Subject: Papua New Guinea to Impose Moratorium on New Logging and Reviews Old
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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org, Inc.
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Papua New Guinea Rainforest Conservation News
12/26/99
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) government has announced moves to impose a
moratorium on all new forest logging concessions, extensions and
plantations. In his budget speech, Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta
committed the government to the moratorium and to proceed with a
review of all existing logging licenses. This is a tremendous victory
for the people of PNG, its rain forests, and the country's long-term
development potential. A small but dedicated group of local forest
conservation advocates and international supporters deserve praise.
The challenge will now be to ensure that the moratorium is indeed used
as an instrument to reign in an out of control forest sector; and is
not halted prior to implementation, overturned by a timber industry
lobbying and propaganda, nor undercut with exceptions and weak
implementation (as was the case with a previous moratorium in the
early 1990s). It is now time for implementation with government
assistance of a different forest management paradigm, that has been
developed over the last decade in PNG by civil society, and which
emphasizes community forestry management that strives for ecological
sustainability while maximizing social benefits.
It is very important that Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta be
congratulated for his courageous and forward-looking decision. Please
share your thoughts with him regarding the importance of the forest
moratorium being fully implemented.
Hon. Sir Mekere Morauta, MP
Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea
Office of the Prime Minister
PO Box 639
WAIGANI
Papua New Guinea
Fax: 675 (country code) 327 7328
What a wonderful holiday gift--a second chance for the largest intact
tropical ancient forest in the Asia Pacific region, and the third
largest on the planet! Survival of this area as an ecologically
intact tropical wilderness bioregion is critical for local peoples'
well being, as well as regional and global ecosystem processes.
g.b.
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ITEM #1
Title: Greenpeace praises forests moratorium
Source: The Independent
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: 12/21/99
THE government's move to impose a moratorium on all new forest
concessions, extensions and plantations has been applauded by an
international movement, Greenpeace.
The movement's forests (PNG) specialist Brian Brunton said this is a
major development in the struggle to protect the world's ancient
forests and biodiversity. "It shows great leadership by the PNG
government and sets the stage for responsible long term management of
the nation's economy and environment," Mr Brunton said.
PNG contains the largest intact tropical ancient forest in the Asia
Pacific region and the third largest on the planet. Almost half of the
country's accessible forests are already committed to industrial
logging. Mr Brunton said the moratorium will help clear the way for
diversifying the sector and investing in a transition to small and
medium scale, locally-controlled forest management.
He also appealed to the international community to help the PNG
government achieve this transformation of forest management.
"International donors, especially the Australian government, must
provide grants to help PNG move away from industrial logging and to
get through what will be a challenging time as a result of this
decision.
"We believe powerful logging interests will put pressure on the
government to reverse the moratorium, so international support is
critical to help the government hold its ground.
"Around the world, and especially in PNG, forests should be a resource
for people, not profits," said Brunton.
ITEM #2
Title: WWF lauds moves for stricter forestry laws
Source: The National
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: 12/17/99
PORT MORESBY: The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature believes in
empowering resource owners to achieve conservation and sustainable use
of their resources.
The coordinator of WWF's PNG program, Kilyali Kalit, said landowners
in areas set down for logging under the previous Skate government can
breathe a sigh of relief as a result of the Government's decision to
impose a moratorium on new logging concessions and review all existing
logging licences.
Mr Kalit said the WWF thanked the Government for acknowledging, in the
recent budget, that corrupt practices were undermining environmental
sustainability in the forestry industry.
In his budget speech, Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta committed the
Government to introducing an immediate moratorium on all new forestry
licences, extension and conversions and to proceed with a review of
all existing licences.
He said this would "ensure that proper procedures are followed, that
logging practices are not carried out in an unsustainable way and that
landowners get their share of benefits from resource use."
Mr Kalit said for far too long, logging had been carried out in an
unsustainable way, with landowners being left only the crumbs from the
pie.
"The Government must be commended for restoring the log export tax and
now, imposing this moratorium on new concessions," Mr Kalit said.
"The next step is to review existing policies and guidelines for
sustainable forest management. The current policy is weak because it
gives far too much emphasis to the industrial logging sector, operated
by multinational corporations.
"The Government needs to place equal or more emphasis on eco-forestry
or small-scale forestry because it is far less destructive to the
environment and returns far more of the benefits to the local
community."
Mr Kalit said the Constitution upholds customary tenure and access to
natural resources so it is only proper that resource owners be better
informed about what is happening to their forests so that they can
identify and develop their resources in an ecologically sustainable
and socially beneficial way.
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