Yamai Village Baseline Survey Report

Yamai community profile – 2014

Ward 2, Mot 2 Census Division

Saidor Local Level Government

Rai Coast District

Madang Province

Papua New Guinea

Date: 29^th March – 03^rd April 2014

Date: 30^th May – 12^th June 2014

Photo: Yamai villagers releasing a female leatherback turtle back to sea after its photos were taken by Simon Warr.

MAKATA recognises the efforts by Yamai villagers to save the leatherback turtle and release it back to sea. There is still a greater need for training needs assessment, turtle training and development of Yamai Resource Management Plan. MAKATA can only do these and more if funded. If you wish to make any in-kind donation and support the cause in anyway, please contact Wenceslaus Magun on: magun.wences@gmail.com

By Simon Warr

Content

1.       Introduction

2.       Population

3.       Community Project

4.       Agriculture

5.       Health

6.       Education

7.       Law and order

8.       Transport and communication

9.       Miscellaneous

10.   Community feedbacks

11.   Assessments

12.   Recommendation

13.   Conclusion

1. Introduction

This report is about Yamai village.  Yamai village is in Ward 2 in the Suit-Biliau area of the Mot 2 Census Division, Saidor Local Level Government, Rai Coast District, Madang province, Papua New Guinea.

It aims to give an overview of the current population of the community.  It further covers community project, agriculture, health, education, law and order, transport and communication, other issues and gives the community’s feedbacks. 

The report also covers the team’s field assessments, recommendation and conclusion.

2. Population

2.1 Current Population

Present in the village at the time of the survey = 523

Absent in the  village at the time of the survey = 214

Total village population = 737

2.2 Change in population

Note: Records of births and deaths in the last 12 months only

Items	Males	Females	Total
Number of births	10	8	18
Number of deaths	1	2	3
Number of villagers moving out of the village	5	14	19
Number of villagers moving back into the village	3	27	30

2.3 Population age distribution

Age group	Residents		Absentees		Total
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
0-4 yrs	15	12	6	8	21	20
5-9 yrs	31	22	9	11	40	33
10-14 yrs	25	19	16	7	41	26
15-19 yrs	29	33	8	10	37	43
20-24 yrs	18	20	5	9	23	29
25-29 yrs	41	27	13	12	54	39
30-34 yrs	38	29	6	14	44	43
35-39 yrs	24	22	9	6	33	28
40-44 yrs	16	13	5	3	21	16
45-49 yrs	14	8	4	9	18	17
50-54 yrs	8	7	3	5	11	12
55-59 yrs	6	4	2	4	8	8
60-64 yrs	9	7	6	8	15	15
65-69 yrs	10	5	4	6	14	11
70-74 yrs	3	2	3	2	6	4
75 yrs +	2	1	2	2	4	3
Total	289	231	101	116	390	347

2.4 Population by clan

Clans (major and sub)	Population
	Men	Women	Total
Talifai Greb (Major clan)	66	44	110
Glewa (Sub-clan)	32	10	42
Tantanong (Sub-clan)	7	6	11
Bogai (Major clan)	41	24	65
Tet Aguman (sub-clan)	8	6	14
Yamaisibie (sub-clan)	24	18	42

2.5 Household

Those living in bush material houses = 72

Those living in semi permanent houses = 2

Those living in permanent houses = 4

Total households at Yamai village = 78

2.6 Clans and Clan’s Leaders

Talifai Greb, major clan with their clan leader, Giliab Baron

• Glewa  sub-clan with their leader, Panmal Kubai
• Taritanong sub-clan with their leader, Kum Tangdai

Bogai, major clan with their clan leader, Berry Ebi

• Sarangrenga sub-clan with their leader, Lakie Tongi
• Tet-Aguma sub-clan with their leader, Wesie Esau
• Yamai-Sibie sub-clan with their leader, Joe Dabanai

2.7 Leaders

Wengmai Ebi – Community leader

Mayau Nus – Law and order chairman

Kebong Suansie – chairman, Yamai parish church

Tunmai Suansie – vice chairman, Yamai parish church

Pastor Nus Baran – Hetman, Gutnius workman

Kuneng Kautil – Hetman, Gutnius workman

Kunuman Baran – Hetman, Gutnius workman

2.8 Community Resource People

Mr Nabur Kubai – Health Extension Officer

Mr Jimmy Kubai – Health Extension Officer

Mr Laki Tongi – Madang Urban LLG Chief Executive Officer. Digicel 72723103

Mr Dickson Kautil – Architect

Mr Berry Ebi – TIC Elementary

Mr Dieb – Assistant Supervisor, security firm

2.9 Contacts

Tunmai Suansi – 73642133

Kebong Suansi – 71861086

Gain Kelly – 71728469

Simon Warr – 72297538

Laki Tongi 72723103

3. Community Project

Project: Community Coastal Fishing Project

Funding Agency: Funded by Governor’s Office through National Fisheries Authority

Other details:

The Community Coastal Fishing Project was awarded to Ms Emmie Nombo with recommendation from the Madang Governor’s Office in which the National Fisheries Authority facilitated the funding process and sub contracted the local communities through the governor’s officer’s discretion.   The Fish Project is yet to be fully equipped with the necessary fishing gears and materials.

4. Agriculture and Commerce

4.1 Agriculture

(a)    Crops/Tree Crops/Forestry

Name of Crop	Cash (Y/N)	Subsistence (Y/N)	No of families growing	Area (ha)/No of trees
Coconut	Yes	Yes	177	3,586
Cocoa	Yes	No	184	5,678
Vanila	Yes	No	15	105
Buai	Yes	Yes	215	7,448

(b)    Livestock

Name of Livestock	Cash (Y/N)	Subsistence	No of families raising	No of animals
Pig	Yes	Yes	36	175
Chicken	Yes	Yes	58	218
Duck	Yes	Yes	2	15

4.2 Market

What is the name of the nearest market?	Lublub (Yamai) Market
How do people usually travel from Yamai to this market?	By walking
How long does it usually take to travel from Yamai to this market?	5 minutes
How often is the market held?	Every Thursdays in a week
What other markets do people in Yamai use?	Biliau, Sangpat and Pangpang markets
How do people from Yamai travel to these markets?	By walking
How long does it usually take to travel from Yamai to these markets?	One and a half hours

4.3 Business activities and services

Service activities in the community	Number
Trade store	3
Food store	Nil
Agent or middleman trader	1 (Mama Cocoa Ltd)
Liquor outlet	1
Dinghy (Sea transport services)	6
Petrol or gasoline outlets	2
Copra market	1
Cocoa fermentary	2
Growing and selling vegetables	All the local villagers
Catching and selling fish	1
Sawmill or chainsaw operation	1

5. Health

5.1   Aid Post/Health Centres

• Which Aid Post/Health Centre do people in this community attend? Biliau Evangelical Lutheran Health Centre
• Which Agency runs this health centre?  The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea.
• How do people usually travel from here to this health centre? By walking and sometimes by dinghy.
• How long does it take for children to travel from Yamai to this health centre? It takes about one and a half hour by walking and 10 to 15 minutes by dinghy.
• How many health workers at this health centre? A total of 6 (six) health workers are currently working at this health centre.
• Does this health centre have family planning facilities? Yes.  Biliau Health Centre does have the family planning health facilities.
• Does this health centre provide immunization? Yes.
• Is there a trained birth attendant in this community? Yes.

5.2   Mobile Health Clinics

• Does a mobile health clinic visit this community? Yes
• Which agency runs the mobile health clinic? Government Agency
• How often does the mobile health clinic visit Yamai village? Once every term in a year.

5.3 Drinking water

• What is the main source of drinking water for Yamai villagers? Mod river and other bush creeks.
• How long does it usually take to collect water from Mod river and other bush creeks? About 25-30 minutes walk.
• Is this water supply available all year round? Yes
• What is the main alternative source of drinking water? Creeks, Kulau or coconut juice.
• How long does it usually take to collect and return with drinking water from there? 30-45 minutes walk.

6. Education

General information on schools

6.1   Elementary School

• Which elementary school do children from Yamai village usually attend? Yamai Elementary School.
• How long does it usually take for children to travel from Yamai village to this elementary school?  The elementary school is located right in the middle of the village and it’s a couple of minutes walk to the classroom.
• Which agency runs this elementary school? Saidor Local Level Government
• How many teachers teach at this elementary school? Four teachers.

6.2   Primary School

• Which Primary School do children in this village usually attend?  Children in Yamai village usually attend (3) three neighbouring primary schools namely: Biliau Primary School, Jerom Primary School and Pangpang Primary School.
• Which Agencies run the (3) three Primary School?  Biliau and Jerom Primary Schools are in Ward 2 and are run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG and Pangpang Primary School is in Ward 13 and is run by the Catholic Agency.
• How do children travel from Yamai village to these (3) three schools? By walking.
• How long does it usually take for children to travel from Yamai village to these schools? About one and a half hour.

6.3   High Schools

• Which high school do children in Yamai village usually attend?  Rai coast Secondary School.
• Which Agency runs the high school? The Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG.
• How do children usually travel to this school? Children usually travel by dinghy or walk to school.
• How long does it usually take for children to travel from Yamai village to this school? About  two and a half hour by dinghy and 10 hours by walking.

6.4   Other Educational Institutions

• Do children in Yamai village currently study at any of the following institutions?

a.       College of Distance Education? Nil

b.      Vocational Centre? Nil

c.       Adult Literacy? Nil

d.      Community Secondary Education Centre? Nil

e.      Others? Nil

6.5   Students numbers by grade

• Elementary

Male:......Female:......Total:.....(information gap)

• Primary

Male:......Female:.......Total:.......(information gap)

• High/Secondary Schools

 Male: Nil, Female: Nil, Total: Nil

7. Law and order

Records of offences that occurred in the last (12) twelve months ago.

Type of crime	Number of offences recorded at community	Number of offences recorded at police station
Sorcery	5	2
Sexual offences	3	1
Murder	Nil	Nil
Robbery/theft	1	2
Arson	1	1
Break & enter	1	Nil
Grievous bodily harm	1	1
Wounding	1	1
Dangerous boat skipper	2
Illicit drug	Information gap	3
Home brew	Information gap	2
Domestic violence	Information gap
Verbal abuse	Information gap
Land dispute	Information gap	Nil
Destruction of property	Nil	2
Others	NA	NA

8. Transport and communications

8.1   Motor vehicles

• How many motor vehicles are there in Yamai village? Nil
• How many are working now? Nil
• How many are community owned? Nil

8.2   Outboard/Inboard motor boats

• How many outboard/inboard motor boats are there in Yamai village? Six outboard motors
• How many are working now?  Three boats are still working
• How many are community owned? All the (6) six boats

8.3   Shipping (Coastal or river)

• Where is the nearest port of call? Biliau Evangelical Lutheran Church Station
• Who runs the vessel? Locals and Evangelical Lutheran Shipping Services
• How many times do vessels call each year? Twice a week
• How long does it take to travel from Yamai village to this port? One and half hour by walking and (15) fifteen minutes by dinghy.

8.4   Air transport

• Where is the nearest air strip? Saidor station
• Who uses the airstrip? Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF), etc
• How often do aircraft call at this airstrip? Not often
• How long does it take to travel from Yamai village to this air strip? About (6) six hours by walking and (45) forty five minutes by dinghy.

8.5   Roads

• How long does it take to travel to the nearest road to catch a motor vehicle? About (5) five minutes
• Is the nearest road, all-weather or is accessible only during dry-season only? Dry season only due to big rivers lacking bridges.

8.6   Telephone (VHF Radio)

• Where is the nearest fixed telephone or Digicel tower? Biliau village
• How do people travel to this telephone or Digicel network area?  Yamai villagers can access phone coverage from Yamai using the Digicel tower at Biliau village.
• Does the ward have mobile phone reception.  Yes, from Digicel tower at Biliau village.

8.7   Postal services

• Where is the nearest point for posting or collecting mail? Madang Post Office.
• How do people travel to this PO? By dinghy
• How long does it take to travel from Yamai to Madang PO? About (4) four hours.
• How much does it cost to travel from Yamai village to Madang PO? K60 per person per trip.  Boat hire can vary from K850.00 per day and upwards depends on goods delivered and the type of service the boat is hired for use.

8.8   Town or Government station

• Where is the nearest town or government station? Saidor Station and Madang town.
• How do people usually travel from Yamai village to Saidor Station and Madang town? Six (6) hours walking or (45) fourty five minutes by dinghy to Saidor staion.  They travel to Madang town by dinghy.  It takes about (4) four hours by dinghy to Madang town.

9. Miscellaneous

9.1   Religion

Name of Religion/denomination	Number of Church	Population per denomination
Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG	1	Information gap.  Refer to Yamai village population for a fair idea.

9.2   World War II wrecks and proposed Memorial Site

• There are several World War II plane wrecks at Yamai village.  Some of the plane wrecks have beein collected and airlifted by the Australian Air Force helicopter.  The plane crash sites have been tracked and GPS coordinates for the sites were taken by our GIS Officer, Adolph Lilai.
• Yamai villagers are proposing to establish the World War II Memorial Site to link up with the Leatherback turtle project to add on their unique traditional songs and dancers, cultures, home stays, bush tracking, bird watching, canoeing, and other tourist products.

9.3   Proposed Leatherback Turtle Conservation Area

On 29 March 2014, at about 9.30pm, a leatherback turtle came up Yamai beach and laid its eggs.  It was first seen by Tunmai Suansi.  Since he did not have a digicel camera, he immediately contacted me (author) and informed me that his team (Lamiea, Yadilon, Taman, Kebong, Salmon and two ladies, Siul and Elizabeth) turned the turtle upside down so it won’t return to sea to give time to me (author) to travel from Pangpang village up in the mountains, where I live to Yamai village at the coast, to take the photos of the leatherback turtle and to measure the carapace.  In the early hours of the next day I visited Tunmai and took photos of the leatherback turtle and measured the turtle.

Measurement:

• Chest: 80cm width x 160 cm length
• Front flippers: 30 cm width x 80 cm length
• Back flippers: 30 cm width x 50 cm length
• Back carapace: 85 cm width x 190 cm length
• Head: 25 cm width x 35 cm length

Nesting Season:

Starting from February – April annually.

Number of turtle nests – five (5)

Types of turtles found at Yamai village: Green, Hawksbill and leatherback

Nesting beach identified and types of turtles that nested there: Kurnew Beach – 2 hawksbill and 1 leatherback turtle; Lublub beach – 1 green turtle, 1 hawksbill and 1 leatherback turtle.

Awareness

On Monday 31 March, 2014 I conducted a turtle conservation awareness at Yamai village.  I informed the villagers about MAKATA and its turtle conservation project.  I gave a brief on the leatherback turtle, the importance of protecting turtles and of protecting and sustainably using other fish species and the marine biodiversity and habitat.  I also gave them a quick rundown of the international law for protecting endangered turtle species.

10.  Community Feedback

10.1            Ward II Councillor & Vice President for Saidor LLG

Ward II Councillor & Vice President for Saidor LLG, Mr Roger Sangan said: “On behalf of the people in my Ward area, I would like to acknowledge and appreciate your awareness on behalf of the NGO (MAKATA).  I welcome your project and look forward to see MAKATA working in partnership with Yamai community to establish the turtle conservation project in Yamai.  I therefore, as the mandated leader would like to challenge each and everyone in this community to come out and swear not to kill turtles and harvest their eggs as of today onwards.”

10.2            Community Motivator

Yamai community motivator, Gain Kelly commended the awareness, and reiterated the significant value, importance and advantages of protecting the turtle species and all other fish and marine biodiversity and habitat.  He stressed the importance of sustainably using the marine resources for the benefit of present and future generations.  “We must also abide by the international marine law to be stewards in protecting the endangered turtle species,” he concluded.

10.3            Youth leader

Youth leader, Tunmai Suansi said: “On behalf of all the youth, we swear to take full ownership of protecting the mother turtles .  We will also not harvest turtle eggs as of today on wards.”

10.4. Yamai villagers reached consensus to protect turtles

After the awareness and all the speeches were made, Yamai villagers reached the agreement and supported the concept of turtle conservation.

               

11. Assessment

• Yamai villagers don’t eat leatherback turtles.  They only eat green and hawksbill turtles.  They are interested in the turtle conservation initiative. 
• Yamai villagers lack organisational and time management skills.  They flow with the natures influence.
• Yamai villagers depend heavily on their marine environment and agricultural products for their day to day needs and wants.
• The reef system at Yamai is only along the shores.  There are no offshore reefs.  Much of the sea area is deep water.
• Yamai village has tourist attraction and historic sites like the WWII plane wrecks.  These sites have the potential of bringing monetary benefits to Yamai villagers and putting Yamai on the world tourist destination.

12. Recommendation

·         I recommend that we identify issues of concern and training needs assessment in the next patrol

·         I recommend training for the turtle tagging and monitoring in the next team patrol.

·         I recommend socio-economic survey in the next patrol.

·         I recommend organizational and time management training for Yamai villagers in the next patrol