The government must act to stop the ongoing abuse of agricultural clearing permits which are being used as a cover for large-scale selective logging.

Forest Clearing Authorities are being routinely misused to facilitate large-scale illegal and unsustainable logging. They are supposed to be used to authorise the clearing of small discrete areas of forest for agriculture planting but this concession type is now responsible for the largest share of PNG’s log exports, according to government statistics.

The timber industry in Papua New Guinea is beset with corruption, political interference, and widespread illegal practices across the sector, according to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.