PNG Forest

The leaders during their annual dialogue virtually this week agreed that Australia would provide additional support to PNG’s forestry sector, including project support for nature-based climate solutions. 

The Prime Ministers also welcomed the MoU signing of the Cooperation on Building Capacity for Participation in Global Carbon Markets by Ministers at COP26 in Glasgow, establishing a partnership under the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offsets Scheme.

The Protected Areas Policy was endorsed by the Government in 2014. To ensure its effective implementation, the government – through the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA formerly known as the Department of Environment and Conservation) – is hosting public consultation to seek inputs for the implementation plan and legal framework progressing the Policy document.

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.

These funds are paid to districts where logging operations currently take place.

Kandrian Glouster received the highest of K10 million.

Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa says this is the first time in over 15 years that districts are going to benefit from the payout of levies.

“And rightfully so that the districts are to benefit from logging activities on their own land. In the past this was never done,” he says.

The levies were collected for this year and held in a trust account under the Treasury Department.