PNG flag
Papua New Guinea

*Excerpt from 'The priority environmental concerns of Papua New Guinea' [SPREP]

The Environment of Papua New Guinea: General Overview


Papua New…

Adaptation Learning Mechanism [climate change adaptation] country profiles
Papua New Guinea

Asian Development Bank Country Profiles and Strategies
Papua New Guinea

Biosafety Profiles [CBD Biosafety Clearinghouse Mechanism]
Papua New Guinea

Birdlife [Avifauna] Profiles 

see also Pacific regional overview [Birdlife International] 
see also Globally Threatened Birds (those evaluated as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) of Oceania [Birdlife International]
see also State of the World's birds website and report [Birdlife International] - including Pacific country case studies

Country Climate Profile [UNDP]
* Sourced from the Adaptation Learning Mechanism, a knowledge sharing platform developed by UNDP in partnership with the Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

 

Pacific Climate Change Portal (NEW)

 

Earthtrends Thematic Country Profiles [WRI]
Agriculture and food, Biodiversity and protected areas, Climate and atmosphere, Coastal and marine ecosystems, Economics, business and the environment, Energy and resources,Environmental governance and institutions, Forests, grasslands and drylands, Population, health and human well-beingWater resources and freshwater ecosystems.

Environment Statistics - Country Snapshots [UN; 2009]
Papua New Guinea

Environmental Vulnerability Index - Country Profiles [SOPAC / UNEP]
Papua New Guinea

EU Pacific Country Environment Profiles
Papua New Guinea (2006; 673kb)

see also EU Country Partnership Profiles [incl. environment and EDF10 strategies]
Papua New Guinea

FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System
Papua New Guinea

FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Country Profiles 
Papua New Guinea

Fishbase Biodiversity Country Profiles (all fish)
Papua New Guinea

Fisheries Resources Profiles
Papua New Guinea (1995; 7.25mb),

Forestry Country Profiles 
Forestry Department Country Profiles [FAO] 
Papua New Guinea

see also FAO Forest Resource Assessment : Country Reports [2010]
Papua New Guinea (2010; 229kb)

see also FAO Forest Resources Assessments - Data collection for the Pacific region [2000]
Papua New Guinea - pt 1 / pt 2

see also Mongabay Rainforest profiles:
Papua New Guinea

see also State of the World's Forests 2007: Asia and the Pacific [FAO] (2008; 1.77mb)
see also Tropical and subtropical forest profiles prepared by the World Wildlife Fund

Global Biodiversity Information Forum [GBIF] Country Profiles 
Papua New Guinea

see also GBIF Google Earth Country Links
Papua New Guinea

Global Environment Facility (GEF) Country Profiles
Use the drop down menu to go to the individual profiles - includes GEF-4 Allocation and Utilization , Approved Projects and Projects Under Preparation

Integrated Water Resource Management Profiles [SOPAC]
Papua New Guinea

Invasive Species : Country Profiles [ISSG]
Papua New Guinea

JICA Country Environment Profiles
Papua New Guinea (2002; 355kb)

Land-based pollutants inventory for the South Pacific region: Part 2: Regional summary and country profiles [SPREP] (1993; 19mb)

Laws and legislation

Pacific islands Environmental Laws [Commonwealth Secretariat]
Papua New Guinea

SPREP National Laws and Legislation clearinghouse
Papua New Guinea

Mangrove and Wetlands Profiles [ *from Proceedings of the Pacific Regional Workshop on Mangrove Wetlands Protection and Sustainable Use . SPREP, 2002.]
Papua New Guinea (2002; 203kb)

see also: A Directory of Wetlands in Oceania [1993]
see alsoWetlands of the Pacific Island Region (2008; 882kb)
see alsoIWMI Global Wetlands - Interactive Web Map Server - includes countries of Oceania 
see alsoWetlands in Oceania - country profiles and wetlands information [UNEP-WCMC] -Papua New Guinea

Marine Resource Profiles

Status of Coral Reef Systems of the World: 2008 (2008; 20mb)

Chapter 11 - Status of the Coral Reefs in Australia and Papua New Guinea (2008; 2.69MB)

see also:

State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)

see also:

Reefbase Country Profiles (coral reefs, reef fish, biodiversity)
Papua New Guinea

see also GIS data for corals in the Pacific from Reefbase browse by country and reef profile
see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific from Reefbase - browse by country and ecosystem

MPA Global Profiles (marine protected areas database)
Papua New Guinea

see also Millennium Coral Reef Mapping - South Pacific products
IMARS Geomorphological classification is publicly available on the University of South Florida web site from http://www.imars.usf.edu/MC/output_south_pacific.html . Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia, Cook Is, French Polynesia and East Solomon are there (PNG will hopefully be coming shortly). Files are distributed as Shapefiles (ArcGIS) and can be opened in MapInfo.

Mapservers containing country level data on land utilisation, forestry, minerals etc.
Papua New Guinea

Millenium Development Goals - Country Profiles
Papua New Guinea
see also SPC's Millenium Development Goal summaries and in particular regional data for Goal 7 - Ensure environmental sustainability

NATIONAL PROFILES OF CHEMICALS MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE 
Papua New Guinea

Pacific Biodiversity Information Forum Country Data:
Papua New Guinea

Pacific Regional information System - PRISM [SPC]
Environmental and Climate Statistics 
Papua New Guinea

Plant Profiles
Papua New Guinea 
see also Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New Guinea - Volume 1Volume 2Volume 3

 

Protected Areas

Pacific Islands Protected Areas Portal (NEW)

Protected Planet - Search the World Database on Protected Areas
Protected area profiles in Papua New Guinea

Reefbase GIS data for marine protected areas in Papua New Guinea
see also GIS data for marine protected areas in the Pacific - browse by country and ecosystem

SocMon profiles (Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management ) - Pacific

Papua New Guinea

SPC Country Profiles:
Papua New Guinea

SPREP Country Profiles: Exchange of Information by Members at SPREP Annual Meetings:
- Exchamge of information by Members on National Developments related to Natural Resource Management Priority of the Action Plan [2007]

see Agenda Item 6.1: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 18th SPREP Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 11th to 14th September 2007

- Exchange of information by Members on national developments related to Pollution Prevention priority of the SPREP Action Plan [2008]
see Agenda Item 8.6: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the19th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia on 8–12 September 2008

- Exchange of Information by Members on National Developments Related to the Climate Change Focus Area of the SPREP Action Plan [2009]
see Agenda Item 11.2: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 20th SPREP Annual Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa on 17 - 20 November 2009

- Exchange of Information by Members on Year of Biodiversity [2010]
see Agenda Item 11.3: Country Profiles of the Report and record of the 21st SPREP Meeting of Officials in Madang, Papua New Guinea on 6-10 September 2010
see also individual profiles for: Wallis and Futuna

Sustainable Development Profiles (UN Agenda 21)
Papua New Guinea

Threatened species: Summary of species on the 2008 IUCN Red List
Papua New Guinea

UNCCD Country Profiles:
Papua New Guinea

UNEP Country Profiles [* poorly maintained and little information available]
Papua New Guinea

Water Resource Profiles [SOPAC - Pacific water - http://www.pacificwater.org/]
Papua New Guinea

see also "Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island Countries" - country briefing papers (2003)
Papua New Guinea

WHO Environmental Health Profiles 
Papua New Guinea

World Bank Environment indicators
Papua New Guinea

World Factbook Country Profiles [CIA]
Papua New Guinea

World Ocean Database 2005 [NOAA]
Geographically sorted data for the Pacific Ocean [datasets]

see also Environmental indicators: South Pacific (UNEP: 2004; 6.23mb)
see also Paciifc Biodiversity Information Forum website and databases 
see also 
Papua New Guinea Herpetofauna Database
see also 
Plants of Papua New Guinea

Asian Development Bank Country Environmental Analysis Reports
Papua New Guinea (2005; 19mb)

Barbados Programme of Action + 10 (BPoA) 
National Assessment Reports: Papua New Guinea (2005; 316kb)

Pacific Environment Outlook (2005; 30.99mb)

The Conference on Small Island Developing States (Barbados Conference, 1994) highlighted the importance of island biodiversity as an ecological corridor linking major areas of biodiversity around the world. The conference called for international co-operation and partnership to support the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their efforts to conserve, protect and restore their ecosystems. The Barbados Plan of Action recognizes the importance of the coastal zone as a source of subsistence and economic development.

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF9]
Papua New Guinea (2002-2007; 263kb)

Country Strategy Papers and National Indicative Programmes [European Union - EDF10]
Papua New Guinea (2008-2013; 2.82mb)

Disasters and Climate Variability in the Pacific Islands: WORLD BANK regional stocktake- Country Assessment:
Papua New Guinea (2009; 394kb)

Forestry Reports
Papua New Guinea (2008; 22mb)

Millenium Development Goals National Reports
Papua New Guinea (2004; 2.67mb)

Pacific Islands Regional MDG - Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability (2004; 324kb)
Pacific Islands Regional MDG Full Report

see also ADB Key Indicators 2006 for progress towards Millenium Development Goal 7: ensuring environmental sustainability (2006)

see also Millenium Ecosystem Assessment Website and Reports

National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAP)
Papua New Guinea (2007; 3.4mb)

see also National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans: Pacific Regional Review (2007; 269kb)

National Biosafety Frameworks
Papua New Guinea (2005; 1.65mb)

see also National Reports on the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol
Papua New Guinea (2008; 108kb)

National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA)

Final NCSA Report:
Papua New Guinea (2010; 618kb)

NCSA Status (NCSA website)
Papua New Guinea

National Integrated Water Resource Management : Diagnostic Reports - drafts only [SOPAC]
Papua New Guinea (2007; 2.61mb)

National Invasive Species Strategy

see Invasive alien species in the Austral-Pacific region: national reports and directory of resources [GISP] (2002; 3.75mb)

see also Invasives Species on Pacific Islands [reports] - HEAR / PIER project website

National [Sustainable] Development Plans / Strategies [ForumSec]
Papua New Guinea 2005 - 2010 (2004; 820kb)Papua New Guinea 2010-2050 (2009; 1.13mb)

ADB Reports: Papua New Guinea (2005; 450kb)

ADB Economic Reviews: Papua New Guinea (2000; 168kb)

National Assessment Reports:
Papua New Guinea (2006; 1.95mb)

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - reports, activities and PACC news updates
Papua New Guinea

Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change [PACC] - report of in-country consultations 
Papua New Guinea (2009; 173kb)

Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island Countries - Country briefings
Papua New Guinea (2003; 181kb)

Pacific Regional Energy Assessment: Country Reports (PIREP) 
Papua New Guinea (2004; 2.39mb)

Regional overview report (2004; 2.59mb)

Priority Environmental Concerns (PECs) Reports
Papua New Guinea (2004; 552kb)

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: Country reports to the RAMSAR CoPs
National Reports submitted to the 8th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (2002)
Papua New Guinea pt 1 / pt 2 (2002; 216/232kb)

Sea Level & Climate: their present state: Country reports
Papua New Guinea (2006; 2.04mb)

Ships' Waste Management in Pacific Islands Ports: Country reports
Papua New Guinea

Ships' Waste Management in Pacific Islands Ports: Country reports
Papua New Guinea

State of the Environment Reports

see The New Guinea Challenge: development and conservation in societies of great cultural and biological diversity pt. 1 & pt. 2 (CSIRO. 2003)
see also The Papua New Guinea Environment Monitor 2002 [World Bank] (2002; 733kb)

see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 1983 (UNEP: 1983; 1.66mb)
see also State of the marine environment in the South Pacific Region (1990; 3.48mb)
see also State of the Environment of the South Pacific 2005 (2005; 382kb; see also ~http://www.unescap.org/esd/environment/soe/2005/mainpub/ ~) 
see also Regional perspectives: Asia and the Pacific (UNEP, GEO-4. 2007; 382 kb)

see also the archive of SPREP Country Reports between 1980-1983 as follows:
Papua New Guinea (1980; 1.04mb)

United Nations. Common Country Assessments
Papua New Guinea (2001; 2.82mb)

see also United Nations. Development Assistance Frameworks 2003-2007:
Papua New Guinea (2002; 524kb)

see also United Nations Country Programme 2008-2012
Papua New Guinea (2007; 999kb)

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

National Reports on Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: First Regular National Report (2007) 
Papua New Guinea (2009; 114kb), 

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was one of the outcome instruments of the UNCED process, highlights the need for conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Land Degradation) (UNCCD)
Second National Report: Papua New Guinea (2002; 138kb)

Third National Reports:Papua New Guinea (2006; 1.02mb)

see also UNCCD Country Profiles:
Papua New Guinea

see also UNCCD Reports clearinghouse mechanism

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is an agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

(i) National Communications and In-depth Reviews
Papua New Guinea (2000; 1.53mb)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC,1992) is concerned with global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels that may result in the flooding of coastal areas, and submerging islands, which could adversely affect coastal communities. The treaty aims at reducing emissions of greenhouse gas in order to combat global warming. Although the treaty as originally framed set no mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual nations and contained no enforcement provisions; it did include provisions for updates (called "protocols") that would set mandatory emission limits. The principal update is the Kyoto Protocol.

World Summit on Sustainable Development [Rio+10 - Johannesburg 2002]

National Assessment Reports: 
Papua New Guinea (2002; 669kb)

Pacific WSSD Regional Assessment (2002; 91kb) and Pacific Position Paper (2004; 91kb)
see also: Synthesis Report for Asia and the Pacific (2001; 1.22mb)

The WSSD Plan of Implementation calls for the management of the natural resources base in a sustainable and integrated manner. In this regard, to reverse the current trend in natural resource degradation as soon as possible, it is necessary to implement strategies which should include targets adopted at the national and, where appropriate, regional levels to protect ecosystems and to achieve integrated management of land, water and living resources, while strengthening regional, national and local capacities.

The Johannesburg Declaration and the Plan of Implementation arising from the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002) reconfirmed the commitment of States to advance and strengthen the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable development-economic development, social development and environmental protection-at the local, national, regional and global levels.

Papua New Guinea - govt. website

Papua New Guinea - Meteorological Offiice

Papua New Guinea Office of Climate Change and Carbon Trade

Plants of Papua New Guinea
Information for students, researchers, development workers, community leaders, government and non-government agencies and others working on plant identification, conservation and diversity of plants in Papua New Guinea. Includes an internet accessible herbarium plant collection database of plants from Papua New Guinea; PNGtrees project - An interactive identification guide to the common trees of Papua New Guinea ; Plant collectors of Papua New Guinea - Information about Papua New Guinean plant collectors and support staff ; Census of Vascular Plants of Papua New Guinea - Names of vascular plants of Papua New Guinea.

Tree Kangaroo Conservation Programme
The mission of the TKCP is to establish a 150,000-acre Conservation Area on the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea through community-based action that includes scientific research, education and conservation outreach. The Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) fosters wildlife and habitat conservation and local community livelihoods in Papua New Guinea through global partnerships, land protection and scientific research.

The little green palai
"A grassroots perspective on development issues in Papua New Guinea"

UPNG Remote Sensing Centre
The University of Papua New Guinea Remote Sensing Centre is a teaching and research facility.We provide access to remotely sensed satellite data and GIS products concerned with land-cover and land-use in Papua New Guinea. The UPNG Geobook set - an interactive, free, mapping atlas for each Province can be dowloaded from this site -

see also:

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Regional Frameworks and Strategies Directory [SPREP]

SPREP Library and IRC collection [SLIC] - includes online full text access to a wide range of Pacific environment materials.

The Pacific Environment Information Network [PEIN] Virtual Library - full text publications from SPREP, SOPAC, SPC and other CROP agencies, Pacific govt. environment depts. , regional institutions, and NGOs active in the area of environment conservation.

Pacific Environment Databases and Recommended Internet Resources

see also:

SPREP's International Instruments' webpage
"International instruments relevant to SPREP's work in the areas of Sustainable Economic Development, Ecosystems Management, Climate Change, and Waste Management."

Academic literature and research

via Google Scholar