Climate change affects villagers

Rising sea levels continue to
wash away leatherback and other
endangered sea turtles nesting 
beaches in Madang province. 
Picture of a leatherback returning
to sea after nesting at Dawang 
beach, Mur village, Rai coast District,
Madang. Picture curtesy of Leeray.

 Pictures and stories By WENCESLAUS MAGUN

https://www.thenational.com.pg/riwo-island-fishermen.../

Two fishing boats have arrived at Malapau Island from a day’s fishing trip in the open seas. 

One had arrived earlier, most likely at three in the afternoon and had dropped off a fisherman on our island and left. 

The other boat had just anchored at the shore. 

The warm afternoon sun seem to welcome the fishermen home as if to bid them farewell for accompanying them throughout the day in the open sea as they were fishing. 

The sun’s heat continued to warm the lagoon’s surface.  If only we had eyes to see, we could tell that the heat from the sun was actually causing the lagoon to rise in millimeters.  

Warmer sea and rising sea levels
have washed away many shores 
including Kaviak's on 
Karkar Island, Madang.

The volume of the sea water in the lagoon continue to increase as it swells and swallows the edges of our coasts.  Some of our islands and coastal areas have sunk over the years as a result of the effects of climate change.

The lagoon and our islands continue to get additional pressures from plastics, and the waves of boats that continue to sail the seas and the lagoon, washing away the shores of our islands.

Our islands homes are enveloped by Madang lagoon.  It is surrounded by mangroves, swaying coconut palms, shrubs, and dots of houses filling the mainland and or lining our islands.

Whilst the mangroves and the seagrass in our lagoon store and sequestrate carbon to mitigate the impacts of climate change, our actions to cut mangroves for firewood and build houses and destroy seagrass from overfishing, disturbs them from fulfilling their potentials.  

Land which our ancestors once used for gardening, collecting firewood, looking after pigs, and planting coconut trees for food and income are now submerged under the sea.

The rising sea level in the lagoon has seen much of our Islands being washed away or continue to sink.  

Rising sea level has not only shrunk the size of our islands but has caused our water wells to taste salty.

The sea water has definitely intruded our fresh well waters and destroyed our food gardens.

Steven Kalom in blue jeans
sharing his concerns on the
effects and impacts of 
climate change in Riwo village,
Ward 6, Ambenob LLG, 
Madang province.

I strolled over to the skipper of one of the fishing boats that just arrived.  The skipper was having his meal of boiled bananas under his hut. 

His hut is made of thatched sago palm roof, palm bark floors, and it’s surrounded by sago palm stalks tightly woven together with strips of canes.

Joining him were his children aged between three and 12 years.  They huddled themselves together and giggled with smiles at me as I approached them.

 The day’s heat from the sun had taken its tolls.  I could see the fishermen’s skins all darkened.

“Peter (not his real name). How was your catch?” I asked with curiosity, as I sat next to him respecting him for his tireless efforts of fishing to fend for his family.

“Bagarap stret, (Very bad),” he responded with a sad face.  The other fisherman who accompanied him confirmed Peter’s answer.  He stressed that they had fished whole day and returned with only eight fish.

“This catch,” said Peter, “is not enough to even buy fuel for our next trip,” he stressed with a sad low voice, staring at me and searching for an appropriate answer to explain to his children and to the lady who owns the boat he was fishing on. 

Karkum villagers in Madang province
have taken steps to protect, restore, increase,
and sustain their marine ecosystems and 
biodiversity by establishing their 
Community Managed Marine Area using
Conservation Deed.  Picture of their Natural 
Resources Management Area Map.

As I left Peter and headed back to our house, the lady, the boat’s owner (my cousin) greeted me from her sit on a bench under a mango tree next to Peter’s house.

“Cousin, not a good catch today,” she reaffirmed her fishermen’s concerns with a tone of sadness.

My cousin sister’s concerns is further reiterated by other fishermen.

A 23ft fiber glass dinghy with a four stroke 60hp Yamaha dinghy had returned around 10am with three weary fishermen.  They had left Malapau Island, in Riwo village, at about four o’clock in the morning today. 

Malapau Island, in Riwo village, Ward 6, of Ambenob local level government, in Madang province is about 10km north of Madang town.

The seasoned fishermen had left their warm houses and loving families behind in the early hours of the morning to catch fish.  The fishermen aimed to catch sufficient fish so they can sell at the Madang fish market to earn money.  With the money they could buy food, clothes and meet their other basic needs. 

As they pulled up at the beach, and were unpacking their fishing gears, they informed a few of us waiting expectantly with high hopes at the shore of a good catch.

Late Bob Khonn expressing his concerns on
the environmental, social, economic and cultural
issues of Karkum village with lawyer
Tamalis Akus at Karkum village.

“Solwara bagarap stret.  Strongpla tait, na mipla i no hukim wanpela pis.  (Bad sea with strong currents and we did not catch any fish),” two of the fishermen said with heavy hearts.

The boat’s skipper, the more experienced fishermen in his early 60’s confirmed the two younger fishermen’s comments. 

He added, the current has changed causing the fish to either move away from the Inshore Fish Aggregating Devise (IFAD), commonly used by the locals to catch fish or the IFAD needs to be maintained to attract fish.

There used to be more than four IFADs and off-shore FADs located in between Kranget Island and Malas village some 80km to 90km northwest of Madang town and between Karkar and Bagabag Islands.  With just one IFAD left, fishermen are literally struggling to catch fish to earn an honest hard working living.

“We call on the Madang Fisheries Division, the National Fisheries Authority, the RD canning or any other appropriate authorities to replace the missing IFADs to help us catch fish for our living,” appealed the elderly fishermen as he unpacked his fishing gears from the dinghy.

After failing to catch fish from the IFAD for hours, they followed the current south, heading towards Rai coast in an attempt to see schools of fish to catch.  Unfortunately, they couldn’t find any to catch and returned downhearted.

Their stories reflect my understanding on the effects and impacts of climate change causing changing sea currents.  With global warming comes sea level rise, extreme weather events, longer periods of droughts, and rainy seasons, strong winds or cyclones, and increase diseases.

Our villagers are the most vulnerable.  They bear the price of global warming created by industrial nations during the industrial revolution.   

We all contribute to increase greenhouse emission from the use of fuel, coal, and gas and from farming as producers, traders, and consumers.

Environmental steward Liberty Betuel
shares her sea turtles restoration stories with
Dibor, and Tokain villagers at Dibor.

Unless we play our part at our communities by joining our government to mitigate greenhouse emission our inactions will continue to exacerbate, exhilarate, and amplify the ongoing upwards trend of climate change effects and impacts.

Our fishermen are like canneries in the coal mine.  They warn us that climate change effects and impacts are on the rise affecting their normal daily catch and making it difficult to look after their families.

 

Greenhouse emission affects food and fish

King tides and rising sea level
continue to erode shores of 
Malapau Island.  Pictures by 
Monica Danam

By WENCESLAUS MAGUN

The cool breeze in the early morning hours filled the room.  Anasthasia Ladong (not her real name)  was tempted to sleep in but the plan to do gardening on this day with her husband from their last night’s discussions forced her to wake up early.

After rinsing her mouth in the kitchen she quickly washed the dirty pots, pans, plates, cups, spoons and other kitchen utensils left behind from yesterday’s dinner.  She then boiled yams and a few bananas for breakfast for her family.  Unfortunately, there was no fish and greens to add for a nutritional meal.  

Bad weather with strong currents made it impossible for the fishermen on the island to catch fish.

Quite often, a meal is shared amongst the entire family including grand children, their parents and the siblings in one household.

Relieved from her first task, Ladong relaxes for a moment, chews a betelnut, and checks on her husband if he had prepared the gardening tools.

Monica Danam taking pictures
on the effects and impacts of
climate change on 
Malapau Island.

In the meantime, Ladong has washed the dirty pots, plates, cups and spoons, and organized herself for gardening.

Ladong, yu redi o?  Mi laik go long gaden nau, Joe (i no nem tru) i singaut i go long meri blong em Ladong.

Ladong, are you ready? I am ready to go to the garden now,” Joe (not his real name) calls out to his wife.

“Yes mi redi” Ladong singaut i go bek long Joe long haus win blong bus haus blong ol.

Yes I am ready,” Ladong calls back from the verandah of their humble bush house as she smiles back to Joe.

Years of chewing betel nut has seen her teeth all stained black.  Gray hairs have covered the once dark black fuzzy wazzy ones.  Years of exposer in the sun has seen strain and stress on her face.  The scorching suns heat have also baked her brown skin dark. 

The sun had pierced through the clouds that morning casting their shadows over the calm blue lagoon. 

The turquoise blue lagoon continued to absorb its heat, as it stores and sequestrates the carbon dioxide from the sun.

Little did Ladong nor Joe know anything about the climate change, its effects and its impacts. 

Yet they knew something wasn’t right with the sea and their land for gardening.

Their relatives have relocated their homes from the eastern side of their island facing the open sea and have and continue to build new houses on the western side. 

The ongoing onslaught of king tides and rising sea level over the years have eroded the eastern side of the island.  Some parts of the island have also been submerged.  The island has shrunk in size taking away with it some of the majestic califilium trees that once lined the island’s edges and provided buffer.

Ladong and Joe have paddled across to Kokong on the mainland from Malapau Island.  After leaving their canoe at the beach they ventured inland to their land for gardening.

They had cleared a new patch of land for gardening on the mainland and prepared it for gardening.

Rising sea level continue to erode
and sink parts of Malapau Island.

Ladong in her mid-60s has just returned home from gardening with Joe.  She and Joe had spent a whole day clearing a new patch of land for gardening.

Like many rural women in Papua New Guinea, Ladong plays a key role in looking after her family.

Life in her island home of Malapau is never boring.  She keeps herself busy with gardening, fishing, marketing, preparing meals for her family, doing laundry, attending to customary obligations or doing church activities with her husband and family.

Malapau Island, in Riwo village, of Ward 6, in Ambenob Local Level Government is located about 10km north of Madang town, in Papua New Guinea. 

After resting from her hard day’s activities, Ladong began sharing her concerns.

“I no olsem bipo.  Long dispela taim, laip em i hat stret, Ladong i tok.

Unlike in the past, today, life is very difficult, Ladong said.

Taim blong planim yam em long mun Jun, Julai na Ogus.  Em taim bilong san.  Nau em mun Ogus, tasol ren i wok long kam yet.  Na mipela i no save, sapos em gutpela taim blong planim yam o nogat bihain long ol i kam bek long wok gaden.   

June, July and August are the yam planting season.  That’s when it’s dry.  We are in August, and it is still raining.  We are not too sure if this is a good season for planting yam or not, said Ladong.

Ladong observed that in the past as she grew up as a child, their gardens produced high yields.   There was enough food for their households for consumption as well as sufficient quantities left for either trading through barter system with neighboring Bilbil villagers or sell their garden produce in the markets for income.

She had seen her parents and heard stories of her grandparents exchanged yams, tobacco, and other goods for clay pots, dog’s teeth, pig’s tusks and the like through barter system with the Bilbil villagers. 

The clay pots they collected from Bilbil were used in bride price and other traditional ceremonies such as suabul.

A nephew of Ladong, Manalom
relocates his house from the Eastern
end of Malapau island to the western
end to prevent his house from the
effects and impacts of rising sea
level.

Suabul is a very unique and special ceremony.  During suabul, clans exchange sago cooked with galip that are stuck high up on a diamond shaped pole, with pigs, food, and other items piled under this pole with other clans in remembrance for their deceased relatives.  Before presenting these gifts to their partner clans, the host clan will sing and dance from dusk till dawn at the ceremonial (suabul) ground. 

This sacred ritual is no longer practiced in Riwo today due to the increase costs of pigs, and other goods and services. 

At the bride price ceremonies, family members of the bride would dress a bride elaborately with traditional grass skirts, bird feathers and a regalia of other decorative traditional ornaments.  These included Madang bilum (string bag), food and other gifts and take her to her groom.  This practice is still practiced today with the inclusion of modern store goods and cash.

“Nau kaikai i sot olgeta.  Planti taim ol stilman o meri i save stilim ol kaikai blong mipela. Na antap long dispela hevi, i gat planti manmeri.  Mipela i no gat inap graun bilong mekim gaden tu.  Sampela taim kaikai i no karim gut.  Ol binatang tu i bagarapim ol kaikai bilong mipela long gaden,” Ladong i tokaut wantaim bikpela wari. 

“Today, we don’t have enough food.  Thieves either men or women steal our food. And on top of this problem, our population has increased.  We don’t have sufficient land for gardening as well.  Sometimes our food do not produce good yield.  Pests and diseases are also destroying our food,” Ladong expressed with deep sadness.

Ladong and Joe did not realize that climate change effects and impacts have affected their food, .fish and marine resources.  The warmer temperatures causing rising sea levels, compounded by more frequent extreme weather events and unpredictable seasons have made their daily ordinary lives very difficult.  

The effects of climate change have further affected their water wells.   Rising sea water has intruded into their wells, making them unsafe to drink and cook with.  Despite these challenges, villagers are forced to live this lifestyle. 

Langpain Gem has seen the rise of
sea levels devastating her island
of Malapau.

Global warming, through burning up of fuel, oil, and gas compounded by emission from animal dungs, deforestation, logging, slash and burn, and related human activities since the industrial revolution in the 1700s have seen the rapid and steady rise of greenhouse emission. 

This has resulted in glaciers, and ice bergs melting thus increasing the sea level.  With rising sea level comes increased shifts in weather patterns, strong sea currents, prolonged droughts, strong winds or cyclones and typhoons, monsoons, rapid growth of pests, and related diseases and a relentless host of other climate change related effects and impacts.

Ladong and Joe join other farmers and fishermen in echoing their need in real time for hands-on training on Smart Climate Fishing and Agricultural knowledge and skills. 

They call on the government, NGO partners and other agencies for help. 

Villagers need training on climate smart fishing or agricultural, and village technology knowledge and skills that will enhance their fishing and farming activities. 

These trainings and support with appropriate village technologies and tools, will play an important role in sustaining villagers’ families with good food crops and marine products for consumption and for earning income to meet their other basic social and economic needs.

Ladong and her family can join other villagers in Papua New Guinea play a part to reduce greenhouse emission if they are supported.

The author seeks information from CEPA, CCDA, and UNDP BCF or any other relevant stakeholder partners on technical advise and support for women in Madang on the recently established Blue Economy Enterprise Incubation Facility (BE-EIF).

He understands the BE-EIF was established to stimulate the growth of viable business models in the new blue economy space.

"Can the BE-EIF provide dedicated technical assistance and a mix of financial instruments, particularly early-stage finance, to unearth, incubate and grow sustainable blue enterprise from cradle to exist with a particular focus on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and on women, in our local communities in Madang?" asked the author.

According to information gathered by the author from UNDP's website, the BE-EIF will be embedded within a dedicated financing window of the Biodiversity and Climate Fund, which provides grant-making and technical support to protected areas and vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

Please contact the author on: magun.wences@gmail.com

 

. 

 

 

 

Kaviak Village Profile, Karkar Island, Madang Province.

Figure 1: Kaviak CBO Chairman Micah Malol welcomes
MAKATA to Kaviak village.  

 Date: 23^rd February to 3^rd March 2025

 

By GERALDINE BEPI, Project Officer

 

Community Facilitators:  Bonny Wadui, Adolf Lilai, Edith Bai, and Micah Lawrence

Location

Kaviak Village, Ward Four (4) Karkar (North) LLG, Karkar Island, Sumkar District, Madang Province.

Purpose 

The purpose of this field trip is to conduct a baseline survey to develop a comprehensive village profile for Kaviak Village, encompassing demographic, socio-economic, and environmental and infrastructure aspects.

 

Village Overview 

Kaviak village, is in Ward Four (4) of the Karkar (North) LLG, Karkar Island, Sumkar District, Madang Province.  It is located in the Waskia Zone of Karkar Island and has a population of 1,108 people.

The village is divided into four clans: Wolan (with Balang as its subclan), Kulkul, and Kaviak. Youths form the largest population group, followed by children under 17, while adults aged 60 and above are the smallest group. The village also includes individuals with disabilities.

Governance is managed under cultural laws, with a village councilor and community and clan leaders overseeing the community affairs.

Severe crime cases are referred to the nearby Karkar Police Station which is about 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from Kaviak village.

Most households are semi-permanent (70%), with traditional bush-material (20%) and permanent (10%) houses.

Families live as units, speaking the indigenous 'Waskia' language and widely using 'Tok Pisin'.

Villagers rely on gardening, fishing, and store goods for food.

In addition, according to Ian Beb, the Chief Executive Officer for Karkar Rural Local Level Government, the neighboring villages within Ward 4 include: Dorokatam, Iror, and Keng 4.  Kinim government station is also within Ward 4.

 

Bonny Wadui doing Kaviak Village Profile.

Figure 2: Members of the Kaviak clan participating in
the baseline survey facilitated by Geraldine Bepi, Bonny Wadui,
Edith Bai, Micah Lawrence, and Adolf Lilai.

 

Adolf Lilai interviewing Ward 4 Councilor, 
Hon. Palol Yomar in Kaviak village.

1.      Introduction

This report presents the findings of a baseline survey conducted in Kaviak Village, Karkar Island, between the 23^rd of February and 3^rd of March 2025. The survey aimed to gather essential data to develop a detailed village profile, providing a foundation for future development initiatives and monitoring activities.

This profile will serve as a valuable resource for State intended users such as ward councilor, community leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and local government in understanding the current situation and planning interventions. 

This report compliments an earlier report on Kaviak Village Profile compiled by Ms. Winnifred Duk, from Kaviak village.  She is a PhD candidate studying at the New South Wales University in Australia (See report attached).

 2.      Methodology (Household Survey)

Structured questionnaires were administered to a representative sample of households within Kaviak Village. The sample size was 216 households, representing approximately 90% of the village population.

3.      Results 

3.1  Demographics:

·       Total estimated population: 1108;

·       Household size: Depends greatly on the number of family members;

·       Average (number) persons per households: ranges between 3 to 10 people occupying a house; and

·       Age distribution: The majority of the age distribution groups comes from the youths between the age group of 18-30 years old.  Following that age group is the age group of 17 years and below as the second largest.  There are less number of adults and old people in the age group of 31 years and above.

Ethnic composition

·       Melanesian Population:

Like the rest of the Papua New Guinea, the population of Kaviak Village is Melanesian. This simply means that they also share ancestral ties and cultural similarities like the rest of the Melanesian societies.

·       Linguistic Groups:

The island of Karkar as a whole is known to have two linguistic groups. It is the home of the speakers of Waskia and Takia languages respectively.  In the small community of Kaviak Village it comprises of majority Waskia and Tok Pidgin speakers. These languages played a vital role in distinguishing the speakers of Waskia and Takia languages.

·       Cultural Practices:

The people of Kaviak maintain their own unique cultural practices, which are intertwined with their linguistic groups and their connection to their surrounding environment.  Some of these practices would include traditional forms of social organization, arts and crafts and oral traditions and storytelling that have been passed down from generations to generations.

·       Influence of the Wider PNG Culture:

Kaviak village is one of the many parts that made PNG as one big nation, therefore it is evident in the cultural traits they share with the rest of the Papua New Guineans.

·       Religious Influences:

It is noted that the population is made up of members of the Lutheran, Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) and Four Square churches.

                                                            Figure 3:  Kaviak CBO 

chairman, Micah Malol, deputy chairman 

Tobias Mosen, little Rebecca, her mom and others posing 

with ‘Why save leatherbacks' posters at Kaviak village, 

Karkar Island. Picture by Community Facilitator Adolf Lilai.

                                                        

Migration patterns:  Factors Influencing Migration 

Plantation Economy

Karkar Island has a history of plantation agriculture, particularly coconut and cocoa. This has led to migration for employment opportunities.  People from other parts of PNG, especially the highlands, have migrated to Karkar Island to work on these plantations. This is shown in the information from the Mark O'Shea website, where it states that "the industry supports a large population (50,000) of islanders and migrants from other parts of PNG, especially highlanders." 1. www.markoshea.info

Therefore, the plantation economy has been a large pull factor for migration to the island.

Volcanic Activity

Karkar Island is a volcanic island, and volcanic activity has historically caused displacement and migration.  Eruptions can force residents to temporarily or permanently relocate.

Economic Opportunities

Like many rural areas in Papua New Guinea, people from Kaviak may migrate to larger towns or cities in search of better economic opportunities, education, and healthcare.

Social and Family Ties

Migration can also be driven by social and family ties. People may move to join relatives or to marry into other communities.

 Environmental Factors

 Changes in the environment could also cause migration. Things such as rising sea levels, or changes in the ability to grow crops could also be a factor.

 Key Migration Patterns

 Inward Migration

The plantation economy has historically driven inward migration to Karkar Island, with people seeking employment opportunities.

Outward Migration

·       Younger generations may migrate to urban centers like Madang or Port Moresby in search of education and employment.

·       Temporary migration may occur due to volcanic activity.

Internal Island Migration

·       Movement between villages on the island for marriage and trade.

It's important to note that detailed, village-specific migration data can be challenging to obtain. However, these general patterns provide a helpful overview.

Sources

·       Mark O’Shea: Karkar Island – Mark O’shea;

·       Global Volcanism Program:   Karkar – Global Volcanism Program; and

·       Members from the local community.

              

Figure 4: MAKATA team in Kaviak village

    3.2   Socio – Economic Conditions

Kaviak Elementary School Board Chairman and Sumkar MP’s Electoral Staff, Mr. Albert Karitamol, informed the team that the primary sources of income for the Kaviak community include copra, betel nut, mustard, cocoa, and fishing.

Specific figures he provided show that approximately 5% of the community's income comes from cocoa, with several active farmers in the village including David Magu, Levis Laph, and Micah Malol leading production.

He added that around 150 villagers have joined the World Bank PNG Agriculture Commercialization and Diversification Program (PACD), qualifying them to receive 200 cocoa seedlings each, by June or July this year.

He further stated that the World Bank has engaged Paul Goodyear through Biabi Enterprise to supply black pod-resistant cocoa clones to these registered farmers.

Mr. Karitamol pointed out that about 80-90% of villagers rely on copra, 40% on betel nut, 40% on mustard, and 5% on fishing, with the Fish Lama accounting for about 5%.

He said other income sources include poultry (1%) and informal sectors, commonly known as the Table Market (3%).

There are no commercial or village piggery operations in the community according to Mr. Karitamol.

These activities collectively generate the primary income for the Kaviak community.

Education

Mr. Karitamol, informed the Community Facilitators that Kaviak village has one primary school, namely Kidoka Primary School.  This school has been unregistered since 2005.

Most children receive their primary education from this school, as well as from Kaviak Elementary School.

Students who excel are selected to continue their secondary education at Karkar Secondary School, the only secondary school on Karkar Island, formerly Karkar High School.

Additionally, the village has an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center run by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church, called Sivono SDA Phonics School.

As of 2025, around 40-50 Kaviak children have attended the Karkar Secondary School.

Students who could not further their education in colleges and universities have secured education at the Yu Kinim Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) center, located in Kinim.

According to Mr. Karitamol, yearly observations show that only 15% of children are selected for tertiary institutions, while 65% pursue technical education across the country.

About 25% often return to the village, he observed.

Mr. Karitamol has been securing places for these school leavers in Madang Technical College, Youth to Youth Development Center, and City Mission (TVET) in Ululan with the support of Sumkar District Development Authority (DDA) since 2023.

The program provides 50% financial support to students continuing to colleges and tertiary institutions and 50% support to school leavers back at home, he said.

 

Figure 5:  Kidoka Primary School unregistered since 2005

Health

Mr. Karitamol said there is no healthcare facility in Kaviak village.  For healthcare needs the villagers visit the nearest healthcare centre called Miak Health Centre, about four (4) kilometers, from the village.

Kaviak villagers walk for 30 minutes to Miak Health Centre for medical assistance. When Miak Health Centre runs out of medical supplies, villagers seek medical assistance in Yu (Het blong wara) Kinim Aid Post.   It’s located within Ward 4.

Social Organization

The social structure in Kaviak village is patrilineal.  Hence, men play a key role in land ownership, clan leadership, village politics, customary practices, rituals, songs and dances and related leadership roles and responsibilities in their respective families, and clans.

3.3   Environmental Conditions

Land Use

The patterns of their land use evolves in time, however currently their main use of land includes gardening, agricultural practices, and for accommodation.

Water Resources

Water is one of their biggest problem faced daily.  Access to clean drinking water depends greatly on rain and the level of water in their well.

Forest Resources

Forest resources are scares and limited for the three of the four clans in Kaviak village living along the coast.  However, the fourth clan located inland has access to many natural forest resources.

Waste Management

There is no waste management practices and thus waste is an issue that needs addressing.

Climate change

Climate change has been a major concern for the villagers. 

Effects of climate change has caused major problems like soil erosion along the coastline.  Rising sea level has washed away many coastline and damaged many properties. 

Villagers living near the beach had to relocate inland due to the impacts of climate change.

Climate change effects may have also been a major cause for cocoa borers which had destroyed 80 to 90 percent of the cocoa plantations in the village. 

According to some fishermen, some reefs have also been destroyed either through the use of poison ropes or from coral bleaching making it difficult for them to catch fish.

 

Figure 6:  Physical evidence of the impact of climate
change along the Kaviak coastline.

 

 

3.4   Infrastructure

 

Housing

 

The houses in Kaviak village are made of semi-permanent materials, bush materials, and permanent materials. 

 

Transportation

Their main modes of transportation are trucks, motor bikes, and boats.

Communication

Proper communication has been established with Digicel tower on the Island to ensure communication goes smoothly on the Island and other centers out of the Island.

Radio communication is effective but most times it depends on the strength of the frequencies and the weather.

Energy

There is no direct connection to electricity from any government source of power supply however, each household has purchased and used solar panels as an energy source to generate light and converted energy to charge other electronic devices.

 

 

Figure 7:  Wenceslaus Magun standing in
front of a bush material house in Kaviak village.

4.      Discussion

The village of Kaviak on Karkar Island is one of the many communities composed of clans. Kaviak is home to four clans—Kaviak, Wolan, Balang, and Kulkul. Three of these, clans are located near the coastline, while the Balang clan resides in the hinterlands.

Despite its small size and a population of over 1,000, Kaviak has produced some of the best elites on the Island and in the country (See Winnifred Duk’s report attached).

The community faces significant challenges, including water scarcity, sea level rise, coastal erosion, and land shortages.  These issues are largely attributed to climate change and a growing population.

The community's strength lies in the production and sale of cocoa beans, coconuts, mustards, and betelnuts, which are vital to their socio-economic development.

Environmental conditions pose a significant challenge.  Harsh weather conditions, prolonged dry seasons, rising sea levels is causing coastal erosions.  Heat-induced coral reef destruction or coral bleaching is also contributing to a decline in the local fish population, which impacts the community's protein sources.

In addition to environmental challenges, the village is grappling with substance abuse issues, particularly the consumption of homebrew and drugs among the youth, mainly the male population. This recreational activity has led to adverse effects, including fighting, swearing, and damaging properties, causing concern among community leaders and residents.

5.      Recommendations

The challenges faced by Kaviak villagers on Karkar Island are indeed multifaceted and complex.  Here are some recommendations that could help address these issues:

Ward 4 Councilor Hon. Palol Yomar,
expressing concerns about some 
developmental issues in his Ward to
MAKATA.

Water Scarcity

 Ø  Rainwater Harvesting:  Install systems to collect and store rainwater for household and agricultural use.

 Ø  Water Conservation Education:  Implement programs to educate the community about water-saving techniques and the importance of conserving water.

 Coastal Erosion and Sea Level Rise

 Ø  Mangrove Reforestation:  Find out from experts if planting mangroves along the coastline can help protect against erosion and a habitat for marine life and provide a buffer zone from king tides.

 Ø  Seawall Construction:  Find out from experts if constructing seawalls or other barriers will help protect the coastline from rising sea levels and erosion.

 Environmental Management

Ø  Sustainable Farming Practices:  Promote sustainable agricultural methods that reduce soil degradation and increase crop yields.

Ø  Reef Restoration Projects:  Initiate a reef restoration project to restore damaged coral reefs to support fish populations, marine biodiversity and supplement protein.

Economic Development

Ø  Diversification of Income Sources:  Explore alternative income-generating activities such as eco-tourism or handicrafts, tree planting to support income generated from cocoa, coconut, mustard, and betelnut.

Ø  Access to Markets:   Improve access to markets for local products through better transportation and infrastructure.

Addressing Substance Abuse

Ø  Community Programs:  Develop programs aimed at providing recreational activities, education, and employment opportunities for the youth to reduce the consumption of homebrew and drugs.

Ø  Counseling and Rehabilitation:  Establish counseling and rehabilitation centers or Safe House to help individuals struggling with substance abuse, and family and sexual violence.

 Community Engagement and Education

Ø  Leadership Training:  Train community leaders to effectively manage and address local issues.

Ø  Public Awareness Campaigns:  Conduct campaigns to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and the importance of environmental conservation.

Figure 8:  Albert Karitamol (center) provided
some key information about Kaviak village.

6.                  Lessons Learned

There are a few Lessons Learned based on the best practical approaches taken in Trance 1

highlighted and a few recommendations made to adhere to:

 

·             Two deaths occurred during the teams stay in Kaviak.  One death occurred on Tuesday 25^th of February at night out of natural death.  This affected the team from doing their work on Wednesday 26^th of February.

·               On Friday 28^th of February another death occurred at night from a crime related issue.  This disturbed the team hence they could not do their work on Saturday 29^th of February in Kaviak; 

·                Heavy rain on Wednesday 26^th, Thursday 27^th, and Friday 28^th of February further hindered the teams work as well.  Not many villagers turned up for the village profile survey activities;

·                In addition, from observation, the team noted that one big area of concern is that Kaviak village is in dire need for good, clean, and healthy water for drinking, washing, cooking, and sanitation.

·        The team requested for the participation of the village recorder, and the village court chairman.  Unfortunately, they did not participate.

·          Meanwhile, on Sunday 02^nd of March, the team visited Mater village at the invitation of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Secretary, Mr. Luak Magu.  The team briefed the teachers and the school board members for Marangis, Mater, and Bares Dabai ECDs about MAKATA, marine conservation, and civil society organizations.

·               The team observed that some villagers had high expectations from MAKATA to give them some economic and social benefits.  In response, the team informed these villagers that MAKATA is here to empower them to achieve their dreams through the Reef Restoration Project.

·                The team recommended that more awareness on climate change, human activities affecting the environment, and about the project needs to be conducted prior to conducting a community village profile.

·                The team recommended that more time is needed to do a proper village survey for village profiling.

·                The team also observed that it was the first time for Kaviak villagers to work with an NGO and therefore recommended that MAKATA should continue with more educational awareness, and share lessons learned.

·                The team recommended that they must not force the community to meet MAKATA’s expected job outcomes within the given period of work out in the field.  Rather, to flow with the situation in the village by respecting their traditional cultures, religious practices, and community laws.  By doing that they will establish a good working relationship for MAKATA with the community and will earn their respect.

 

Gildipasi CSO Chairman Micah Lawrence
sharing Gildipasi's story with Kaviak villagers.

7.  Way Forward

 

7.1.            Kaviak villagers requested for training in: Sewing, baking, poultry, and other

related capacity building trainings.

7.2.            While replanting reef, MAKATA should involve the community in other

livelihood activities to give the reef two or three years to grow.  By that time the reefs will have been restored and fishermen and women can return to fishing.

7.3.            MAKATA should set up a committee to manage the reef.

 8.      Mater Village:  Pilot Marine Conservation Project

Mater village like many other villages on Karkar Island is also on the verge of losing their marine life due to reef harvest for lime consumption and climate change. Thus, the secretary of the three Early Childhood Development (ECD) schools in Bares Dabai, Mater and Marangis respectively, Mr. Luak Magu came up with a strategy as a means of counter measure to educate children or toddlers attending these three ECD schools to know what it means to conserve their marine life for future generations to come.

MAKATA Community Facilitators were invited to attend an open discussion held on the 2^nd of March 2025 at Mater village, and documented their views, expectations, and needs.

Mr. Luak went on to say that their main objectives for that open discussions were:

 1.      To establish a partnership with MAKATA;

2.      To seek assistance from MAKATA to get funding or supplies for school materials;

3.      To seek assistance from MAKATA to get building materials for their classrooms;

4.      To seek assistance from MAKATA to get conservation integrated school materials; and

5.      To continue on with the project called “Ocean Watch” in which they have already started.

 

Figure 9:  ECD board members posing for
a group photo with MAKATA'S Community
Facilitators after a meeting in Mater village.  
Picture by Geraldine Bepi.

 9.      Appendix 

 

9.1.  Questionnaires

 

 

Kaviak Village Baseline Profile

 

Date:  23rd February to 3rd March 2024

 

Officers in Charge of this Research

 

1.            Name:___________________________Signature:__________________

 

2.            Name:___________________________Signature:__________________

 

3.            Name:___________________________Signature:__________________

 

4.            Name:___________________________Signature:__________________

 

Name of the Village:  Kaviak

 

Ward: Four

 

LLG:  Karkar North LLG

 

District:  Sumkar

 

Province:  Madang Province

 

Consent Letter

1.           Are you happy to partner with MAKATA in this community based Reef Restoration Project?

Why? Provide your Consent Letter, dated, and signed off.

Community Vision

2.           What's your community's vision?

3.           What’s your community’s mission?

4.           What’s your community’s goals, and objectives?

5.           Do you have a Ward Development Plan?

6.           How do you plan to address these issues? When? How?

Faith and Denomination

7.           How many church denominations you have? There are four churches active in Kaviak Village and they are SDA, Lutheran, Four Square and Catholic

8.           Are the church denominations working in harmony with each other? If not, why not? How can you address this issue?

Climate Change

9.           Have you faced any climate change? If so what are their impacts on the community as a whole?

10.         What steps has the community taken to address it or them?

Folklores and Sacred Sites

11.         Document any folklore, songs, dances, rituals, or customary norms relating to biodiversity and natural resources management or traditional Tambu systems.

12.         Do you have any sacred sites? Yes

13.         Have you GPS these sites? Will you GPS these sites?  When? How?

14.         Are the villagers respecting these sites? If not, why not? How can you deal with law breakers of these sites?

15.         Do you have a land use plan?

16.         If not, do you plan to establish one? When? How?

Natural Resources Management Area

17.         Do you have any existing Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Conservation Area (CA), Protected Area (PA), or a Community Based Natural Resource Management Area using a Conservation Deed? (CBNrMMA_CD).  If not, do you plan to establish one? When? How?

 

Population

18.         What's the population of males, females? You could even break it down to teenage groups, and adults (classify the age groups into age ranges like 0-10 etc)

19.         How many people living with disabilities?  Males? Females?

Households

20.         How many households?

21.         How many people living in one household?

22.         How many semi-permanent houses?

23.         How many permanent houses?

24.         How many bush materials houses?

Economy

25.         What are the main sources of income?  Break it down to:

26.         How many productive cocoa trees?

27.         How many productive betelnut trees?

28.         How many productive mustards?

29.         How many productive coconut trees?

30.         How many productive vanilla?

31.         How many productive honey bee?

32.         How many productive fishing fishermen or women, cooperative and etc?

33.         How many trade stores?

34.         How many PMVs?

35.         How many dinghies, and etc? 

36.         Who owns them?

37.         How much money do they make per month or annually?

38.         How many guest houses, and resource canters do you have?

39.         Do you have any fishing or corporation groups?

40.         What kind of economic services do they provide?

41.         How have these services supported individual families and the community at large?

 

Education

42.         How many schools? Break them up by

43.         How many early childhood learning?

44.         How many elementary school/s?

45.         How many primary school/s?

46.         How many high school/s? And

47.         How many secondary school/s?

48.         How many educated people in Kaviak?

49.         What are their professions?

50.         How many of these professionals are at home?

51.         How many are still working?

Social Issues

52.         What are some common social problems?

53.         How do you solve these problems?

54.         Are you facing any water problems?

55.         Are you facing land shortage problems?

56.         Are you facing marine depletion problems?

57.         What steps if any have you taken to address all your challenges and issues of concerns?

Training needs

58.         Identify your training needs?

Health, Water, and Hygiene Services

59.         How many health services do you have?

60.         How many water supplies?

Food

61.         What are the food and protein sources?

62.         Do you have balance meals?

63.         What financial or other form of assistance do you get from your Ward Member, LLG, DDA, MP,        government, private sectors, churches, CSOs, CBOs, or NGOs? How has these support benefited the community?

Transportation to town, district head quarters

64.         How far is Kaviak from Kinim and Madang town?

65.         What mode of transport do you have?

Comments

66.         Have you got any further comments to make?

Figure 10: Official signing of the Consent Letter by Kaviak CBO Chairman Mr. Micah Malol and his deputy, Tobias Mosen.

 

9.2.  Kaviak Consent Letter (Attached)

Figure 11:  Kaviak Consent Letter