PNG putting its hand up on REDD, says Forestry Ministry

Transcript

Papua New Guinea's Forestry Minister Douglas Tomuriesa says he expects the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation-plus mechanism to become law in the current parliament sitting.

REDD+ is promoted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through forest management in developing countries.

Mr Tomuriesa spoke to Johnny Blades who began by asking him when PNG would ban the export of round logs.

DOUGLAS TOMURIESA: Export of round logs will definitely done by 2020.  That's now become law.  It has gone through the National Executive Council and that is now law.  All round log exports will be done and anybody who is planning to continue business in Papua New Guinea must begin to prepare their companies for downstream processing from now until 2020.

JOHNNY BLADES:  Why has it taken so long to get to this point?

DT:  I don't know.  I don't know.  Maybe there are reasons but I was appointed about 12 months ago and when I came in I spoke to our Prime Minister and our Prime Minister has been very supportive of this proposal.  We got the papers together, the documents together.  We took them in and the government in its wisdom through the National Executive Council has approved the banning of the round logs.  We are also conserving a lot of our forests for the right programmes that are happening in this country.  REDD+ programmes.

JB:  This framework for reducing emissions, how far advanced is that in Papua New Guinea?

DT:  As I speak the Minister Responsible for Climate Change and I, under the REDD+ programme, we've got the policy already gone through the first reading on the floor of parliament so our policy framework is already in place.  This parliament will definitely vote it through and it will become law.  There are certain areas, the REDD programmes, so far there are about five major areas in Papua New Guinea to conserve the forest for REDD programmes.  As you know, Papua New Guinea is a developing nation so while the world wants us to conserve our forests and the REDD programmes we have put in this place.  What has the world brought for our landowners?  The people who will now give up their land for conservation and for REDD programmes, that's another thing.

JB:  So the REDD program, does it sort of rely on other countries giving something to the people who are making sure the forests...

DT:  You know very well there is a carbon emission program in the world.  The UN is driving that in a big, big way.  Countries like Norway, the European nations are pushing them.  American, Japan have already also mentioned of something along the lines of them reducing their emissions.  Whilst they look at reducing their emissions, the emissions that come out of this nation. Where do they get carbon credits for these emissions?  Well Papua New Guinea is here.  Papua New Guinea is putting our hands up to say that we are prepared to conserve our forests for REDD programmes for you to buy carbon credits.