Papua's Forestry Office says the forested areas in the Indonesian province are shrinking even further.
Marthen Kayoi told the Jakarta Post that rampant infrastructure development activities and the formation of new regions across the province is the cause of the problem.
He says he estimated the province's forested areas had declined from some 31.5 million to 28 million hectares.
Marthen Kayoi made the comments following a Papua forestry development coordinating meeting in Timika.
He says the coordinating meeting is part of their effort to evaluate the whole Province's forestry programme and draw up technical plans for the governor to issue a bylaw.
Papua is covered by the largest expanse of intact tropical rainforest, or some 24 percent of Indonesia's total remaining forested area.
