Nature Guardians: A documentary on the Kunua Conservation Network

Join us for an evening of short films and conversation celebrating community-led conservation across Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, featuring a screening of Ol Was Lain: The Guardians.

Arrive from 5:30 pm for light entertainment before the films begin. After the screenings, stay for a Q&A with the filmmakers and community leaders, followed by networking to close the evening.

About the feature film

This short film documents, for the first time, a conservation journey in Kunua District, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Over the past decade, Dr Junior Novera and his community have worked collectively to advance conservation, safeguard cultural heritage, build partnerships and respond to the growing impacts of climate change.

A defining strength of this work is its foundation in customary rights and community stewardship across forests, land, rivers, and marine areas. This shared commitment and vision led to the establishment of the Kunua Conservation Network, a community-based organisation that brings together customary landowners, traditional chiefs, women, young people, and community leaders to protect the last frontier of forests, mountains, waterways, coastlines, and seas.

These island landscapes and seascapes hold profound cultural and spiritual significance, provide sustainable livelihood benefits for local communities, and harbour high levels of biodiversity. However, climate change and modernisation are putting increasing pressure on these rare habitats long regarded as sacred. The film highlights Tropical Cyclone Maila as a devastating example of changing environments now affecting Kunua District and Bougainville.

From the western slopes of Mount Balbi, along rivers and streams, and out to the coastline and horizon, the Kunua Conservation Network is working toward one shared goal: to protect more than 300,000 hectares of land and sea by 2030 for the people of Kunua, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and the wider world.

You are all welcome to share this journey with us!

Program

Short introduction on the event
Jeff Noro

Baru Conservation Alliance Cultural School
This video explains the BCA Culturally Integrated model of education that conserves of traditional Kwaio weaving and music

Baru Conservation Alliance Tuberculosis (TB) Rangers program
In this video the BCA TB Rangers and people who have survived TB due to the TB Rangers work share their experiences.

Feature film: OL WAS LAIN “The Guardians”
Kunua Conservation Network
The story of the Kunua Conservation Network in Bougainville, a community-led effort grounded in customary rights to protect more than 300,000 hectares of sacred land and sea by 2030 as climate change takes hold.

Q&A
Junior Novera, Annabelle Masiri, Dorothy Esau, Peter Fueria