7 Dec 2006

Calls for PNG's govt to raise efforts to open dialogue over forestry issues

12:00 pm on 7 December 2006

Papua New Guinea's Eco-Forestry Forum has called on the government to raise efforts to open dialogue over Forestry sector issues.

It says last week's cancellation of an international forestry workshop in PNG reflects the barriers in the way of healthy discussion of the industry.

Eco-Forestry Forum spokesman, Steve Sukot says they and other stakeholders were poorly represented at an October meeting initiated by the International Tropical Timber Organisation and the National Forest Authority.

He says it's another case of a lack of dialogue offered to landowners in relation to illegal logging and related abuses.

"And the landowners were not given an opportunity. They basically chose people who are working closely with the government and the Logging companies. And the landowners, who come to us to assist them on cases, were not given an opportunity to come forward to speak."

Steve Sukot says that without healthy dialogue the sector suffers.