Save the Sepik believe that the risk posed by the Frieda River mine is too great and could irreparably devastate the Sepik environment and the communities that live along it.
They want Papua New Guinea’s Conservation and Environment and Protection Authority (CEPA) to reject the Frieda River mine and for the PNG government to take the next steps in placing the Sepik River region on the World Heritage List.
The Save the Sepik campaign is a collaboration between Project Sepik, Jubilee Australia Research Centre and Aid/Watch Australia.
The mighty Sepik River is one of the great rivers of the world. Like the Amazon, it winds in serpentine fashion, down from mountains, timeless cloud forests, and through tropical rainforests and mangroves. The longest river in Papua New Guinea, it stretches for 1,126 kilometres. Following after the Fly and Mamberambo rivers, the Sepik River is the third largest river by volume.
It is the largest unpolluted freshwater system in Papua New Guinea and one of the largest and most intact freshwater basins in the Asia Pacific region.
The region is home to some of Papua New Guinea’s rarest plants and animals. Threatened species such as the New Guinea Harpy Eagle, Victoria Crowned Pigeon and the Northern Cassowary are common to the region.
Important waterbird and crocodile populations are supported by the 1,500 lakes and other wetlands associated with the basin.
The diverse habitats of the basin are globally significant for biodiversity. The area contains two Global 200 eco-regions, three endemic bird areas and three centres of plant diversity.
The Upper Sepik River Basin, which covers an area of 7.7 million hectares, was listed by the Papua New Guinea on its ‘Tentative List’ for nominations for World Heritage Status in 2006.