PNG Forest Authority

Present at the signing were Total Energies Vice President Julian Pouget, Managing Director, Jean Marc Noiray and land owner representatives of Varagadi Clan, whose land forms the basis of this MOU.

Keith Iduhu Chairman of National Forests Authority, welcomed representatives of Total Energies PNG, saying the cooperation and signing of the MOU is both a strategic and fruitful one. He said it is PNG’s contribution to global conservation and global agenda of green economy and monetizing conservation.

They are Chief Operating Officer (COO), Magdalene Maihua, Director Field Operations Lyall Umbo, Director Resource Planning and Development, Dambis Kaip and Director Corporate Services, Cornelius Kabagat.

Three other senior officers who will sign their contracts are Constin Bigol – Director Reforestation and Afforestation, Goodwill Amos – Director for Forest Research Institute in Lae, Morobe Province and Verolyne Daugil as the Corporate Economist.

According to Dr. Ruth Turia, Director of the Forest Policy & Planning Directorate of the PNG Forest Authority, Papua New Guinea has not received enough external and internal funding to support REDD+ activities and programs.

Dr Turia said funding is critical to develop the capacity of local communities to look after them in the face of climate change.

She said this after a Forestry Technical Meeting as part of the Pacific Week of Agriculture (PWA) where she delivered an update on PNG’s efforts in REDD+.

The use of drones will greatly assist the PNG Forest Authority monitor vast forest resources and project areas.

The two-week workshop ended on Friday with the Japan International Cooperation Agency handing over five drones to the PNG Forest Authority.

Each drone is worth US$5,000, or K17,000.

The use of drones is being introduced to the organisation to help with manpower in monitoring the vast forest vegetation at selected plantations and projects around the country.

Sixteen staff of the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority are currently attending a Drone Usage for Forest Monitoring Training Workshop in Port Moresby.

The two-week workshop ends this Friday, 1^st of March.

Forestry Minister, Douglas Tomuriesa, said with the current situation of the economy, they must work together to ensure they participate in assisting the country.

The Minister said this should be done while ensuring the forests are looked after.

“I know the country has gone through a lot of challenges and you all know the economic situation the country is going through. But that does not stop us, as foresters, to contribute towards the recovery of this country, the economic recovery of this country.”

These results were announced during PNG Forest Authority’s presentation to the team of Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT).

The Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade was established in 2011 in response to statements, decisions and priorities of leaders and ministers of APEC.

PNG Forest Authority showcased two of its highly digitalised projects – the Multi-Purpose National Forest Inventory and the Capacity Development Project for Operationalisation of PNG Forest Resource Information Management System for Addressing Climate Change.

The developer will adopt selective harvesting technique of timber of larger DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) of 50+ cm as well as adhere to all other practices set out in the Logging Code of Practice.

This follows an agreement by PNG Forest Authority with PNG Hills Ltd to establish 800,000 hectares of plantation forest by 2050.

This was the driving force behind the PNG Forest Authority’s recently-built canteen at its Kuriva Forestry Picnic Area.

Kuriva Forestry Picnic Area is an hour’s drive out of Port Moresby city along the Hiritano Highway.

The picnic site is part of the PNG Forest Authority’s forestry plantation and has big huts with a seating capacity of up to 30 people, barbecue plates and well-kept lawns.

The canteen was built in response to customers’ requests.

The 5-year agreement will see ASPNG Limited help PNG Forest Authority transfer its financials from Attaché to the new software SAGE 300.

The new accounting software is said to be compatible and will suit the high volume of activities and transactions the Forest Authority does daily.

The use of SAGE 300 is expected to minimise fraud and corruption and improve quality checks before approval is given for payments.