Soil and Land Management

Better soil and land information for improving PNG’s agricultural production and integrated land use planning – building a revitalised PNGRIS2

Papua New Guinea, man working on soil
Map of Papua New Guinea

Overview

This project aims to revitalise the Papua New Guinea Resource Information System (PNGRIS) to deliver improved soil and land data for step-change advancements to the country’s integrated land use planning (LUP) capability.

It will focus on the development, and integration of the revitalised PNGRIS2 with an initial aim to demonstrate the value proposition of such a system to the PNG Government, the agriculture sector and international agencies working in PNG.

Case studies will be developed in the Morobe Province, a priority area for the PNG Government and one of the fastest growing provinces in the country (Bank of PNG), particularly around opportunities for further development of coffee, forestry, and other agricultural industries.

Success means the revitalised system is guided by, and dovetails with, Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) development policies and enabling strategies, is supported by all rural land use and planning sectors, is well-resourced after the life of the project, and has enduring impact to the country’s development.

Expected project outcomes and activities

  • The PNG Government and other stakeholders supporting and using the revitalised PNGRIS2 as an indispensable piece of national information infrastructure and centrepiece of the nation’s integrated land use planning and management capability.
  • A better understanding of soils at improved spatial and temporal scales.
  • Capacity building through training delivered by CSIRO and other partners such as UniTech.
  • Enabling innovation in the data and information systems area, including through new ways to capture, analyse and disseminate soil and land resource information that meets the needs of a range of users in PNG and overseas.

Related content

hands in soil

Revitalising soil Information in Papua New Guinea

A new ACIAR-​funded agriculture research project between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) is set to revitalise soil information and boost sustainable food production. First established in 1981, the PNG Resource Information System (PNGRIS) served as a database that mapped out the country’s natural resources and population information. It was developed to help PNG manage land use, particularly for food and cash crop production.

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