The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) collaborated to train officers from the PNGFA and representatives from ten forestry companies in Madang and Morobe provinces, on the updated PNG logging code of practice (LCOP) and planning, monitoring, and control procedures (PMCPs) for sustainable forest management.
This training was finished as part of USAID’s PNG Sustainable Landscapes project, a five-year, $15 million initiative aimed at lowering the factors that contribute to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
The director of the USAID/PNG Environment and Energy Office, David Sean Burt, reaffirmed the US government’s pledge to support PNG.
“The United States is committed to helping the government and people of PNG to develop climate resilient livelihoods, to support the sustainable development of PNG’s forestry sector and to protect Papua New Guinea’s unmatched biodiversity.”
Trainees included timber industry surveyors, planners, and supervisors.
The training is part of PNGFA’s work to increase the environmental sustainability of the forest industry. The revised LCOP includes greater protections for forests and new tools to address climate change.
Acknowledging USAID’s support to PNGFA, Alois Jenkihau, PNGFA Manager of Policy and Aid Coordination Branch of the Forestry Policy and Planning Directorate, stated that the training of the revised PNG’s Logging Code of Practice and the Planning, Monitoring and Control Procedures, will help to protect the environment, support the sustainable harvesting of timber and reducing impact of logging on PNG’s forest.
“This is a milestone achievement with funding support from both USAID and JICA for the timber industry and the government to part-take in this significant event.”
Masato Okabayashi, Chief Advisor JICA-PNGFA Forest Project commended this initiative.
“JICA applauds the initiative taken by USAID-PNGSL to partner with JICA to co-fund and support the training of the revised logging code of practice to the Forest Industry Participants in Madang and Morobe.”
“JICA intends to ensure PNG’s forest be sustainably managed to meet PNG’s sustainable development goals.”
“JICA is hoping for continued partnership with USAID PNGSL and other development partners to support the capacity building of PNGFA and the forest industry in PNG.”