In an interview with LOOP News he justified this statement by saying that they now have a monitoring system that allows them to see exactly where companies are cutting trees.
This system is a remote one conducted via satellite.
Tomuriesa says there are 64 logging companies currently operating in PNG and he is encouraging land owners and Papua New Guineans to report illegal logging activities.
“Those on social media and NGOs who claim illegal logging need to have this reported so we can check on the system to verify and then we can take appropriate action,” he says.
