Papua New Guinea Government’s submission for Sepik Tentative World Heritage Listing
On 6 June 2006, the Government of Papua New Guinea made a submission to UNESCO, seeking that the Upper Sepik River Basin be tentatively listed for World Heritage Status.
Below is what they wrote about the Upper Sepik River Basin:
Description
The property is a mixed cultural and natural site covering the middle and upper reaches of the Sepik River basin including slopes of the Central Range and potentially the Torricelli and Prince Alexander mountains.
The Sepik River at 1126 km in length and covering an area of 7.7 million hectares is one of the world’s greatest river systems. It is the largest unpolluted freshwater system in New Guinea and among the largest and most intact freshwater basins in the Asia Pacific. The diverse habitats of the basin rate as globally significant on a number of biodiversity indices. The area contains two Global 200 eco-regions, three endemic bird areas and three centres of plant diversity. Vegetation types, at altitudes from 0 to 3800 metres asl, include mangrove forest, herb swamps, tall lowland rainforest, cloud forest, and alpine heaths.
The Telefomin region is said to contain the greatest marsupial diversity on the planet. Threatened species such as the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Victoria Crowned Pigeon and the Northern Cassowary remain common and a number of restricted range birds are represented. The Sepik river fish fauna reflects the Great Northern Fish province, sharing many species with the Ramu and Mamberano Rivers. Important waterbird and crocodile populations are supported by the 1500 lakes and other wetlands associated with the basin.
The Sepik River is one of the least developed areas in PNG and home to approximately 430,000 people who depend almost entirely on products from the rivers and forests for their livelihoods. This is perhaps the most linguistically and culturally diverse area in the planet with over 300 languages in an area the size of France.
The area is famed for the gabled spirit houses or “haus tambarans”, one of the most dramatic examples of indigenous Melanesian architecture, and a very rich ceremonial carving and music tradition. Sepik peoples maintain their cultural integrity proudly and have influenced styles across the nation. One protected area is established in the area – the Hunstein Range Wildlife Management Area (220,000 ha). Proposals for two adjacent WMAs totalling approx 48,000 ha have been submitted to the GoPNG in October 2005 and a number of further WMAs are being prepared. Plans exist to include these PAs on the Ramsar list. The Sepik Wetlands Management Initiative is addressing crocodile habitat retention and invasive species removal across the Middle and Upper Sepik River and adjacent lakes. A catchment management programme, led by WWF with a range of stakeholders, aims to establish coherent management of this region.
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
The Upper Sepik is the heart of one of the least modified landscapes in the Asia Pacific. A major river runs free without dams, weirs or industrial developments. A band of unbroken rainforest extends for hundreds of kilometres. There are few places left in earth in this condition. A World Heritage listing would reinforce efforts to ensure that these values survive while also encouraging sustainable development for some poor and remote communities whose average income rarely exceed US$10.00 per person per annum. There a few places in Melanesia where cultural heritage is as diverse, dramatically displayed or proudly protected. And yet change is coming rapidly to this region. World Heritage listing linked with an effective catchment management regime can offer a chance to draw tourism, support sustainable development and foster the celebration of the Sepik’s rich cultural heritage.
Comparison with other similar properties
No properties represent elements of the biodiversity or culture of the northern catchments of New Guinea. Lorentz World Heritage Area protects some species that are shared with this region but there are significant differences in species composition, ecosystems, climate and geology.
World Heritage selection criteria
The Government of Papua New Guinea made this submission, calling on eight selection criteria for World Heritage Status, saying that the Sepik:
- Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius;
- Bears a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilsation which is living or which has disappeared;
- Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
- Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
- Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
- Is an outstanding example representing major stages of earth’s history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
- Is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
- Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
Applications for World Heritage must be made by the nation State.
It has been 20 years. It is time for the Government of Papua New Guinea to take the next steps to ensure the Sepik’s protection, and recognition of its importance to the world.
Join with us, and sign the petition seeking that the Government of Papua New Guinea take action to protect the Sepik forever.
FULL PETITION: STAND WITH THE PEOPLES OF THE SEPIK RIVER FOR THE UPPER SEPIK RIVER BASIN TO RECEIVE WORLD HERITAGE LISTING
The Mighty Sepik River is of international significance, a biodiversity hotspot, and one of the most culturally diverse places on earth.
SEPIK RIVER UNDER THREAT
The Sepik River is now under threat by the proposed Frieda River copper and gold mining project. It would be like nothing Papua New Guinea has seen before – the size of all of PNG’s mining industry combined, and one of the largest mines in the world.
The Project would include one of the largest dams in the world which would be required to safely store toxic tailings forever in a seismically active area. If the dam collapsed it would be catastrophic, killing thousands of villagers and destroying the Sepik River. Up to 30 villages would be affected.
There is no secure way of storing the massive amount of mine waste (tailings) safely without damaging the river.
NO SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE
There is no social licence for the mine to operate. There is no evidence of Free, Prior and Informed Consent of all impacted Customary Landowners including communities on the mine site and along the Frieda and Sepik Rivers. This evidence is essential for the Project to proceed.
The Sepik people have been the Guardians of the River for thousands of years, and for generations upon generations.
In May 2020, a total ban on the mine was unanimously proclaimed by the Traditional Clan Leaders of 28 Haus Tambarans along more than 1,000 kilometres of the Sepik River – from Swagap in Upper Sepik near the Frieda River to Kopar at the mouth of the Sepik River.
The Haus Tambarans issued the Supreme Sukundimi Declaration representing approximately 78,000 people across 25 villages, a powerful document that is a first-ever in PNG, which would be admissible in a court of law.
PROTECTING CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Peoples of the Sepik maintain a strong spiritual connection with the River, waterways, forests and animals of the Sepik: the River is their source of life and the River and its surrounds must be protected as a whole. The area is also the site of the Karawari caves, which host possibly the greatest example of rock art in the whole of Melanesia. The mine could devastate all this forever.
‘This Project poses unacceptable risks to our ancestors, ourselves and that of our unborn children. It risks the spirit of all plants and animals of the river, the lakes, the tributaries and streams.’
– Project Sepik
NATIONAL HERITAGE
“The Upper Sepik is the heart of one of the least modified landscapes in the Asia Pacific. A major river runs free without dams, weirs or industrial development … There are few places in Melanesia where cultural heritage is as diverse, dramatically displayed or proudly protected”
– Government of Papua New Guinea submission to UNESCO, tentatively listing the Upper Sepik River Basin for World Heritage Status in 2006.
The Upper Sepik River Basin, which covers an area of 7.7 million hectares, was listed by Papua New Guinean Government on its ‘Tentative List’ for nominations for World Heritage Status in 2006.
Over 1,500 lakes and other wetlands associated with the basin support populations of important waterbirds and crocodile populations. Rare Papua New Guinean plants and animals are under threat, including New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Victoria Crowned Pigeon and the Northern Cassowary.
INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
With the converging crises, we face globally, now more than ever we have to protect and defend the last pristine places on earth like the Sepik River. The diverse habitats of the Sepik River are globally significant for biodiversity. The area contains two Global 200 eco-regions, three endemic bird areas and three centres of plant diversity.
Globally, there is an increasing call for acknowledgement that nature in all its life forms has the right to ‘exist, persist, maintain and regenerate’ its vital cycles and for the legal authority to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems. This is consistent with the Sepik Peoples’ relationship to the River.
The international significance of the River and the threats posed by the Frieda River mine have been recognised by ten United Nations Special Rapporteurs, including on Toxic Wastes, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and Human Rights and the Environment, plus the Chair of the Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations, in powerful joint statements to the Chinese Government, Australian Government, Canadian Government, PNG Government, Frieda River Limited and Highlands Frieda Limited.
For these reasons, I stand with the Sepik People and future generations in calling for the protection of one of the last pristine river systems on earth.
I call for a Ban on the Frieda River Mine. And I call for the Upper Sepik River Basin to be formally nominated for protection as a World Heritage site.
Recent Comments