforced the management
strategies by using their power to deal with violators,
and simultaneously gained status in the lake
villages by enforcing the community’s will.
This last element was crucial. The process of
identifying problems and needs and devising and
implementing management strategies was a cooperative
effort among the local communities.
WWF played an important role in this. Although
the communities had significant traditional knowledge
about the lake’s biological resources—
knowledge that was incorporated into management
strategies—they lacked the skills to objectively
assess the overall characteristics and use of the
fishery resources. WWF provided training to local
community members in order to acquire information
on the total fishery, monitor fish catches, and
help communities make informed management
decisions. This facilitated more effective collaboration
with and among clan leaders, WMAC members,
and village court magistrates.
Although WWF took the lead in analyzing fisheries
data, it did not confront the community
with rigid prescriptions for improved management.
Assisted by the trained community members,
WWF presented a series of options for the
community to discuss, weigh, and modify so that
final management strategies would have community
support and fit the community’s means to
implement them. Indeed all initiative to implement
final management strategies was left in the
hands of local clan leaders and WMAC members.
WWF merely responded to requests for assistance
when required. In effect, WWF made itself
accountable to the community.
5.2 A Balance Sheet of Community and
Conservation Benefits
The conservation benefits of fish catch monitoring
are clear, even though compliance is not universal.
There has been an improvement in the
sustainable management of fishery resources that
will promote the long-term survival of the lake’s
unique fish species. As previously mentioned,
clan leaders and landowners report a noticeable
improvement in fish stocks in the areas that were
closed for a year and then reopened. Areas
closed between December 1996 and October
1998 show a remarkable increase in both the size
and number of fish. These results have piqued
the interest of other clan leaders, and requests are
up for signboards to close off more areas.
The fisheries management project has also spurred
interest in other ideas for environmental awareness
and sustainable resource management by the Foi
communities. The ecotourism lodge and preparation
for RAMSAR listing of Lake Kutubu have
already been cited. Now that it has gained the
trust of local communities and proven that it is an
effective partner, WWF hopes to remain on the
cutting edge of this process and is helping to build
local skills to keep the momentum going.
As a result of their participation in the fisheries
project, a number of respected community members
have now become serious advocates of conservation
and sustainable resource management.
Many of the directors of the Landowner Company
starting the Tubo Lodge for ecotourism were
trained as fish catch monitors and community
workshop facilitators. It is also important to note
that the local communities themselves are now
requesting WWF training for local landowners to
more effectively quantify the success of their
management strategies. Because these technical
skills are being internalized, the community is in
a better position not only to monitor the status of
fisheries but to make informed management decisions
in general and to make them stick.
One sign of that is the revitalization of the
WMAC. Not only is it taking on a more active
role, but community pressure has built to replace
members who have been ineffective. The fact
that local clan leaders are now interested in joining
the committee is an indication of its new
importance. How effective the committee will
become is yet to be determined. It remains to be
seen if members can transcend their personal
interests and collegially develop a genuine commitment
to sustainable resource management.