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PNG RAINFOREST CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN NEWS

PNG-EU sign K22.5 million Forest Pact to Support Eco-Forestry

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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org

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

http://forests.org/pngforest.html --

Papua New Guinea rainforests -- recently redesigned

3/15/00

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

Title: PNG-EU sign K22.5 million forest pact

Source: Post Courier

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20000315/news03.htm

Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint

Date: March 15, 2000

PNG'S need for development is such that it forces people to

overexploit their resources.

Most times, this is done without any regard for sustainability and

conservation, Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta has said.

He was speaking at the signing of a K22.5 million eco-forestry

agreement with the European Union. Sir Mekere highlighted the

dangerous trend saying if people continued to exploit at this rate,

there would be nothing left for the future.

He said: "Our timber, fish and other resources are being used at times

at a rate that's not sustainable and at rates that might leave very

little for future generations."

He welcomed the help given by the EU and said he would welcome any

help which allowed the people to help themselves, and at the same

time, benefit from it.

To fund phases one and two of the project, the EU has spent more than

K37 million. Phase two begins in a month's time and has a life span of

five years. During this time, the EU is to provide a:

FORESTRY policy adviser to work closely with the Government to develop

an eco-forestry policy and establish eco-forestry standards at the

national level;

COMMUNITY development expert and eco-forestry expert who will

disseminate eco-forestry practices through training and awareness

programs; and

INTERNATIONAL marketing expert to help landowners market their

products at the national level.

Like the first, phase two will continue to encourage sustainable

income earning logging practices in the rural areas and according to

Juan Carlos Rey, head of the delegation, "will have a new emphasis on

the protection, development and encouragement of eco-forest

development".

But Mr Rey stressed that the program was "an alternative of the

industrial logging operation" and therefore it all depended on the

landowners.