Papua New Guinea’s lush forests and rich mineral deposits have sustained the logging and mining sectors that underpinned the country’s growth over recent years. But many people now say that focus has come at too high a cost. Sustainability is the new economic mantra, as Duncan Wilson reports.
Papua New Guinea is pushing new initiatives across forestry and agriculture, climate change mitigation, and biofuels and tourism, which it says provide sustainable economic and environmental benefits
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Key quotes from this article:
“Dr Ruth Turia, of the country’s national forestry authority, says the emphasis on sustainable land use could double the value of the logging industry for indigenous peoples as well as preserve the land for future generations.”
“Currently, the commercial forestry sector is dominated by foreign companies who favour straight unprocessed logs – there’s much more scope for value added products here, such as furniture.
“At the moment, about 6,000 Papua New Guineans are employed across the US$170 million industry. The plan should encourage a greater focus on value added products that will create many more jobs and increase the skills of our people. We think that we can more than double the value of this sector to local people, while empowering communities to manage their own land according to their own needs and culture.”
