In the last eight years, two finance companies and one equipment retailer have provided financing to at least 15 companies that are logging in PNG’s rainforests, new research by Act Now! and Jubilee Australia reveals. 

Ramu BlocK 3 FMA. Source: Facebook.

The National | Letters | By Maus blo Garamut, Madang (May 4th 2023)

SINCE last year, the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority’s (PNGFA) Project Acquisition branch has been working to acquire forest areas in Madang and around the country.

And in this process, the rights of the landowner have been trampled on.

Economic discussions in PNG are always centered on extractive industries such as natural gas, mining, logging, tuna, and large-scale agriculture. However, these export-orientated industries are tiny when compared to PNG’s real mainstream economy, “small farming”.

Studies into rural livelihoods over the past decade show that customary land is highly productive, but its output and impact are neither measured properly nor publicly recognized.

The recently released 2022 SGS report regarding log exports in Papua New Guinea largely contradicts the Marape Government’s pledge to reduce round log exports and cease the issuing of new licenses to foreign owned logging companies.

MONGABAY: Jim Tan (17^th April 2023) 

Four linked companies - Cakara Alam (PNG) Ltd, Sumber Alam (PNG) Limited. Tzen Pacific Limited and Tzen Resource Limited - were together responsible for exporting 634954 m³ of logs during 2019-2021 from eight concessions in West New Britain Provinces and the Hawain Concession in East Sepik Province. Caraka Alam (PNG) Ltd and Sumber Alam (PNG) Limited are owned by Malaysian company C.A Investments Limited, which is registered in Lanuam, a tax haven. 

Unrestrained Capitalism is a foreign idea that has been imposed on Papua New Guinea from outside. It is the root cause of many of the problems we face every day. We must find a better model for our development that relies on our Papua New Guinean Ways to enure a “Gutpela Sindaun Bilong Olgeta”.

Starting from the National Goals and Directive Principles in our Constitution, ACT NOW! has identified five key areas that will help create a gutpela sindaun bilong olgeta.

Vanimo Jaya Cluster (From"The New Timber Baron Report")

Landowners from the Ramu Block 3 area of Madang Province have accused the PNG Forest Authority of ignoring their wishes in allocating logging rights over their forests.

The landowners say the PNGFA has refused to hand over key documents for their inspection and they are suspicious about what the Forest Authority is trying to hide. The landowners also say the PNGFA has ignored a formal petition submitted by the group (copied below).

Reilly Kanamon | Social justice advocate | via The National

WE do not know why it was so difficult for the mining minister to respond to concerns from maritime communities in the Bismack Sea regarding seabed mining issues.

Since the new miner Deep Sea Mining (DSM) Finance started pursuing the reopening of the Solwara project, the communities opposed it.