Minister directs authority to stop logging activities in Tufi

MINISTER for Forestry Douglas Tomuriesa has directed the PNG Forest Authority to put logging activities on hold in Tufi district in Northern.
Tomuriesa was responding to Ijivitari MP Richard Masere who told Parliament that proper processes were not followed in the approval on the logging project.
“I’ve asked the managing director and board chairman to have a look at it. I have not sighted the paper,” he said.
“We were out for elections when the provincial forest board chairman and his team approved it.
“I’ve already given instruction through my board chairman and the management to give a show cause notice and put the project on hold.”
Tomuriesa said they should review the paperwork.
He said Forestry had received a feedback from the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority, Department of Agriculture and Department of Lands and Physical Planning that the approvals were never given.
“We will stop there and allow for due processes and diligence to follow and we will get the project approved in a proper manner involving the Open Member and the Governor of the province so that there is clarity and transparency in this project,” Tomuriesa said.
He said the provincial administrators were the provincial forest chairmen. So to approve a project in these provinces, it really started with the landowners.