Papua New Guinea Logging Moratorium

ITEM #1
Title:   Logging moratorium beats all in forestry reform
Source: The Independent
Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint
Date:    April 27, 2000
Byline: FRANCIS ULIAU

A FOREST moratorium currently in effect has received wide support from
national and international non-governmental organisations.

The moratorium is part of the national government's reform process for
PNG's forest industry.

When presenting the country's 2000 Budget last November, Prime
Minister (and Treasurer) Sir Mekere Morauta also committed his
government to "introducing a moratorium on all new forestry licenses,
extensions and conversions".

He also directed that all existing licenses be reviewed to ensure
proper procedures were followed, all logging practices are
sustainable, and that landowners get their fair share of benefits from
resource use.

World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace and the PNG Eco-Forestry Forum
have all publicly expressed their strong support for the reforms.

As part of its contribution to reforming the forest industry in PNG,
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) undertook a review of strategies to
promote community-based forestry and conservation in the country.

While the moratorium on logging has been implemented, other
recommendations of similar rating included in the report are yet to be
officially seen, debated and adopted.

Sponsored by the World Bank, the WWF report also noted that community-
based forestry in PNG is financially viable. But, it has difficulty
remaining so without training and technical support.

Hence, the report said, NGOs and support agencies have a critical role
to play here . . . donors are encouraged to provide support for the
development of PNG's community-based and certified forestry sectors.

It also highlighted the need for the National Forest Plan (NFP), which
now designates most of the accessible forested areas of PNG for
industrial logging, to be changed to allow landowner groups to opt for
eco-forestry instead.

The publication of the NFP stemmed from the creation of provincial
forest management boards, and the subsequent drafting of provincial
forest plans, as part of the government's policy reform program in the
early to mid-1990s. The other five components on the reform then were:

* Creating a National Forest Board;
* Creation of the Forest Management Agreement process;
* Establishment of the Incorporated Land Group as the legislated
configuration of community resource owners;
* The logging code of practice be designed to regulate and reduce the
impact of logging activities on the environment; and
* A redesigned revenue system.

The National Forest Plan was released in June 1996 when Sir Julius
Chan was prime minister. It was widely criticised for its portrayal of
PNG's forest resource solely in terms of its potential for industrial

logging.

Non-governmental organisations argued that the NFP also proposed to
allocate the nation's forest resource to industrial logging prior to
any exploration of existing or potential alternative uses and prior to
any agreement with resource owners. They said while the intention to
"acquire" rights to forest resources was reiterated in the plan, its
designation of forest areas and projections for timber production in
areas where local communities were yet to articulate their own
management preferences, undermined the principle of customary
ownership.

"In many cases, the plan precluded the consideration of other
options," NGOs argued. "Moreover, it did not incorporate existing
conservation areas or landowner petitions for development options
other than industrial logging."

When Bill Skate took over the reins as the country's top executive,
concerns about the forest industry intensified to the point that the
World Bank advised that funding programs to PNG would be jeopardised
if the government did not address concerns regarding the sector.

The WWF report also called on the government to consider extending
forestry constraints within the Forest Inventory Mapping System to
include current and planned conservation areas; fragile forest types;
areas of threatened species; and important water catchments. It
suggested that the government revise the 35-year industrial logging
cutting cycle to accommodate the specific regeneration needs and
capacity of PNG trees and forests.

The report, completed in February and hoped to be launched this month,
urged the PNG government to, among others:

* Process applications for communities to establish wildlife
management areas (WMA), many of them in forest areas. Also, alter the
NFP to exclude existing and proposed WMA and conservation areas from
those proposed for a forest management agreement; and
* Review the legality of existing logging activities.

ITEM #2
Title:   Eco-forestry can pay off - Dr Hunt
Source: Post-Courier Online
Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint
Date:    April 27, 2000

RESEARCH has confirmed that eco-forestry is capable of generating a
return to landowners that is comparable to industrial logging.

According to the financial model that senior research fellow, Colin
Hunt has used to measure the efficiency of eco-forestry projects in
the country, eco-forestry is able to generate a healthier income for
landowners. Dr Hunt said this was because it is subsidised by donors
directly and through non-government organisations in its setting up
and certification.

In revealing this during his seminar presentation on the "Local and
Global Benefits of Eco-forestry', Dr Hunt said eco-forestry was not
only financially beneficial to the resource owners, it also had
economic and environmental benefits.

Dr Hunt said these benefits can be felt both locally and globally. He
said the prevention of damage costs of carbon lost to the atmosphere
together with the prevention of the loss of other environmental and

ecosystem services was of prior importance.

Under Dr Hunt's economic model, carbon fixation and environmental
recovery through a 50-year forest regeneration period is also catered
for.

His research confirms the economic returns to tropical forest
conservation, where it replaced logging, were worth the investment by
donor agencies.According to Dr Hunt, his research confirms that the
economic returns to tropical forest conservation, where it replaces
logging, is worth the investment by donor agencies.

"It is therefore suggested that donors should continue to subsidise
small-scale forestry where it replaces logging because of its large
conservation and side benefits and because it is operational," said Dr
Hunt. And according to Dr Hunt, compared with industrial logging, eco-
forestry contributes little to consolidated revenue.

"Therefore it is to be expected that eco-forestry will meet government
resistance if it makes significant inroads into the allocation of
logging concessions," he said.

Dr Hunt's research was carried out over a two year period in the
coastal areas of Madang and East and West New Britain provinces. The
seminar was attended by NGO groups interested in sposering eco-
forestry projects in the country.

	ITEM #1 Title: Logging moratorium beats all in forestry reform Source: The Independent Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint Date: April 27, 2000 Byline: FRANCIS ULIAU A FOREST moratorium currently in effect has received wide support from national and international non-governmental organisations. The moratorium is part of the national government's reform process for PNG's forest industry. When presenting the country's 2000 Budget last November, Prime Minister (and Treasurer) Sir Mekere Morauta also committed his government to "introducing a moratorium on all new forestry licenses, extensions and conversions". He also directed that all existing licenses be reviewed to ensure proper procedures were followed, all logging practices are sustainable, and that landowners get their fair share of benefits from resource use. World Wide Fund for Nature, Greenpeace and the PNG Eco-Forestry Forum have all publicly expressed their strong support for the reforms. As part of its contribution to reforming the forest industry in PNG, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) undertook a review of strategies to promote community-based forestry and conservation in the country. While the moratorium on logging has been implemented, other recommendations of similar rating included in the report are yet to be officially seen, debated and adopted. Sponsored by the World Bank, the WWF report also noted that community- based forestry in PNG is financially viable. But, it has difficulty remaining so without training and technical support. Hence, the report said, NGOs and support agencies have a critical role to play here . . . donors are encouraged to provide support for the development of PNG's community-based and certified forestry sectors. It also highlighted the need for the National Forest Plan (NFP), which now designates most of the accessible forested areas of PNG for industrial logging, to be changed to allow landowner groups to opt for eco-forestry instead. The publication of the NFP stemmed from the creation of provincial forest management boards, and the subsequent drafting of provincial forest plans, as part of the government's policy reform program in the early to mid-1990s. The other five components on the reform then were: * Creating a National Forest Board; * Creation of the Forest Management Agreement process; * Establishment of the Incorporated Land Group as the legislated configuration of community resource owners; * The logging code of practice be designed to regulate and reduce the impact of logging activities on the environment; and * A redesigned revenue system. The National Forest Plan was released in June 1996 when Sir Julius Chan was prime minister. It was widely criticised for its portrayal of PNG's forest resource solely in terms of its potential for industrial logging. Non-governmental organisations argued that the NFP also proposed to allocate the nation's forest resource to industrial logging prior to any exploration of existing or potential alternative uses and prior to any agreement with resource owners. They said while the intention to "acquire" rights to forest resources was reiterated in the plan, its designation of forest areas and projections for timber production in areas where local communities were yet to articulate their own management preferences, undermined the principle of customary ownership. "In many cases, the plan precluded the consideration of other options," NGOs argued. "Moreover, it did not incorporate existing conservation areas or landowner petitions for development options other than industrial logging." When Bill Skate took over the reins as the country's top executive, concerns about the forest industry intensified to the point that the World Bank advised that funding programs to PNG would be jeopardised if the government did not address concerns regarding the sector. The WWF report also called on the government to consider extending forestry constraints within the Forest Inventory Mapping System to include current and planned conservation areas; fragile forest types; areas of threatened species; and important water catchments. It suggested that the government revise the 35-year industrial logging cutting cycle to accommodate the specific regeneration needs and capacity of PNG trees and forests. The report, completed in February and hoped to be launched this month, urged the PNG government to, among others: * Process applications for communities to establish wildlife management areas (WMA), many of them in forest areas. Also, alter the NFP to exclude existing and proposed WMA and conservation areas from those proposed for a forest management agreement; and * Review the legality of existing logging activities. ITEM #2 Title: Eco-forestry can pay off - Dr Hunt Source: Post-Courier Online Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint Date: April 27, 2000 RESEARCH has confirmed that eco-forestry is capable of generating a return to landowners that is comparable to industrial logging. According to the financial model that senior research fellow, Colin Hunt has used to measure the efficiency of eco-forestry projects in the country, eco-forestry is able to generate a healthier income for landowners. Dr Hunt said this was because it is subsidised by donors directly and through non-government organisations in its setting up and certification. In revealing this during his seminar presentation on the "Local and Global Benefits of Eco-forestry', Dr Hunt said eco-forestry was not only financially beneficial to the resource owners, it also had economic and environmental benefits. Dr Hunt said these benefits can be felt both locally and globally. He said the prevention of damage costs of carbon lost to the atmosphere together with the prevention of the loss of other environmental and ecosystem services was of prior importance. Under Dr Hunt's economic model, carbon fixation and environmental recovery through a 50-year forest regeneration period is also catered for. His research confirms the economic returns to tropical forest conservation, where it replaced logging, were worth the investment by donor agencies.According to Dr Hunt, his research confirms that the economic returns to tropical forest conservation, where it replaces logging, is worth the investment by donor agencies. "It is therefore suggested that donors should continue to subsidise small-scale forestry where it replaces logging because of its large conservation and side benefits and because it is operational," said Dr Hunt. And according to Dr Hunt, compared with industrial logging, eco- forestry contributes little to consolidated revenue. "Therefore it is to be expected that eco-forestry will meet government resistance if it makes significant inroads into the allocation of logging concessions," he said. Dr Hunt's research was carried out over a two year period in the coastal areas of Madang and East and West New Britain provinces. The seminar was attended by NGO groups interested in sposering eco- forestry projects in the country.