EU ready to help reform forestry

THE European Union (EU) is ready to support Papua New Guinea with hundreds of millions of Kina to achieve its forestry reforms, Ambassador Jernej Videtic says.
“Some of the areas that the EU will help are in environmental data management for carbon trading, knowledge management, green jobs and growth, among others.
“PNG holds one of the largest primary forest of the world,” Videtic said.
Videtic, who spoke at the PNG Forest Authority’s workshop to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Forest 2022 on Friday, said PNG was at risk of climate change. “Forestry, climate change and biodiversity are intrinsically connected especially for PNG,” he said.
“We are aware that your forest not only serve PNG but Europe and the entire world.
“We are ready to support PNG and allocate significant funds in the hundreds of millions of Kina for forestry, climate change and biodiversity programmes, three elements that cannot be separated,” he added.
Forestry Minister Solan Mirisim said it was vital to consume and produce wood in a more environmentally friendly manner.
“1.6 billion people depend on the forest for their livelihood and PNG is no exception,” he added.
PNGFA managing director John Mosoro said the authority was also initiating reforms and the much talked about log export development levy to ensure that funds go directly to forest resource areas.