Start downstream processing

THE banning of log export was mooted after the Barnett Commission of Inquiry in the 1980s and successive governments have publicly announced this policy to be actioned.
But nothing has been done.
While logs are being exported, the premium timber species are depleting. Is it the right time to ban log exports?
The premium Calophyllum forest of Manus had been depleted by foreigners and they failed to establish a veneer mill as a condition of the timber permit. This is a common situation in the country. The government agency responsible to enforce the timber permit conditions have compromised their positions by accepting bribes from the logging contractors.
The situation is now far worse than 30 years ago. The timber industry is now unsustainable and unviable.
It is easy to talk about downstream processing for value-added products but is the country ready to pursue such policy by competing with our neighbouring timber producing countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines?
In order to pursue such policy, PNG can be able to market timber products of very high quality and standards.
Do we have technical standards that can be implemented by timber producers on timber grading, air drying and kiln drying, and timber preservation?
The government and PNG Forest Authority disregarded forest research as a priority and more so, forest product research on wood processing.
I am not convince that we have done enough research and development on wood processing in the last 20 years to improve the technical aspects of our timber that can be accepted in overseas markets.
Downstream processing may be costly in PNG now because successive governments have been wrongly advised and allowed the log export to continue to deplete our premium timber species.
The economic returns on the current timber volumes in each timber concession is not viable because of the increased costs of productions and overheads.
There have been some proposals to establish wood processing centres in the country many years ago, but the past governments ignored the recommendations.
I hope that this can be revisited.
If the government is determined stop log export, this has to be done immediately.
Resource owners have to take control of the timber industry.
Implement downstream processing policy. This can be done!

Chawi Konabe
Manus Calophyllum