GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
PNG Landowners Give Gift of the Forest to NZ Conservation Minister
Greenpeace and Papua New Guinea landowners today handed over a photo album graphically illustrating the plight of Papua
New Guinea’s forest peoples to New Zealand’s Conservation Minister.
“The album is a ‘bon voyage’ present to Minister Chris Carter as he prepares to leave for the Convention on Biological
Diversity meeting in Malaysia next week,” says PNG Landowner Representative Dorothy Tekwie.
“We hope he takes time to read the stories of the people of Wawoi Guavi, who oppose the logging by Malaysian company,
Rimbunan Hijau on their land, and get an understanding of the cultural and ecological importance of the forest we are
trying to protect.”
A second photo album was delivered to the office of Prime Minister Helen Clarke today.
“We are asking the New Zealand Government for a gift in return - to stop the importation of illegally logged wood, and
strengthen their commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity so that these practices are stopped not only in
New Zealand but around the world,” said Tekwie.
Earlier this week, Greenpeace drew attention to the operations of The LumberBank , asking the company to verify the
origin of the timber in their yard. The LumberBank is owned and supplied by Rimbunan Hijau.
For more information phone:
Communications Officer Suzette Jackson 021 577 556 Dorothy Tekwie Landowner Representative 021 177 9029