How the Papua New Guinea government is taking your land
Special Agriculture Business Leases (SABL) is the new method the Papua New Guinea Government is using to take land away from customary owners. The leases are granted for 99 years without the knowledge and consent of landowners. In 2010, more than 2 million hectares was stolen, bringing the total area lost to more than 5 million hectares since 2001. The common scenario: landowners are promised agriculture projects on their land but the company also says they need to clear-fell the forest in order to develop the land. Before you know it, the company has harvested logs and is making its way to new areas leaving nothing behind, but to add to the insult, the 99-year lease means landowners lose control of their land for three generations!
