Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
The Infinity Blue, consisting of The New Ireland Mangrove and Seagrass Biodiversity Conservation; and Livelihoods and Blue Carbon Project, aims to create a proposal that is ready for investment in blue carbon offsets for the international market. The project is funded by the Australian Government in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) under the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF). This proposal will help direct revenue back to the communities that manage mangroves and seagrasses, enhancing their efforts in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and sustainable livelihood development through payments for ecosystem services (PES) scheme. To provide context, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) are mechanisms that offer financial incentives to individuals or communities for managing natural resources sustainably. For example, a water company may compensate upstream landowners for maintaining healthy forests. These forests help filter water and reduce soil erosion, ensuring a reliable supply of clean water for those downstream.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The New Ireland Mangrove and Seagrass Biodiversity Conservation; and Livelihoods and Blue Carbon Project involves the government in Papua New Guinea and local communities in the focused regions.
Outcomes to Date
Infinity Blue (PNG) Limited successfully conducted initial community engagement events between May 9 and July 6, 2023, across ten community venues targeting various groups. Public awareness and education meetings were held to explain the project, its objectives, and its implementation plan in the Tabar Group of Islands. The events attracted significant media attention, with coverage by Richard Watt, a journalist from the PNG National Broadcasting Commission. Footage from the events was broadcast nationwide on NBC Kundu TV, and radio segments were aired on the New Ireland radio station. From 1st to 5th July 2024, the project team attended the Global Dialogue on Sustainable Ocean Development, 1-5 July 2024, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. The work is ongoing with the next phase being an evaluation of the mangroves, which will be carried out with the support of local communities to build their knowledge and capacity around sustainability issues.
Project Significance
The New Ireland Mangrove and Seagrass Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihoods covers the conservation of mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and communities from the Tabar group of islands (Simberi, Tatau, and big Tabar), the east and west coast of Sentral New Ireland, the Djaul islands, the east and west Tigak mainland and islands, Southwest Lavongai and Northeast Lavongai, and Mussau and Emirau islands. As mangroves are one of the most effective carbon sinks in the world, the effort to protect them aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 13: Climate Action. The project also aims to raise awareness and build capacity among local communities, engaging them in managing coastal ecosystems that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 14 and 17: Life Below Water and Partnerships for the Goals. Finally, the project hopes to provide income for communities that protect mangroves, supporting SDG 1: No Poverty.