By Eddie Tanago

Prime Minster James Marape has made a huge promise to the international community gathered at the COP30 meeting in Brazil. 

He has told the world that our nation will end its export of tropical round logs by the end of 2025, but implementation of that promise rests with the PNG Forest Authority, which does not have a good track record for controlling the logging industry.

REPORT ON ENCROACHMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION BY PACIFIC ELITE INVESTMENT LIMITED UNDER THE MOMASE LARGE-SCALE INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE PROJECT

Eugene Mondu – Turubu Eco Forestry Development Program Inc. 

1. Background

By Eddie Tanago

Whilst the PM is attending COP 30 in Brazil to plead for international finance to protect the worlds forests and biodiversity, back home is a different story.

Deforestation under the controversial Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) by mainly Malaysian logging companies hasn’t been addressed.

Papua New Guinea is home to one of the world's largest rainforests, but it is being destroyed by illegal logging turning the country into the world's largest exporter of tropical timber.

Wantok Niuspepa | 30 October 2025

Nupela keis stadi bilong ACT NOW! wantaim Jubilee Australia Research Centre i painimaut sampela hevi i kamap long loging operesen aninit long Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) long Wanigela, Oro Provins.

Dispela ripot i gat infomesen i soim olsem loging operesen i gohet yet maski sapos ol asples i egensim, na i soim olsem ol i no yusim FCA long wok egrikalsa, na i bin gat wari tu sapos ol i bihainim lo o nogat.

Malaysian timber tycoons should stop destroying Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s forests. 97% of controversial timber licences found to be linked to Malaysian business people, says Pamela Avusi, Coordinator for PNG Environmental Alliance.

 A groundbreaking new investigative report: “Malaysia's Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests”, reveals the disturbing role of Malaysian-linked companies in local deforestation. According to its findings, 97% of PNG’s Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs) are controlled by Malaysian-linked companies.

By Eddie Tanago

The National Forest Board’s failure to stop the illegal FCA forest grab is undermining the Prime Minister’s commitment to protecting Papua New Guinea’s tropical forests.

Speaking at the United Nations in New York the Prime Minister has reminded the world of the fragile state of the environment and the need for everyone to act as stewards not destroyers of God’s creation. 

ACT NOW has launched a new advertising campaign on radio and television calling on the PNG Forest Authority to take immediate action on the abuse of Forest Clearing Authority licences.

Panguna mine in Bougainville (2022) PC: Island Business Pacific News

Cathy Tukne | Information Coordinator