Papua New Guinea Logging Moratorium Threatened with "Exemptions"

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA RAINFOREST/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN NEWS

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Forest Networking a Project of Forests.org

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

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

2/11/00

OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY

Greenpeace reports that there is significant pressure mounting to

grant "exemptions" to the recently announced Papua New Guinea

moratorium on new logging concessions and extensions. The second item

is from a new NGO in Papua New Guinea, called the "PNG Eco-Forestry

Forum", and issues a challenge to the dominant foreign log export

companies to support the moratorium in order to "change course to a

forestry industry that delivers the maximum social, economic and

environmental benefits."

g.b.

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

ITEM #1

Title: Threats to Moratorium

Source: Lafcadio Cortesi

Greenpeace Pacific

965 Mission St.

San Francisco, CA 94103

tel: w.415-512-9025

fax: w.415-512-8699/510-528-2886

e-mail: lafcadio.cortesi@dialb.greenpeace.org

Date: February 11, 2000

Byline: Lafcadio Cortesi

THE MORATORIUM

Information to hand is that pressure is building up to make exceptions

to the moratorium. A very large amount of money has been brought into

the country. The pressure is only just beginning to be applied.

Pressure points on the moratorium include:

1. West Sepik - WTK. We have a verbal report that the Sandaun PFMC

has approved a number of extensions to WTKs concession in Vanimo. WTK

is said to be committed to a veneer mill. Governor Tekwei has already

publicly called for the moratorium to be stopped.

2. Western Province - RH. Reportedly there is significant pressure

being applied for the extension to go through for Kamula Doso. The

Ombudsman Commission has not put out any report yet - yet some parties

are not waiting till all the information is in.

3. Morobe South Coast extension - Prime Group. Nothing at this

point is known, but it appears that Prime /TFI are pushing for a new

area. TFI managing director has been reported as having bought a 50%

share in the Tufi guest-house (which is near both Collingwood Bay and

Musa-Pongani).

4. Kumil TRP. Madang Province - Heaco. Eyewitnesses report a large

number of new machines, idle, on the beach at Bogia. Heaco do not have

IPA approval to operate in PNG. Heaco needs a timber license, which

the PNGFA won't issue until IPA give their approval.

Agriculture and road-line clearances

There has been a decision by some developers to circumvent the

Forestry Act and use agricultural clearances as a way of logging.

5. Kiunga Aeanbak Road, Western Province. The PNG Forest Authority

(PNGFA) cancelled the Timber Authority (TA) on this project, on the

basis that the TA was unlawfully issued. Reportedly there has been

effort made to get an exemption from the log tax. There is currently

an Ombudsman Commission investigation into these alegations. The

company sued the PNGFA in the National Court and got interim orders to

freeze the cancelation of the TAs, and prevent the PNGFA suing the

company. The case has been taken over by the Attorney

General, and briefed out to a competent law firm. There appears to be

some cabinet support for this project, and an extension of the

project. The extension to the project would take the road into the

southern Highlands and would last for 25 years. The logging company

involved is Concorde Pacific, Mr. Philip Lee. The landowner company is

Paiso Ltd.

6. Musa Pongani, Oro province. There has been a recent report that

an agricultural project is planned for Musa Pongani, next to

Collingwood Bay, Oro Province. It is intended to log, plant rice and

run cattle. The landowner company is Pongani Holdings. The

"developer" is Calypso Development Ltd, said to be listed on the

Vancouver stock exchange. Last year we had a report that Mr.

Hi'i, of Deegold, chartered a plane and few over this area. We should

not be surprised if there is a Hi'i connection. There is said to be a

10,000 ha lease-lease back agreement in place since 1995. I have also

heard that there is an FMA over the same area ( but I am not sure that

it has been signed.. It is meant to be a "model ITTO" project.

7. Bulldog Oil Palm Project: located in the Tauri-Lakekamu area of

the Gulf/Morobe Provinces, which seems to be backed by the Gulf and

Morobe Provincial governments

8. Western - Reports are coming out of Western that villages are being

lobbied to develop a Lake Murry - Kiunga Highway. These may involve

AEWA LO company and/or Lake Murry LO company

ITEM #2

Title: NGO CALLS ON LOGGING INDUSTRY

TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT MORATORIUM

Source: PNG Eco-Forestry Forum

P.O. Box 590

Kimbe, West New Britain Province.

Tel: 983 5464

Fax: 983 5852

Email: teff@global.net.pg

Date: February 2, 2000

Byline: Timothy King, coordinator

The PNG Eco-Forestry Forum has welcomed the government's decision to

put a stop to any new large scale logging concessions and has now

called on logging companies to come out and support the moratorium.

"NGOs, overseas donors and small sawmill operators have welcomed the

government's new forestry policy," said a spokesperson. "But the large

log exporting companies have been silent about this. It is time for

the logging companies to publicly support the Government's review."

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.

"The Morauta Government has made a farsighted move," said the

spokesperson on behalf of the PNG Eco-Forestry Forum. "The moratorium

and review of existing licences will enable PNG to change course to a

forestry industry that delivers the maximum social, economic and

environmental benefits."

"For many years now foreign owned companies have been destroying the

forests and exporting PNG's wealth for their own gain. Now the logging

companies should publicly endorse the Government's reform program for

the forest industry. This will allow then to clear the air of

accusations of malpractice and work with stakeholders to build a

transparent and worthy forest industry"

The Eco-Forestry Forum is an association of organisations that support

the development of the small-scale sawmilling industry in PNG. These

organisations include community development NGOs, scientists and

representatives of industry. The Eco-Forestry Forum aims to promote

and support the development of eco-forestry in Papua New Guinea.

Small-scale sawmills are increasingly being recognised by all sectors

as an excellent way to achieve environment conservation and to deliver

rural community development. Small-scale sawmills are invariably

locally owned, they offer local employment, give rural people access

to sawn timber at reasonable prices, they support infrastructure

development and they bring training and new skills.

"Previous governments have placed far too much emphasis on large-scale

log exports to Asia," says the Eco-Forestry Forum. "The Morauta

Government needs to place equal emphasis on community level forestry.

Eco-forestry is better for the environment and returns far more of the

benefits to the local community."

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