Forest under threat

By PISAI GUMAR
HUMAN activities such as alluvial mining, hunting, burning trees and bush in the PNG National Forestry Association (PNGNFA) plantation in Wau and Bulolo, Morobe, are threatening a part of the forest known as the green break, says a forestry official.
PNGNFA assistant manager forest operations (plantations) Pilisi Arinaso said the green breaks were under threat due to increased human migration and settlements along the fringes of the two townships.
“The green breaks are specific areas identified in certain locations within the timber plantations and are restricted as a breeding zone for eco-systems such as animals, insects, ants and seedlings,” he said.
Arinaso said PNGNFA owned 12,000 hectares of forest containing hoop and klinki pines and pinus timber species with 2,000ha allotted specifically as green breaks.
“However, people have been illegally accessing the green breaks for alluvial mining, hunting, cutting timber to build houses and burning forests which is disturbing the rejuvenation and nourishment of ecosystems,” he said.
Arinaso said two examples of species that had disappeared from the area as a result of these human activities were the Bird Wing butterfly and a species of anteater.
He made the comments on International Forest Day on Monday.
The theme of the day was ‘Forest and Biodiversity – too precious to lose’. PNGNFA project manager Peter Damba said a government directive required them to plant 800,000ha of trees this year.
He said there were obstacles to the tree planting exercise which included a lack of available land, land disputes, illegal human activities and a lack of funding.
Damba said the land itself was also under pressure from daily human activities, landslides, erosion and bush fire.
“We need partnership with people and various stakeholders to address these challenges to ensure we meet the governments’ aim and save our ecosystems that people benefit from at the end of the day,” Damba said.
He urged citizens to respect the ecosystems and the natural resources that supported people.
“Forest biodiversity is crucial to the existence of humanity on earth, nothing more, nothing less and we have the duty to respect, protect and sustain our forests.”