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One of the world's leading tropical biologists says clear felling of forests on Papua New Guinea's controversial Special Agricultural and Business leases is likely to have profound impact on PNG's environment.

Australia's Chief Climate Commissioner, Time Flannery, says Australia needs to be concerned about record tropical log exports from Papua New Guinea. 

Latest figures from the world's biggest scientific testing and verification company show PNG exported 3.5 million cubic metres of tropical hardwood logs in 2011 - well above the previous record of 3 million cubic metres.

By Luana Paniu

A LAWYER registered by Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) as an executive for an investor company over a controversial SABL in Vanimo appeared Wednesday with absolutely no information about the SABL, reports the Post Courier.

The Executive for the Bewani Palm Oil Development Limited has been summoned before the Commission of Inquiry to give evidence as the SABL holding entity’s secretary, reports the Post Courier.

Tom Sirae, who is the Company Secretary, will also be required to inform the Commission as to whether there was any public hearings held to obtain Landowners consensus on whether Portion 106C could be converted into an SABL.

The executive for the Bewani Palm Oil Development Limited has been summoned before the Commission of Inquiry to give evidence tomorrow as the SABL holding entity’s secretary, reports the Post Courier.

Mr Tom Sirae, who is the Company Secretary, will also be required to inform the Commission as to whether there was any public hearings held to obtain Landowners consensus on whether Portion 106C could be converted into an SABL.

Submitted by Ryu 

By reading some comments made by others, I believe people do not really understand what the underlaying problems are here in Papua New Guinea regarding the issuance of SABL.

• Large-scale investments in agriculture do not necessarily increase food supply, close yield gaps or expand production. Rather, such investments often negatively affect local populations, leading to dispossession and displacement. 

• The terms of the contracts and compensations for local populations are highly questionable.

By Luana Paniu

A massive total of 2 million hectares granted under four but bordering Special Agriculture and Business Lease (SABL) reportedly for poultry and vegetable farming is not practical according to former Lands Secretary, Pepi Kimas.

The sub-leased areas which are located in the Western Province and extends onto the borders of both the Southern Highlands and West Sepik Provinces, includes one individual SABL totalling a land mass of 790,800 hectares.

THE majority of the people in the Sausso local level government in East Sepik want the Special Business Lease (SABL) granted by the government under portion 144C for development of oil palm on the Sepik plains to stay, claims The National (which is owned by logging giant Rimbunan Hijau).

They said a recent statement by Jimmy Harinagu, from Rofundogum village, claiming that the people of the LLG area were unhappy with the SABL was incorrect.