Customary Land

SABL logger cheating Bewani locals

On 13 Sep, 2017 By ACTNOW

“What little I get from my royalty payments I give back to the logging company because most business houses in Vanimo town, including the only supermarket are owned by the logging company. Moreover, the company cheats me by claiming money from my royalty payments”

That’s from Emap Itep of Aimbai village in Bewani, West Sepik Province.

Police and army accused of serving SABL loggers

On 07 Sep, 2017 By ACTNOW

Peter Tai is the Chief of Aimbai village, one of 26 villages in Bewani, West Sepik Province. Just like the other people Act Now! met in Bewani, Chief Peter had no knowledge that Malaysian logging companies would be taking over their land, until they arrived.

Government accused of lying over SABL land grab

On 31 Aug, 2017 By ACTNOW

ACT NOW! has accused the government of lying to the nation over the SABL land grab and says people across the country will be angry and disappointed.

National Court rules another two SABLs null & void

On 28 Aug, 2017 By ACTNOW

Source: PNGi Central

The National Court has ruled a further two Special Agriculture and Business Leases null and void for constructive fraud.

David Mota -V- Albert Camillus and Akami Oil Palm Limited (2014) is the sixth reported National Court decision* in which SABL leases have been quashed for a failure by the State to ensure the informed consent of customary landowners and to strictly comply with the requirements of the Land Act.

Land Registration: Too Dangerous to Touch

Storytelling and Food: How Pacific Islands are Revitalizing Pride in their Food Culture

On 16 Aug, 2017 By ACTNOW

Source: AgroEcology Fund

Rucha Chitnis

Jennifer with two Gorarave girls preparing for "Womanhood" ceremony

Village Coffee: a better deal for PNG growers

On 11 Aug, 2017 By ACTNOW

Source: The DEVPOLICYBLOG

Written by Pana Wiya

About us

Returning to the Land for Sustenance

On 10 Aug, 2017 By ACTNOW

Source: EMTV Online

The scorching 2pm Port Moresby sun was nothing to worry about as mothers were busy on what they do daily; toiling the land not far from the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

EMTV Online spot the gardeners today (Wednesday, August 9, 2017) as they were busy planting, watering and digging at the backyard of Fincorp building near the National Parliament.

Lands claims 'legal issues hindering cancellation of SABLs'

On 23 Jun, 2017 By ACTNOW

The Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, and the Lands Minister, Benny Allen promised in April that all Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABLs) were being cancelled. Their promises came one after another, seemingly coordinated to placate the public on the eve of elections. But now the Lands Department is claiming 'legal issues' have prevented any cancellations - see report below. It looks like the Prime Minister and the Lands Minister's promises were just empty words...

Source: The National Newspaper

Self sufficiency

Eighty-five percent of the population in Papua New Guinea, over 7 million people, live in rural communities on their own ‘customary’ land.

For these people their land is their supermarket, hardware store, pharmacy and cash machine.

The land provides food to eat from gardens and hunting, water, medicines, fuel for cooking, materials to build houses and make ropes, fences, baskets, tools and weapons.

The land also binds families, clans and communities together. It provides social cohesion, sustains cultural identity and underlies spiritual beliefs.

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