Greenpeace locks down illegal rainforest log export to protect the climate

While the ship was loading at Paia Inlet, Gulf Province, four activists climbed up a loading crane and fastened a huge banner reading ‘Protect Forests, Save Our Climate’. At the same time the local resource owners and their families conducted peaceful protests in three separate areas around the concession.

Forest destruction is responsible for about one fifth of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite the Papua New Guinea Government asking for international money to protect its forests for the benefit of the global climate, illegal and destructive logging continues to be rampant in PNG.

“The protection of these large ancient forests is vital to prevent adverse climate change impacts,” said Greenpeace forest campaigner Sam Moko, who is on the Harbour Gemini. “Greenpeace is calling on the Papua New Guinea Government to establish a moratorium on issuing any new large-scale logging concessions or extensions”

Local resource owners in the Turama Extension concession area, frustrated by the activities of logging companies on their land, have made repeated pleas to the PNG Government to investigate documented breaches of forestry laws by Turama Forest Industries, a Rimbunan Hijau Group company.  However, these requests have fallen on deaf ears.

“We are here to protest the total disrespect of Turama Forest Industries and their logging agreement with our people, “ said Kemaru Garry Bissue, Chairman of the Kikori Environmental Association and resource owner from Kibiri Tribe. “The company has abused our sacred sites, polluted our river, logged too close to our villages, made our food resources scarce and is withholding payments of royalties.”

Australia and PNG signed a Forest Carbon Partnership in March that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, improve livelihoods for forest-dependent communities and promote biodiversity protection. On August 20, Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced a forestry aid package worth $2.5 million for PNG.

“Australia imports an estimated $400 million worth of illegal timber products annually and at the same time, is pledging millions of dollars to protect forests in our region, but serious governance issues in forestry in countries like PNG threatens any real progress on the issue of deforestation,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaign director, Steve Campbell said.

“The Rudd Government must live up to its election promise and urgently restrict the importation of illegal and destructive timber into the country. This is a dire situation where illegal imports of rainforest timbers are fuelling climate change, rainforest destruction and corruption.”

Since 2002, Australia has tripled its imports of wood products from China - a country that imports more than 80 per cent of PNG’s timber.

The PNG Government has a very poor record on forest management. The World Bank estimates 70% of timber harvested in the country is taken illegally . The PNG Government is currently subject to accusations of corruption and misappropriation of funds, after logging companies allegedly paid US$67 million into the private Singaporean bank account of a Government minister.

“The Australian government has a responsibility to its Pacific neighbours and the world to show global leadership and strong action on climate change,” Mr Campbell said. “It is vital that Australia commits to an emission reduction target of at least 40% by 2020.”  

“Anything less will see low lying Pacific countries drowned by rising sea levels, the loss of the Great Barrier Reef and its tourism industry, and a doubling of extreme bushfires.”

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organization, which uses non-violent, creative communication tools to put the spotlight on global environmental problems, and to drive towards solutions essential for a green and peaceful future.