Community-Based Conservation Among the Marik Clan


The Marik Clan is one of approximately 300 clans that inhabit the lowland tropical rainforests of the Gogol River Valley in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Although accurate statistics are difficult to obtain, the total population of the clan is perhaps slightly more than 2,000 people dispersed across 14 villages and hamlets. In addition to the Marik language, Pidgin is also spoken and English is widely understood.

Most economic, political and religious activities are carried out within the context of the clan, and decisions are always made by consensus. Although some members of the clan are employed in a variety of occupations in the town of Madang located 20 km away, most continue to engage in subsistence agriculture and shifting cultivation as their primary means of livelihood. Poverty is widespread.

The clan continues to have a strong association with the land which is their source of identity and forms the basis of their economic and social relationships. It is difficult to estimate the amount of land owned by the clan without territorial-boundary demarcation or other means of geo-mapping. Although the primary religion is Christianity (in various expressions and syncretistic forms), the clan’s strong association with the land continues to influence their spiritual identity.

Extensive use of the various resources in their forested tribal land continues despite three decades of commercial logging by foreign-owned companies. Although ethnobotanical studies in this area have not been carried out, the clan uses the abundant variety of plants in the forest for daily food production, clothing adornment and medicinal purposes.

Wildlife studies indicate approximately 250 species of animals inhabit the area. Of these more than 60 are used by the clan for food, body adornment, implement-making, bride price and other uses associated with the cash economy (e.g., pigs, cuscus, wallabies, bandicoots, wildfowl, monitor lizards and various bird species). Commercial logging continues to be a major source of wildlife habitat destruction.

Environmental stressors, social change, population growth and the disruption of traditional land use patterns have directly impacted the health of the population. Exploitation of the land and its plant and wildlife resources contribute to major health problems such as malaria, anemia and protein-energy malnutrition. There is a high incidence of respiratory diseases and trachoma. Skin diseases such as tinea imbricata, tinea versicolor and scabies are widespread. Periodontal disease is common.

Without any action to mitigate inappropriate and exploitive land use practices, the loss of biodiversity and subsequent increase in related disease indicators will continue to worsen for the Marik clan in the foreseeable future.