The rugged geography responsible for the outstanding cultural and biological diversity of Papua New Guinea (PNG) also presents a formidable barrier for access to the region. As a result, PNG remains one of the world’s most under-researched countries. Considerable investments into forest management for climate mitigation are now demanding an improved understanding of the state of these forests and the management options for protecting or restoring them. To help fill this information need, an extensive field campaign was conducted in the remote Morobe province along a 3000m elevation gradient spanning coastal lowlands to montane cloud forests. Michelle led seven expeditions in areas far from roads and villages with the help of over 70 field assistants from five forest-dependent communities, working on slopes of up 88°. Through this work, the tallest trees yet recorded at extreme altitudes and carbon-rich montane forests were discovered. Finally, the best climate mitigation option for this area changed once local people’s values were included, shifting towards restoring degraded areas instead of protecting carbon-rich forests.

The Natural Resources & Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC hosts a weekly lecture series at the Prince George campus. Anyone from the university or wider community with interest in the topic area is welcome to attend. Presentations are also made available to remote participants through Livestream and Blue Jeans. Go to http://www.unbc.ca/nres-institute/colloquium-webcasts to view the presentation remotely.

Past NRESi colloquium presentations and special lectures can be viewed on our video archive, available here.