PNGBLOGS

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY The accessible forests of Papua New Guinea are likely to be logged or disappear in the next decade or two, according to a leading international team of scientists. In an article in the journal Nature this week, the scientists say that weak governance in Papua New Guinea is allowing foreign logging companies to over-exploit the country’s native forests. “Most accessible forests in Papua New Guinea are being seriously over-exploited,” said lead author Professor William Laurance of James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. “The rate of logging is definitely unsustainable.” “Papua New Guinea has some of the world’s most biologically and culturally rich forests, and they’re vanishing before our eyes,” he said. Titus Kakul, a scientist from Papua New Guinea also based at James Cook University, said it was almost impossible to control the foreign logging companies. “Corruption plays a big role—it often defeats efforts to manage forests sustainably,” he said. Timber in

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY The accessible forests of Papua New Guinea are likely to be logged or disappear in the next decade or two, according to a leading international team of scientists. In an article in the journal Nature this week, the scientists say that weak governance in Papua New Guinea is allowing foreign logging companies to over-exploit the country’s native forests. “Most accessible forests in Papua New Guinea are being seriously over-exploited,” said lead author Professor William Laurance of James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. “The rate of logging is definitely unsustainable.” “Papua New Guinea has some of the world’s most biologically and culturally rich forests, and they’re vanishing before our eyes,” he said. Titus Kakul, a scientist from Papua New Guinea also based at James Cook University, said it was almost impossible to control the foreign logging companies. “Corruption plays a big role—it often defeats efforts to manage forests sustainably,” he said. T

ROWAN CALLICK AS PAPUA NEW GUINEA ENTERS ITS 35TH YEAR as an independent country, its options—the risks and the opportunities—are looking surprisingly familiar. It has, of course, as its leader, the most durable, cleverest politician whom the Pacific region has ever produced, in Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. He has been prime minister for 16 of PNG’s 35 years. Still, the succession remains uncertain—both the cause of instability within his own ranks and the wider political terrain and a tool through which he subtly maintains power. Just as so often in PNG’s past, the country is entering an upbeat period on the crucial economic front, with growth expected to reach eight percent this year, well ahead of the rest of the islands region—except Vanuatu—on the back of the launch of the costly construction of ExxonMobil’s A$16.5 billion liquefied natural gas project. Tantalising prospects As before, but in a far bigger way than ever, PNG’s resources are offering the country the tantalisin

ROWAN CALLICK AS PAPUA NEW GUINEA ENTERS ITS 35TH YEAR as an independent country, its options—the risks and the opportunities—are looking surprisingly familiar. It has, of course, as its leader, the most durable, cleverest politician whom the Pacific region has ever produced, in Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. He has been prime minister for 16 of PNG’s 35 years. Still, the succession remains uncertain—both the cause of instability within his own ranks and the wider political terrain and a tool through which he subtly maintains power. Just as so often in PNG’s past, the country is entering an upbeat period on the crucial economic front, with growth expected to reach eight percent this year, well ahead of the rest of the islands region—except Vanuatu—on the back of the launch of the costly construction of ExxonMobil’s A$16.5 billion liquefied natural gas project. Tantalising prospects As before, but in a far bigger way than ever, PNG’s resources are offering the country the tantali

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has welcomed the completion of a comprehensive review of advisers which will lead to a more effective Australian aid program in Papua New Guinea. The PNG review is part of an overall Australian aid program adviser review announced in the May Budget Statement. 'The Australian Government is committed to strengthening the aid program and ensuring value-for-money across all the development assistance programs,' said Mr Rudd. Mr Rudd discussed the PNG adviser review report with his counterpart, PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal this week. Both agreed the review had been a valuable exercise to ensure a more targeted allocation of advisers and a reduction in the level of advisory support. The finalisation of the review was an outcome of the July 2010 Australia - PNG Ministerial Meeting. The jointly conducted PNG adviser review examined the role of each adviser position to ensure that its allocation was an effective response to meeting agreed development needs a

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has welcomed the completion of a comprehensive review of advisers which will lead to a more effective Australian aid program in Papua New Guinea. The PNG review is part of an overall Australian aid program adviser review announced in the May Budget Statement. 'The Australian Government is committed to strengthening the aid program and ensuring value-for-money across all the development assistance programs,' said Mr Rudd. Mr Rudd discussed the PNG adviser review report with his counterpart, PNG Foreign Minister Sam Abal this week. Both agreed the review had been a valuable exercise to ensure a more targeted allocation of advisers and a reduction in the level of advisory support. The finalisation of the review was an outcome of the July 2010 Australia - PNG Ministerial Meeting. The jointly conducted PNG adviser review examined the role of each adviser position to ensure that its allocation was an effective response to meeting agreed development ne

Ilya Gridneff AAP Australia will sack more than a third of the advisers directing aid to Papua New Guinea in an attempt to eliminate waste in the nation's $457 million PNG assistance program. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said on Thursday he had advised his PNG counterpart Sam Abal of the government's decision to make big cuts in the ranks of the 487 Australian advisers working on PNG aid. He said a review of the PNG-Australia Development Cooperation Treaty had found "widespread dissatisfaction with the aid program" and the "capacity building through advisers model is not working". Advertisement: Story continues below A string of negative reports about Australia's PNG aid program have pointed to a pattern of waste through spending on consultancies and training, as well as exorbitant salaries. In June, it was revealed that one aid adviser working in PNG was on a package of $55,000 a month. However, Mr Rudd did not provide details of which positions would be