FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Objectives

The government¿s management objectives for the Papua New Guinea forest estate are specified in the National Forest Policy of 1990. The two main objectives of the policy are: utilization of forest resources to generate economic growth, employment, and greater participation in industry; and to manage and protect forest resources as a renewable asset. At around the same time, a 1989 National Forests and Conservation Action Plan identified needs for institutional and legislative restructuring, as well as need for industrial development, new conservation initiatives, people¿s participation and resource assessment. Corporate objectives of the Forest Authority are based on ITTO sustainable forest management principles and include the development of plantation forestry for which there is significant potential, particularly on deforested grasslands, as well as greater landowner involvement. A moratorium on new logging activities was implemented with the dual purposes of curtailing unsustainable logging and improving the share of the benefits received by landowners.