Call from Foresters for a Forestry Review

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA RAINFOREST CAMPAIGN NEWS

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/ -- Forest Conservation Archives

http://forests.org/web/ -- Discuss Forest Conservation

4/18/99

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

Title: Review forestry jobs reshuffle

Source: Post Courier, letters to editor, from "Concerned

professional foresters"

Date: April 7, 1999

WE refer to a recent National Forest Service's (NFS) top management

reshuffle. We would like to register our extreme concerns in the

interest of the National Forest Service (NFS) and Papua New Guinea. As

professional and concerned officers of the NFS, we request that the

National Forest Board intervenes immediately to stop the

implementation of that decision. Our grounds are: First and foremost,

we cannot understand the reasons behind the reshuffle in the top

management. We feel that the general manager's position is a vital one

from both the international level, national level, right down to the

project level. The outgoing GM has done an excellent job in gaining

recognition for the NFS and his efforts to manage the nation's forest

resource in his capacity as the GM. We see no justifiable reason for

his removal.

It is our firm belief that the actions taken by the managing director

to effect the top management change is politically motivated. Under

both Sections 36 and 39 of Forestry Act, the MD is obligated to inform

the board of this and if the board considers that the change is in the

forest authority and national interests, the board may direct the MD

to carry out the change. We believe the MD has no respect for the

board and in safe-guarding his own interests and position, he has

bowed to political pressure. The board therefore reserves the rights

to direct the MD to rescind the decision as we firmly believe the

change is not in the interest of the forest authority and Papua New

Guinea.

Due to the 1999 Budget cuts, the whole Public Service, along with the

statutory bodies, were directed to reduce their manpower. The NFS was

no exception and this major restructure was spearheaded by the

outgoing GM. We still have not yet heard anything on this and we

understand there is still a lot more to be done in this exercise. It

is therefore of paramount importance that we maintain minimal and

preferably no disruptions at the top management, especially during

this crucial period.

Based on observations and participation in many of the international

forums, the outgoing GM is highly respected by the international

forestry community. This is evident by the World Bank inviting him

directly to be part of the international network on global forestry

issues and other international organisations like the South Pacific

Forests and Trees Support Program, FAO, IUFRO, and AusAID to name a

few. In our opinion, we feel his participation in these international

forums brings benefits to our organisation and Papua New Guinea.

There are certain forestry international aid initiatives in progress

with AusAID and the World Bank. We believe the change will have an

impact on the progress to date and, furthermore, a cause for

international donors to reassess their confidence in the government.

Up until now, the forest authority (rank and file) have been very

stable under the existing leadership, and we firmly believe the

international donors and agencies had a lot of confidence and respect

in its leadership and administration.

The failure by the board to intervene would become the platform from

which all existing frameworks for sustainable forest management and

development principles and control in this country would be

demolished. We would no doubt return to the pre-Barnett Inquiry days

of ``yes minister, we will carry out your instructions and forget the

procedures''.

We wish to also express our concern over the establishment of the

``implementation task force committee'' that is headed by the MD's

executive officer who is also a non-forester to fast-track the 17

projects. Worse still, none of the members appointed are in the

division responsible for project allocations. This, we believe,

undermines the role of established structure and their respective

functions.

Projects should not be fast-tracked but follow all the rules and

procedures set out in the Forestry Act, the forestry regulations and

all relevant procedural handbooks.

We are informed the MD has given instructions to the new GM to

facilitate possible sale of a teak and kamarere plantation near

Kerevat to an Indonesian company.

In the interest of the NFS and PNG, we demand the National Forest

Board to intervene and:direct the MD to reverse the top management

reshuffle decision in the NFS; direct the MD to disband the ``task

force'' and investigate the possible sale of a forestry plantation in

East New Britain to an Indonesian company.

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