In October 2024, a historic Memorandum of Understanding was signed between seven parties, formalising the path to gazettal for the Mt Karimui Conservation Area.
The Seven Parties
1. KCRMPI — Community mobilisation and day-to-day implementation
2. Partners with Melanesians Inc. (PWM) — Technical lead on gazettal
3. CEPA — National regulatory authority for protected areas
4. Karimui-Salt Nomane DDA — District-level support and PGK 100,000 commitment
5. Karimui LLG — Local government coordination
6. Simbu Provincial Government — Provincial political support
7. Mt Karimui Farmers' Cooperative Society Ltd. — Livelihood development
Why This Matters
The MOU creates the formal institutional architecture needed to complete the gazettal process. With approximately 70% of the technical preparation already completed by PWM, and the District's PGK 100,000 commitment toward the remaining 30%, the path forward is clearer than ever.
This partnership structure — combining community authority, technical expertise, government endorsement, and livelihood development — reflects the approach that made PWM's Managalas Conservation Area gazettal (360,000 ha, 2017) successful.
What Comes Next
The MOU sets the stage for the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan period, during which KCRMPI aims to complete gazettal, strengthen its institutional capacity, scale sustainable livelihoods, and secure diversified long-term funding.