25/05/2026
A powerful step forward for community-led climate resilience in Western Province 🌏🌱
INLOC is proud to support the launch of the first community-developed bilingual Agob-English seasonal calendar in Buzi Village, South Fly District.
Developed through workshops involving 126 community members, the calendar captures generations of traditional ecological knowledge - mapping seasons, weather patterns, harvesting, fishing, hunting, planting cycles, and food sources that sustain the community throughout the year.
More than a calendar, this is a living knowledge system.
By preserving this knowledge in both Agob language and English, the community is safeguarding cultural identity while ensuring future generations can continue to adapt to environmental and climate changes with wisdom grounded in tradition.
The calendar also strengthens:
✅ Food security
✅ Climate adaptation planning
✅ Community resource management
✅ Intergenerational knowledge transfer
✅ Language preservation
As climate change increasingly impacts coastal and island communities, initiatives like this demonstrate the importance of Indigenous knowledge in building sustainable futures.
Congratulations to the Buzi and Berr community, South Fly Rangers, and everyone involved in this important achievement.
A community-developed seasonal calendar has been launched in Buzi Village in the Torres Strait area of South Fly District, Western Province, as residents respond to the growing impact of climate change on food supplies and natural resources.
The calendar was developed by South Fly Rangers in partnership with the Buzi community under the PNG-Australia partnership program. It documents local seasons, weather patterns, and traditional knowledge relating to planting, fishing, harvesting, and the use of natural resources.
Community leaders say the calendar is intended to help villagers plan for changing weather conditions, food shortages, and environmental changes affecting daily life.
The bilingual Agob-English calendar is the first of its kind documented by the community and identifies important plant and animal species relied upon mainly for food and subsistence.
Former Ward Chairman Frank Warapa said climate change was already affecting farming, fishing, and coastal communities in the area.
“Climate change is very real here. It changes what we can plant, where we can fish, and how we protect our homes,” he said.
He said the calendar would help families prepare for seasonal changes and improve local planning.
Local leaders are also using the calendar to support disaster preparedness and discussions with provincial authorities and non-government organisations on climate adaptation and resource management.
The project draws on traditional ecological knowledge and ranger programs previously used in Indigenous communities in Australia.
Officials involved in the program say the initiative could help improve local-level planning and provide information on climate trends and food availability in remote communities across Western Province.
The South Fly Ranger Program continues to work with local communities and provincial authorities on conservation, resource management, and climate adaptation programs in remote parts of the province.
