Perhaps more than anywhere in the world, conservation in Papua New Guinea is challenged by regulations on customary land ownership. Traditional landowners and tribes retain roughly 95 percent of the country’s land. This system, through absolutely incredible and unique to the world, creates a double-edged sword for both conservationists and those interested in resource extraction. Because of the diversity of landowners, developing conservation programs often takes years of negotiations. The system has effectively slowed development. Organizations involved in the East Melanesian Islands include the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International and Chico State University.
