Stakeholders meet on forest policy, legislation

 PAPUA New Guinea’s forestry stakeholders met yesterday to discuss policy and legislation. 

They want to improve land and forest management and facilitate implementation of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+).   

The meeting was coordinated by US Agency for International Development (USAID) for project called Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) and the UN-REDD programme in collaboration with the PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA), the Constitutional Law Reform Commission (CLRC) and the PNG Office of Climate Change and Development (OCCD). 

Forestry and land use change account for about 95% of greenhouse gas emissions in the country and forests continue to be harvested and cleared with little consideration for climate change impacts.  

“Considerable potential exists to reduce emissions by improving implementation of existing laws, policies and regulations,” a statement from the organisers said.  

“Policy and legal reforms may also be necessary if the full green growth potential of PNG’s forests is to be harnessed.”

The consultation focuses on these and other issues relevant to improving forest management.. With growing international attention on forest conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, the national consultation is a milestone in integrating climate change objectives into forest management in Papua New Guinea, the statement said.

US Ambassador to PNG Walter North said: “I welcome the government’s commitment to communities and civil society to expand implementation of low emissions development initiatives.  We need to move firmly and quickly to better manage the world’s forests.”