Kokoda Track Foundation
Wednesday April 23rd, 2008
LAST UPDATED
KTF Welcomes Agreement On Track Protection
MEDIA RELEASE 23/04/08 - By Patrick Lindsay, Chairman
The Kokoda Track Foundation today expressed delight at the announcement of a Joint Understanding between the Australian and Papua New Guinean Governments to work together to preserve the Kokoda Track.
"We’re particularly pleased that the Australian Government has pledged $14.9 million to assist the PNG Government to improve the livelihoods of the people living along the Track,” KTF Chairman, Patrick Lindsay said.
"We have long espoused a co-operative approach to the protection and management of the Track so that the tourism generated by the Track can genuinely benefit the local communities, especially in improving their health and education prospects.
"The agreement between the two countries, signals a turning point in the bi-lateral relations between Australia and our nearest neighbour,” Lindsay said.
Lindsay added that the Foundation draws great optimism from the agreement’s shared vision centred on improved services to the local people together with a concerted program aimed at protecting the unique environment of the Track.
The Kokoda Track Foundation has committed $150,000 to create and develop a series of seed nurseries in Papua New Guinea to provide seeds to replace food gardens that were destroyed by Cyclone Guba in November last year. The first plantings are already underway. The project is being conducted in partnership with the PNG National Agricultural Research Institute, the PNG Department of Agriculture and Livestock, the Oil Palm Industry Co-operative, Higaturu Oil Palms Limited and AROD, the Anglican Response to Oro Disaster.
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The MEDIA RELEASE issued by The Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts can be read here.