MEDIA RELEASE
Benefits from Industrial logging not genuine
It is misleading to believe the assertion that the logging industry contributes significantly to the economy of PNG. The
PNG Eco-Forestry Forum does not think this is true as much of what the industry provides is unsustainable and not
genuine.
The Forum makes this observation in response to the recent claim by Melbourne-based ITS Global that the logging industry
is an important contributor to the economy and that its opposition by environmental groups were dishonest and
threatening to the economy.
According to the Forum, while logging may generate 5 to 9 percent of GDP and 6 percent of the total taxes for the
country, as claimed by ITS Global, its contribution in the employment and rural infrastructural sectors can be described
as well below expected standards.
“Almost all the roads, bridges, jetties and schools that were built by mostly foreign logging companies under the
pretext of development no longer exist today,” says the Forum. It said there is an overwhelming evidence to prove this
all over PNG today in especially those provinces that have once allowed industrial logging into their areas. The Forum
said even the findings from numerous government sanctioned and other independent reviews into the industry revealed
alarming cases of logging companies operating in defiance of the labour, environmental, and human rights regulations in
the country.
The Forum says while it also acknowledges that PNG faces some tough economic challenges, it believes the way to go is to
give the people, especially the forest resource owners, the opportunity to retain much benefit from their forest
resources exploitation through sustainable and legally acceptable forestry practices.
It said, therefore ITS Global’s independent review commissioned by controversial logging giant Rimbunan Hihau (RH) as
reported recently is just another cover-up tactic played by RH to deviate attention from the truth about the
abnormalities that exist within the logging industry.
ENDS