Customary Land

Celebrating and Defending Customary Land

Tavolo community granted injunction against FCA logging

On 21 Oct, 2022 By ACTNOW

The Tavolo Community Conservation Association from East New Britain have won a major victory against a Malaysian logging company that has been threatening to log their customary forests.

The National Court has granted the Association a temporary injunction suspending a Forest Clearance Authority granted to Mekar (PNG) Limited by the PNG Forest Authority and stopping any large-scale conversion of forest to agriculture or other land use.

THE NEW TIMBER BARONS: The Companies Logging the Forest of Papua New Guinea

On 06 Oct, 2022 By ACTNOW

Nearly 70% of Papua New Guinea’s round log exports between 2019 and 2021 were concentrated in the hands of just ten groups of companies, all with strong links to Malaysia, according to new research by Act Now! and Jubilee Australia Research Centre.

The New Timber Barons: The companies logging the rainforests of Papua New Guinea

Colonial era agreements still dominate the forest industry

On 28 Sep, 2022 By Cathy Tukne

In 1989, after chairing a two-year Commission of Inquiry, Justice Barnett described forest management in PNG as being in a state of chaos. He declared that foreign-owned logging companies were being allowed to operate as they pleased as a result of bribery and the corruption of State officials and politicians.

Banks move to stop logging finance but gaps remain

On 21 Sep, 2022 By ACTNOW

ACT NOW! and Jubilee Australia

New Minister Must Address Legality and Sustainability

On 07 Sep, 2022 By ACTNOW

There are a lot of important issues for the new Forest Minister, Salio Waipo, to address, especially rampant illegal and unsustainable logging.

Unrecognised Wealth of Customary Land

On 10 Jun, 2022 By Cathy Tukne

PC: PNG DEV BLOG

Papua New Guinea’s Constitution is unique as it gives the people rights to be custodians over their land, 95% of which is still under customary control. For thousands of years, over 800 cultures have allowed our land to sustain every generation till the idea of registering customary land was introduced from outside our shores and clouded the real value and importance of that land.

Will the next government finally ban round log exports?

On 02 Jun, 2022 By Cathy Tukne

FIGURE 1: Round Log Export Timeline

The aspiration to ban round log exports is now at least 15 years old, but consecutive governments have failed to meet their own deadlines. After putting aside the agenda for over a decade they now say a ban will be imposed in 2025 and the country will move finally to fully downstream processing.