The SoNG (Solwara Na Graun blo Pipol – "Ocean and Land for the People") Programme was officially launched on December 4 at an event held at APEC Haus in Port Moresby. This programme constitutes France’s contribution to the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Country Package for Forests, Nature, and Climate, totalling €15 million in funding so far through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD, the French Development Agency). Announced by France’s President Macron at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), this partnership supports the expansion of protected areas, promotes biodiversity-focused governance, honours local knowledge of biodiversity through research, and supports sustainable long-term financing mechanisms.
SoNG is a comprehensive marine and forest conservation programme. It is jointly implemented by Expertise France and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in close partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The programme will be implemented under the guidance of the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), ensuring coherence with PNG’s national policies on biodiversity and protected areas.
The programme addresses the pressures exerted on PNG’s unique ecosystems, home to 7% of the world's biodiversity, including the third largest primary forest and an epicentre of global marine biodiversity, by working closely with local communities, who govern 97% of the land under customary law. The programme takes into account the key role ecosystems play in PNG communities’ daily lives, ranging from livelihoods to culture. The programme will support Papua New Guinea’s efforts to move toward the global 30×30 objective, strengthening the protection of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
The programme is structured around four operational components designed to maximize impact on the ground. Component 1 focuses on strengthening and expanding the network of protected areas. Expected results include enhancing the effective management of existing marine protected areas over 1.7 million hectares and supporting the creation of new marine and forest community conservation areas covering potentially 2.9 million hectares of marine zones and 20,000 hectares of forest areas.
Complementing these field actions, Expertise France facilitate dialogue between national and provincial authorities and local communities (Component 2), offer scholarships and support research projects focusing on traditional knowledge related to biodiversity conservation (Component 3), and reinforce the PNG Biodiversity and Climate Fund (PNG BCF) as an independent vehicle for long-term sustainable financing (Component 4). This integrated approach aims to ensure coherence between local community initiatives and national, regional and international conservation policies.
The programme launch in Port-Moresby today was attended by government officials as well as development and conservation players, AFD Pacific Ocean Regional Director Safia Ibrahim and Expertise France Deputy CEO Cassilde Brenière.
Partner Statements:
“The SoNG programme’s launch reflects France’s determination, expressed at COP28, to work hand in hand with Papua New Guinea, a key partner in safeguarding global biodiversity and climate stability. This significant contribution to PNG’s Country Package reaffirms our commitment to forging strong, long-term partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.” Pierre Fournier, French Ambassador to PNG
“The SoNG programme brings together nature conservation and communities well-being. By addressing key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect PNG’s ocean and land, while also supporting jobs, equality, and local growth, it promotes a balanced approach to development, which is at the heart of AFD’s mission.” Safia Ibrahim, AFD Regional Director, Pacific Ocean.
“Leveraging our technical cooperation expertise and established presence in PNG through projects like the European Union funded Forestry, Climate Change, and Biodiversity project (EU-FCCB), Expertise France provides the essential technical coordination to link national public policies with community-level initiatives, ensuring the long-term viability and coherence of France’s support to PNG.” Cassilde Brénière, Expertise France Deputy CEO.
“Working hand-in-hand with communities, the custodians of 97% of the land, is key to success. WCS is proud to bring its 40 years of field experience in PNG to the SoNG Programme to conserve the world’s third largest rainforest and the marine epicentre of the Coral Triangle.” Jonathan Booth, WCS PNG Country Director.
More on WCS PNG's work on the SoNG project with our Kavieng site office team.
About Agence Française de Développement (AFD)
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) helps advance France’s policy on sustainable investment and international solidarity. Through its public sector and NGO financing operations, research and publications (Éditions AFD), sustainable development training programs (AFD Group Campus) and awareness-raising activities in France, AFD finances, supports and drives the transition to a fairer, more resilient world.
Alongside our partners, we provide sustainable solutions for—and with—communities. Our teams are working on over 2,700 projects in the field, in over 115 countries, including France’s overseas departments and territories, to support projects for the climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality and global health. Together with Proparco and Expertise France, AFD supports the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Working by your side, toward a world in common.
afd.fr/en
About Expertise France
Expertise France’s mission is to provide the very best of French technical expertise to projects where it is needed around the world. An essential agency for the co-construction of projects in the field with local players, Expertise France works in synergy with AFD, which manages public financing, and Proparco, which supports responsible private investment.
As an inter-ministerial agency working to promote international technical cooperation, Expertise France plays a vital role in sustainably strengthening public policy in 147 countries and 27 territories. The second largest technical cooperation agency in Europe, it leads initiatives in key areas such as governance, security, climate, health and education, working actively with its partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Expertises in common.
expertisefrance.fr/en
About WCS in PNG
The Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea (WCS PNG) is dedicated to empowering local communities through ground-up, community-led environmental management and conservation initiatives. Our mission is to enable the sustainable management of customary lands, seas, and other natural resources, with focus on the high-integrity forest landscapes of the PNG Highlands and the seascapes of the Bismarck Sea, a key focal point of the Coral Triangle ecoregion. Since the late-1970s, WCS PNG has been a national leader in community-based environmental management and conservation. We currently operate directly or in partnership with other environmental organizations and government bodies across 11 of the 22 provinces in Papua New Guinea.
png.wcs.org/