In a world-first initiative, the community of Wabumari has launched the area’s first-ever Rainforest Lab.
Co-designed by the Indigenous community and NGO Cool Earth, the lab empowers locals to protect 2,000 hectares of forest, combining cutting-edge technology with traditional knowledge and decolonizing access to critical environmental data.
Papua New Guinea’s rainforests are home to 6-8% of the world’s plant and animal species and are vital in the fight against the climate crisis.
But these forests, along with the Indigenous communities living there, are being threatened by logging and other industries.
The lab, equipped with solar panels, satellite Wi-Fi, and advanced mapping tools, provides real-time data for monitoring threats like deforestation.
This ensures that those living in and protecting the rainforest are equipped with the same tools as global conservationists.
“This lab bridges the digital divide, enabling communities on the front lines of the climate crisis to take action against the threats endangering their home and heritage,” said Matt Proctor, Cool Earth’s Forests Impact Lead.
Local leadership is key, with two biodiversity officers and 15 students leading the charge on research and conservation.
Training local forest monitors is the next phase of this initiative, ensuring the community remains at the forefront of protecting their land.
The extreme remoteness of Wabumari made the construction of the Rainforest Lab a remarkable feat by the community.
Members carried water by hand over long distances for cement mixing and gathered gravel and sand from beaches or riverbanks. Most building materials weren’t available locally, meaning they often had to wait weeks or months for parts to arrive.
On top of these challenges, heavy rains and rough seas—worsened by the climate crisis—caused flooding on roads and halted boats from reaching the community. Given all these obstacles, the completion of the building is truly extraordinary.
The Wabumari Rainforest Lab builds on Cool Earth’s first two labs in the Amazon, launched in 2022.
There, local monitors have detected hundreds of threats and mitigated wildfire risks, protecting over 593,000 acres of rainforest.
