Administrative framework

The land and forests of Papua New Guinea are owned by the people, i.e. forests are under customary ownership and thereby guaranteeing harvesting rights for subsistence needs, such as house and canoe making. Licences to log natural forests can be applied for from the national Government. Loggers must also obtain a business licence from the relevant provincial government and negotiate access to forests with traditional landowners prior to harvesting. A timber permit is issued by the minister when the project is approved by the National Forest Board, who also controls the submitting of logging rights. To apply an environmental plan must submitted before a permit is issued. The permit allows the grantee for a specific time period to harvest logs in the project area, based on the approved terms and conditions (DoF 1991a, WTO 1999).

Timber permits usually require the developer to construct community infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and schools within permit areas. However, such requirements have not always worked effectively due to inadequate inspection and monitoring capacity by the authorities in the beginning. Another major problem caused by the lack of monitoring is the incapability of ensuring that loggers stand for their allowed felling volumes and meet their full tax obligations (WTO 1999).

last updated: Thursday, October 28, 2004