Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program is working to save:
Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus matschiei)
Endemic to the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea, the Matschie's tree kangaroo is a culturally important species for ceremonial clothing and there is much folklore surrounding the species. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listing is Critically Endangered.
Habitat:
Huon peninsula habitats from sea level to 4,000m (13,123 feet) with a focus on cloud forest, the habitat of Matschie’s tree kangaroo.
Critical threats to wildlife:
- Overhunting of tree kangaroos
- Lack of knowledge about their wild populations
- Expanding human population, small-scale logging and other resources extraction activities
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Success Stories
In the last three years, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) has been successful in protecting 187,000 acres of cloud forest, tree kangaroo habitat and a suite of other habitats found on the Huon Peninsula of Papua New Guinea. On January 9, 2009, the Papua New Guinea national government approved and gazetted the YUS Conservation Area formally protecting the land from large- and small-scale extraction. The land remains in the ownership of the indigenous landowners and future management of the protected area will be carried out by and through them in partnership with TKCP. TKCP has worked with the YUS community to officially establish a community-based organization, called the YUS Conservation Organization (CO), this association was formally approved and established under the Associations Incorporations Act. The YUS CO will manage the YUS Conservation Area and oversee the community projects in YUS in partnership with TKCP. The YUS CO is made up of committees of representatives from throughout YUS.
TKCP started a “Healthy Village, Healthy Forest” initiative to improve the human health of the YUS community. To date the program has provided mid-wife training to 50 women in YUS villages, immunizations for children and treatment during health patrols by US and PNG doctors. Since 2007 over 1,000 people treated by Dr. Gerard Saleu of the PNG Institute for Medical Research during a TKCP-sponsored health patrol.