Mahonia Center

I spent the morning talking with Lorna about the organization of Mahonia. She provided me with a comprehensive outline of the projects.
First, some history.
In 1994 the Nature Conservancy with help from the EU and the Walindi plantation started the Mahonia center. In 1997 the community education programs began. A year later the Nature Conservancy left Mahonia and Mahonia became it's own autonomous program. The Nature Conservancy still maintains an office in Walindi (as well as in Port Moresby on mainland PNG) and the partnership continues.

There are four main programs associated with the Mahonia Center
1. Community based conservation
2. Research proram
3. Education
4. Walindi Nature Center

1. Community based conservation - began in 2004 with the aim to assist local communities in resource management and facilitate locally managed marine areas (LMAs). This includes community awareness with up to 12 volunteers who conduct night meetings in communities. Youths are highly involved and produce dramas to their own communitites. This program aslo includes a specific woman's course to empower the women in the soceity to have first hand knowledg of conservation initiatives. Their graduation is this week!

2. Research Program - began in 1992 when Max Benjamin, owner of Walindi, noticed that Kimbe Bay showed an unually high biodiversity in such a small area. Such diversity as been the topic of many research projects primarily coming from James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland. The research program provides boats and laboratory space to visiting scientists. Any findings are given back to Mahonia who translate the research to the community.

3. Education program - began in 1997/98 and has many different components. This is the major focus of Mahonia
3a. Intensive MEEp (Marine Environment Education Program) - 4 high schools participate for 13 weeks every saturday to learn theory, basic marine biology, ecology, and resource management. They conduct an outreach awareness program to their own school and community. They graduate with a certificate. Only 20 students are accepted to these programs so students wishing to participate must apply and fundraise for their transportation.

3b. Marine Camps and excursions - this is where students come to the Mahonia center and stay for a week for a mini-intensive MEEP. They conduct reseach work in the library, make presentations, have debates, and learn to snorkel. They also get to do fish dissections to learn anatomy. Again, kids fundraise in their communities to find their own way here (often involving air travel).

3c. Teachers MEEP - this is for Primary school teachers to give them the knowledge to teach the required enviornmental section. The money to get these teachers in is provided by Mahonia and unfortunately this program was cancelled this year due to a low budget.

3d. Marine Outreach Awareness - program assistants visit schools to conduct marine conservation ideas, pupet shows, and discussions. They talk about destructive fishing practices and resource management.

3e. Baby MEEP - this is for kids age 8-9 (i know, they aren't babies). Every wednesday for three weeks they come to the center to go bush and beach walking to learn about the environment from a basic understanding. Again, there was not enough funds to run this program this year.

Lorna estimates that in the past 9 years Mahonia has reached over 200,000 students through these programs.

The last major program is
4. Walindi Nature Center - any income from rent, boat hire, big groups, conference space usage, is used to support the above programs as well as staff wages, insurance, and other basic costs.

There is a board of directors that oversea all of this and initiate grant writing and funding requests. Cecile Benjamin, co-owner of the Walindi, is the chair-person.