Environmental Education & Advocacy (EEA) 

Food Security

Picture
Rice fields in Hako, 2011
Rice has become a staple food in PNG but has not traditionally been grown locally. HWC is fostering dry field rice growing as a supplementary crop requiring only small blocks of garden plots. In this climate, up to 3 crops a year can be achieved.​
The Rice Mill venture was established by HWC in 2012 as part of the strategy to improve food security in the face of climate change and the increasing population. HWC entered an agreement in 2013 to start running the rice mill, donated from New Zealand, in what is now Luman Hipakoko.
The Environmental Education & Advocacy  team works to protect Hako’s environment, heritage and culture and to promote the proper management of natural resources as mothers of the land in a matrilineal society, in partnership with Pacific Black Box.
​The team works on issues connected with environment and biodiversity, climate change and land use. The detailed program can be viewed here.

EEA current activities 

  • Design and planting of grounds around Luman Hipakoko, including productive garden beds 
  • set up and manage community rice mill at Luman Hipakoko​
  • organise awareness activities for World Environment Day and invite Hako schools
  • develop and conduct environmental awareness programs, digital and media activities for each age group, for Hako schools.

Related information

Climate change
Some of the outlying islands and atolls of Bougainville are less than two metres above sea level. Click here to read an article about relocation from the Cartaret Islands, or here for an article in Tok Pisin.

See also the videos on this subject made by community members with Pacific Black Box.
Picture
Marilyn Havinireceiving the rice mill on behalf of HWC.