High cost of development keeps loggers away from Morobe forests

THE advantage of forest conservation in the interior of Morobe is that no logging company want to go there because of the high costs involved, according to local advocator Victor Sonoling.
Sonoling has been suggesting to forestry authorities that the Saruwaget and Cromwell forest ranges be listed for biodiversity conservation.
He said the conservation of the two forest ranges would be unique.
“All the natural features and beauties will be intact, not to be disturbed by any other development.”
Sonoling said it would cost too much money to build a road and associated infrastructures in the mountain ranges, making logging in the area unviable.
“The species composition of mostly softwood in the Cromwell forest will not attract major logging companies,” he said.
He said it was better to have the forest areas protected as a biodiversity conservation park.
“Conservation areas are set up for various reasons – some are artificial while some to attract tourists to watch birds and animals.”
PNG Forest Research Institute director Dr Martin Golman said last week that a biodiversity conservation study should be conducted to identify how many different species of trees were in a forest area.
“We do collections of species from the area where we do survey,” he said.
“We bring them to the laboratory to identify the different species through their family and genus.
“Every species is different. If we find the same species from an area, then we know that this species is common in that area. But if the species is new, and there is no species name in our collections, then scientists begin to study it.”