APEC Forest Ministers meeting

Minister dismisses claims of illegal logging in PNG

He dismissed a Non-Government Organization  (NGO) allegation that a quarter of logs exported from the country are illegal logs.     

“In PNG we have been accused for too long about illegal logging practices in the country.”

Mr Tomuriesa said that all logs exported from legal logging permit holders were  certified to international standard.  

“We are so fortunate that when our logs are cut, number one you have forest officers that go out and grade the logs, and check that the log is legitimate and from a consignment (permitted logging) area.

First APEC ministerial meeting to be held this month

This meeting is one of up to 200 APEC meetings that will take place in Papua New Guinea in preparation for the APEC Leaders' Summit in November 2018.

The Ministerial Meeting has been facilitated through engagement between the PNG Forest Authority, the APEC PNG Secretariat and the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet).

Govt hosting of Forest Ministers meeting welcomed

Campaign coordinator Eddie Tanago says it would be an excellent opportunity to remind the government of its record on Special Agriculture Business Lease and land grab issues.

He says many landowners whose land had been taken under the SABL system had not yet been given back their land.