Landowners from various areas within Sandaun Province attended a weeks training workshop last week on Community Mobilisation.

The one week training workshop was facilitated by two officiers from the Enviromental Law Centre, Steven Sukot (Program Manager based in Port Moresby) and Wewak- based Lucy Berak.

23 participants, 12 from Aitape, 10 from Lumi and 1 from Amanab comprised of landowners, women and youth reps, peace and justice, and other liason officers.

The workshop was basically on various aspects of preserving the enviroment not against development but in accordance with the 5 constitutional laws governing the Forestry Act.

The participants expressed great satisfaction in attending the workshop, as it was a real eye-opener for them.Many said that after the week-long session, they felt they were moer prepared to go back to their villates and lead their people in the right direction to achieving better results for the future.

Berard Maikili, Managing Director of Aitape-Lumi Consolidated Forest Resources Limited commented that the workshop had come to at a good time as discussions were underway for a logging project to take place within th four consolidated areas of the district.

"I am very pleased that I have had this opportunity to attend this workshop as I see it is very important especially at this time before the logging project starts. Now that I am well informed, I can be able to do awarenesses and mobilize the local communities in addressing various logging issues that will arise as part of this development. In order to achieve good reults for both partners (the resource owners and developers)," said Mr. Maikili.

Steven Sukot, has also informed the participants that there will be other planned workshops that will be conducted later.

The workshop ended on Friday 28th July.