KUALA LUMPUR \u2013 Millions of hectares of virgin rainforest in Papua New Guinea are under threat due to a contentious permit scheme, environmental groups warned on Oct 14. <\/p>\n
A new 56-page report by Malaysian-based forestry watchdog RimbaWatch, the Papua New Guinea Environment Alliance and the Bruno Manser Fonds states that at least 1.68 million hectares \u2013 an area larger than Timor-Leste \u2013 have been potentially earmarked for deforestation under so-called Forest Clearing Authorities (FCA) licensing.<\/p>\n
The FCA is a type of permit issued under Papua New Guinea\u2019s Forestry Act intended to facilitate large-scale forest clearing for agricultural or infrastructure projects, but is often misused as a pretext for illegal logging, the environmentalists claimed.<\/p>\n
Despite a moratorium on new FCA licences issued by Port Moresby in 2023, widespread deforestation and human rights abuses, including failure to consult indigenous landowners, continued, they said.<\/p>\n
Further investigations revealed that 65 out of 67 FCA licences were controlled by companies with Malaysian links, many connected to politically influential families in Malaysia\u2019s Borneo state of Sarawak, according to the report.<\/p>\n
The report called for an immediate suspension of log exports from FCA areas, pending investigation as well as scrutiny by Malaysia\u2019s Anti-Corruption Commission graft watchdog to ensure companies acquired concessions lawfully and without illicit activities.<\/p>\n
Papua New Guinea is part of the world\u2019s third-largest intact tropical forest ecosystem, but at least 15 per cent of its forests have been degraded in recent years due to ongoing rapid deforestation.<\/p>\n
Indigenous activist Komeok Joe from Sarawak urged Papua New Guineans to reject companies holding FCA licences in order to protect rainforests.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of allowing the destruction of its forests by Malaysian linked companies, Papua New Guinea should invest more in strengthening legal protection for forests and landowners, as well as in alternatives to destructive and unsustainable logging,\u201d said Ms Pamela Avusi, a PNG Environmental Alliance coordinator. AFP<\/p>\n
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