The ultimate goal for the Tenkile Conservation Alliance is to establish the Torricelli Mountain Range as a Protected Area. This will provide the legal protection from not only large scale commercial development such as logging and mining species from local impact such as over hunting and harvesting of natural resources. The approach is one of a "bottom up" approach where resource owners agree to establish the protected area, establish their own rules and penalties and then manage it accordingly.

During village visits, Jean and Jim Thomas have commenced dialogue with people to help them understand what a protected area is and why it is important for the conservation of Tenkile and the other fauna within the Torricelli Mountains . Local landowners and leaders have since discussed their ideas and concerns regarding the protected area before they participated in a brief mapping workshop that provided them with a visual display of their natural resources so that they could make an informed choice as to how to utilise their resources now and in the future. Although in the early stages of its development, the initial response to the Protected Area has been positive. A few villages have concerns and reservations while others want to establish a "Conservation Area" as soon as possible. The local people have requested that in order for the conservation area to become successful they will require more education and training regarding the management of their natural resources and would like TCA to arrange this as part of the education program. Being a grassroots initiative and request, it is important that TCA procures funding to implement this initiative ( see help ). This would also help build the capacity that is essential in the area for the long-term sustainability of conservation action within the Torricelli Mountain area. f the Torricelli Mountain Range becomes a protected area known as a Conservation Area, it will be the first protected area for Sandaun Province and the first Conservation Area for PNG.

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