Deforestation in Papua New Guinea Worse than Previously Thought
New satellite images have shown that Papua New Guinea’s rainforests are being destroyed much faster than previously thought.
Until now, Papua New Guinea was thought to have a very low rate of deforestation and degradation. These satellite images prove otherwise.
Papua New Guinea has the world’s third largest tropical rainforest. At the current rate of deforestation, 83 percent of accessible forests, and 53 percent of the country’s total forests, will be destroyed by 2021.
Most of the rainforest destruction is occurring due to commercial logging, agriculture and burning. Most of the logging is done by Malaysian logging firms. Typically, these timber companies pay landowners very little. According to Mongabay, these large companies pay landowners about $4-12 per cubic meter for logs, but sell the same logs for up to $160 per cubic meter.
The rainforest is not only being cleared for logging by the multinational timber firms though. It is also being done to make way for an increasing population. Papua New Guinea has one of the fastest rates of population growth in the world. This increase in population requires more land for subsistence farming.
Earlier this year, the Papua New Guinea government was accused of going from “Eco Hero” to “Eco Zero”. Dr Derek Wall, the Green party’s principal speaker, said:
In my view the Papuan government have gone from green heroes to eco zeros. One of the major causes of climate change is rainforest destruction and Papua New Guinea is under assault from corporations who want to clear cut its forests. This corporate onslaught is aided by a government that just a few weeks ago we all thought was green.
In response to the recent satellite photos, PNG’s Forest Minister, Belden Namah says:
We try to come up with policies to manage our forests, but we have interference by the industry and what I am saying is that as a government we should take a bold stand
He continues:
Industry may be a player in contributing to the economy of this country but I am more worried about generations tomorrow, about the clean air we can generate revenue and I think with the policy of carbon sequestration… is the way to go.
Satellite images: University of Papua New Guinea file photo.
Tags: deforestation, logging, rainforests
