FAO Forestry country profiles - forest management

Management plans

Forest management plans are completed at a variety of levels in Papua New Guinea. At a macro-level, the Forest Authority produces annual strategic plans. A National Forest Plan was approved in 1996 and all forestry projects are expected to run in accordance with this National Plan. Provincial forest management plans have also been developed. The Forestry Act of 1991 allocates forest resource rights and responsibilities through Forest Management Agreements between customary landowners and government. Under this system, landholders sell cutting rights to the Forest Authority in exchange for timber royalties. The Forest Authority may then grant the cutting rights to private sector forestry interests. Five-year forest management plans are required to be completed for Forest Management Agreement areas. Forest Management Agreements are expected to ensure landowners have increased decision-making and participatory roles in the utilization of their forests. Similarly, the Papua New Guinea Logging Code of Practice develops requirements for harvesting, planning and monitoring. In general, however, large areas of (mainly inaccessible) forests under customary ownership remain outside formal management processes.