National Species Symposium: strengthening national capacity for species conservation in Papua New Guinea through the Red List training workshop – Story

Under the umbrella ‘Aligning conservation priorities for species conservation in Papua New Guinea’, the event aimed to strengthen collaboration among conservation stakeholders, integrate scientific research with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), support national capacity building, and advance the development of Papua New Guinea’s National Red List Project. The symposium also highlighted the role of the IUCN SSC Center for Species Survival (CSS) Papua New Guinea in promoting coordinated conservation action through the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Assess–Plan–Act framework.

During the first day, participants exchanged knowledge and experiences through presentations and discussions focused on terrestrial and marine conservation, community engagement, threatened species recovery, and conservation planning, working throughout Papua New Guinea and the broader Oceania region. The event provided opportunities to establish new partnerships, strengthen existing collaborations, and build a stronger and more coordinated national conservation community.

Contributing to the National Red List Project

Mayerlin Ramos, IUCN SSC Centers for Species Survival Coordinator, supported the event’s organization and production and contributed to the National Red List Project and IUCN Red List training workshop.

The event dedicated 2 days to the development of national expertise in species assessment methodologies. The workshop introduced participants to the work of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, providing an overview of the global network of experts dedicated to species conservation and the role that the CSS network plays in translating global expertise into local action.

The workshop was led and facilitated by Tim Lyons, an experienced Red List trainer from the National Red List working group and Species Survival Officer for the IUCN SSC CSS Corals, supporting the delivery of sessions covering the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, regional assessment methodologies, case studies, practical exercises, and discussions on the application of Red List methodologies within the national context of Papua New Guinea. Participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in applying internationally recognized standards for species assessments.

This workshop also helped to establish the foundations for a coordinated national network of assessors. Building local expertise is fundamental to ensuring that species assessments remain scientifically robust, locally relevant, and sustainable over the long term. This approach reflects the broader vision of the CSS model: strengthening local leadership while connecting practitioners with global expertise and resources.

The symposium acknowledged the importance of traditional ecological knowledge in species conservation through dedicated presentations and workshops that explored integrating Indigenous knowledge systems with scientific methodologies, emphasizing the value of community participation and locally led conservation strategies.

Next steps

The National Species Symposium marked an important milestone in Papua New Guinea’s conservation journey and laid the groundwork for the implementation of the country’s 2026-2029 National Red List Project. This work has contributed to building a stronger national conservation network, ensuring Papua New Guinea’s remarkable species receive the attention and protection they deserve.