The video is an edited version of the online streaming conference on Climate Change and the effects of Illegal Logging in Papua New Guinea, during the COP26 summit. What has come of it now Papua New Guinea delegates are going to the COP27?
Illegal Logging in PNG Concerning
The COP26 was held in Glasgow where 62 PNG delegates participated.
This video features Hon. Governor of Oro Province Garry Juffa talking about vile operations of the Melanesian logger in Papua New Guinea.
His province is a hotspot for illegal logging.
Listen to his fight against the organised syndicate that is damaging forests in Papua New Guinea.
It is widely known that most of the logging operations in PNG have elements of manipulation, cohesion and corruption. Not one of them is clean.
Software developer, Joseph Kanene told N-B-C National News that it’s a cloud-based technology that keeps track of all logging companies within their operational boundaries.
The software is called Logger Watch and is currently being used in Manus to track down illegal loggers of Pobuma LLG.
This is Joseph Kanene, a 28-year-old software developer who hails from Simbu province.
Having no ICT background, Joseph developed a passion for creating software hence, he created several essential software including the Logger Watch- a forest tracking system.
Mr. Kanene believes with increasing illegal logging activities in the country, a tracking system such as this would be very helpful in monitoring the operations of logging companies.
He explained that the tracking system can be utilized by any user to keep all logging activities in their forest landmass under watch.
Logger Watch is currently used in Pobuma LLG of Manus province to monitor operations of Maxland holdings Limited.
He initially started this forest tracking system to be used in Oro and Gulf provinces after hearing numerous complaints by Oro Governor Garry Juffa on illegal logging activities in his province.
Mr. Kanene owns a company called Linezie Data Analytics which streamlines service deliveries of State-Owned Enterprises including banks among others using cloud-based solutions.
We have to concede, Mutang, that we lost all you lost to a
large extent the battle against the loggers and their corrupt politician allies
in Sarawak that you know over that period leading up to the end of the last
century. Now, what did those loggers do after they made their first billions?
As I
explained they spread their tentacles into any other forested areas they could
and one of the biggest lures, one of the biggest you know areas to get in before
anyone else did was Gary’s territory of Papua New Guinea.
Gary when did these
guys these same families these are companies um you know from Cebu, that's a town in Sarawak um mainly populated by you know long-established
families originally from mainland China, who had you know the very well-known
business region of mainland China um with very astute and ruthless reputation
actually um these are family companies they married into each other.
I actually think quite often of the Sicilian mafia when I’m looking for a uh an equivalent um they then
arrived the same family members the same companies at your door, didn't they Gary? When was that round about the 1990s?
Actually they came in in the 1980s mid-1980s. And uh and how did they transform lives in your area Well we had a logging industry, a forestry industry, I would say in Papua New Guinea and
it was you know basically the companies were from Japan, Australia, New Zealand
and America and they did what uh companies ought to do which is to abide by the
laws of a nation, wherever they are operating in. So they
respected these laws which dictated where they could carry out deforestation
activities, where they couldn't and they actually went into downstream
processing.
They actually went into downstream processing and
they had you know wood pulp mills plywood meals etc and there was a massive
reforestation program that was managed by the department of forestry until the Malaysian
cartels came into Papua New Guinea.
When they (the Malaysian Cartels) came in they immediately displaced
those legitimate companies that were operating in the forestry sector and soon
enough these companies packed up and left because they just couldn't operate in
this environment where they were intimidated, where they couldn't get permits
where they were not treated fairly and eventually they packed up and that
downstream processing industry was completely dismantled and replaced with a
round log export.
You know philosophy that was perpetrated by the Malaysian timber
companies. Then we saw some very interesting things happen which you know on the
face of it you can't really tell but if you go into details and if you
scrutinize what was actually happening you would see a systematic development
of a perverted system whereby the various government departments responsible
for checks and balances were compromised.
So permits and licenses would only go
to these particular companies and you know and in record speed, without
following the due processes for example there was no free prior informed
consent from landowners. You know 97 (per cent) of the land in Papua New Guinea is owned by
clans and what they would do is they would target individuals within these
clans compromise them and then use the perverted system that they created in
the government.
They would then gain access to this forest. They even I would I’m stating here from my own analysis of
what happened, they even went through the process of carrying out government
reforms deliberately so that they could access timber in areas which they
couldn't originally access. In the first place, for instance, provinces used to
have a huge say in regards to what type of companies would operate in their
jurisdiction. Well reforms were carried out in 95 they called them you know
provincial government reforms and they basically allowed the centralizing of
permits and licenses to be made from Wagani by the national government which were
easily accessed by these companies then they could access the provinces and
their forest which they couldn't previously do so.
That this is you know that's my knowledge of how they first
entered Papua New Guinea and what they started to do well is what we're
effectively talking about is um the systematic corruption of a country. Isn't it?
The Internation Forest Day 2021 in on Saturday 21st of March. It is widely known that there is a NEED to look after out forested areas. The theme for 2021 #IntlForestDay is - “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and wellbeing”
PNG Insight photo | Varirata National Park, Port Moresby
It's time PNG observe the #IntlForestDay as a matter of national importance. (PNG Insight | Twitter)
To celebrate Internation Forest Day, we collected 10 facts that have been shared on Twitter about this very important event. We believe we should all know so that we appreciate what the forest areas mean to us as Papua New Guineans:
1. Forests absorb greenhouse gases
Forests absorb nearly 1/3 of all CO2 [carbon dioxide gas] released from burning fossil fuels every year. Forest restoration could remove another 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. @FAOForestry
2. Logging companies destroy forests
Logging companies take away forests with the promise of development that never comes." But
@UNDPinPNG has a better way to support communities that Protect Forests (UNDP IN PNG)
3. International Forest Day is on the 21st of March
The International Forest Day is on the 21st of March every year. Logging companies in PNG have destroyed forests, rivers and habitats in many coastal areas. Worst in parts of the New Guinea Islands. It's time PNG observe the #IntlForestDay as a matter of national importance.
4. People are dependent on the forest for survival
"Forestry is not about trees, it is about people. And it is about trees only insofar as trees can serve the needs of people.” - Westoby, 1967
5. Foundation of life and community
Forests are the essential backbone of well-being for us and #ForNature as a whole... Without them, mankind wouldn’t even exist.” Director for Sustainability Solutions Mari Pantsar
6. Forests are the lungs of the earth
They host 75% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity this, therefore, means that millions of people, plants and animals are dependent on the future of forests which are under a constant threat of deforestation and global warming.#IntlForestDay
7. Tackle Climate Change & biodiversity loss
Expanding our forests is one of the most efficient ways to tackle Climate Change & biodiversity loss. @UNDPClimate
8. Biodiversity as a tourist attraction
"The main tourist attraction is the massive biodiversity of birds, plants, fish, reefs and coral. Although large-scale mass tourism may threaten the delicate eco-systems here, and so needs to be controlled and managed, our resort alone provides employment for more than 75 families, as well as livelihoods for more than 50 resource owner groups." (UNDP)
9. Forest, medicines and healing
Long ago, it [the sap from the birch tree] was even used as a mouthwash. Not only that, it was used to cure spots and fade freckles! The bark can be used to make an anaesthetic and is also antiseptic too. Forestry England
10. Forests and sustainable investments
“Forests and trees are our most precious green infrastructure. We need a new economic model that properly values forests and stimulates investment in landscapes and sustainable growth." @CIFOR
Please share this message with your friend and families. Contact us on Twitter for more information of Conservation efforts and article about conservation in PNG.
