Scientists publish valuable forest inventory

By DOMINIC SENGI - The National

WHEN trees talk, mankind must pay attention, listen and take action, just as when the economy experiences shocks and is distressed and when an environmental pestilence sweeps the land.
Every nation must awaken to any potentially life-threatening scenario.
PNG politics and national life have not been keen to listen to the silent messages that the natural environment that surrounds this nation has been trying to convey to us such as through the revelations by the sciences through research and publications.
Do we in PNG have to wait till the last timber merchant ship cut anchor and disappear into the horizon after desertification and massive soil erosion occurs?
Kipiro Damas, a Morobean tree scientist and senior botanist at PNG Forestry Research Institute’s Lae National Herbarium, and his collaborating researcher Barry Conn have been studying trees in PNG for the last 10 years. In their bolstering three-volume book that was recently published entitled “Trees of Papua New Guinea” the two forest scientists have intervened through the publication – and for country – a comprehensive treatment of 688 species of trees (Volume 1: 257 species Vol 2: 246 species; Vol 3: 165 species) that will assist greatly in the identification of trees of PNG.
The co-authors have collaboratively produced a milestone document that filled a huge knowledge gap in the ability of this nation to make knowledge in the specific sector available to resource managers. The resource book will be of value to environmental scientists, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and extractive industries; it would especially serve the timber industry by assisting in the identification of major tree species of PNG.
Damas and Conn pull the angelus for PNG to rethink the way it manages its forest resource, either through regulation and policy or by merchandise. Do we stand still in reflection to see what we are doing to our trees and forests – oxygen-producing real estates as our share for the survival of humanity?

Co-authors Kipiro Dama and Barry Conn.

They describe that facts as well as the threats confronting PNG. They say the island of New Guinea has a high diversity of species and a high level of endemism or risk of extinction. From Samarai (PNG) to Sorong (Indonesia) the Island of New Guinea is home to more than 5 per cent of earth’s biodiversity in just over one half of a per cent of the land on earth.

“ The forest of Papua New Guinea needs to be managed sensitively and sustainably based on evidence-based knowledge.”

“New Guinea supports the largest area of mature tropical moist forest in the Asia-Pacific region,” said the authors.
Papua New Guinea alone inclusive of the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, Buka and Bougainville play host to anything between 15,000 and 20,000 species of vascular plants with at least 2,000 species of trees.
However, the scientists warned in their books: “The most important challenge for Papua New Guinea is thus:

• Protection of biological diversity against pressures resulting from global climate change;
• Protection against inappropriate destructive conversion of natural communities;
• Unsustainable exploitation of forests;
• Unsustainable national economic and social demands;
• Unfair sharing of forest-derived national wealth; and
• Law and order issues and human security risks.

Without doubt, the tri-volume book will enable those who are responsible for natural resource management to improve their knowledge of the trees in PNG’s forests so that they can fully appreciate the richness of these biologically diverse forest nation.
“The forest of Papua New Guinea needs to be managed sensitively and sustainably based on evidence-based knowledge,” the authors said.

• Dominic Sengi is an independent journalist and diplomat currently working as Strategy and Foreign Policy Advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

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Govt agencies told to write simple, workable policies

By HELEN TARAWA - The National

PRIME Minister James Marape is calling on Government agencies and departments writing policies not to reinvent the wheel.
In his address to the staff of the National Resarch Institute (NRI) and National Economic and Fiscal Commission (NEFC) yesterday, he urged policymakers and writers to keep it simple and workable.
“There are enough policies to go to the moon and back. If they are compatible, then we will take the greatest recommendations,” he said.
Marape said the Government would not divert the roles of NRI and NEFC.
“If there is any time our Government needs NRI and NEFC to step up, it is today and I ask you to step up and pick up some of our conversations, I look through some of the writings,” he said.
“You can model them and advise us what is achievable and together we can find the right path in which our country can grow into from 2019 to 2020 and beyond.”
Marape said the 2020s should not be another lost decade, it should be the right decade in which PNG sets sail in the right direction to make PNG the “richest black Christian nation”.
“Our human development indicators are very low, our corruption statistics are amongst the (highest) and economic index is the lowest,” he said.
“We have to get out of this and black is our past, rich is our destination and Christianity is the strategy through which we can get there.
“I looked into NRI’s eight programmes and they are important and are the contemporary programme that should have evidence on to support the Government in progressing our way forward.
“Please get that data to us to help us place our country in the right projection going forward.
“We want to live in a better PNG and we can never get there if we don’t work together.”
Marape said NRI and NEFC’s role would be maintained.
“You are not lost in the jungle of Waigani. We will never challenge your voice, even if it’s harsh. It is better to listen to harsh criticism than praise that is faulty all the time.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/govt-agencies-told-to-write-simple-workable-policies/

Firm signs deal to increase LNG contracted volumes

By DALE LUMA - The National

OIL Search Ltd signed mid-term liquefied natural gas contracts recently to take the total contracted volumes for PNG LNG up to 7.9 million tonnes, says managing director Peter Botten.
“They consider the move as a smart thing to do in the current market and this will leave only minor volumes exposed to LNG spots,” he said.
“The 7.9 million tonnes represents approximately 90 per cent of the project’s LNG production output.
“In April, the PNG LNG Project contracted the final mid-term tranche of LNG volumes with Unipec Singapore Pte Ltd.
“The contract ensures a commitment to supply approximately 0.45 million tonnes per annum of LNG over a four-year period.
“Supply commenced in April this year, with two LNG cargoes delivered to Unipec during the second quarter.
“The PNG LNG gas agreements were signed in April and other key commercial agreements may progress right through the first half of the year.
“PNG LNG undertook some significant schedule maintenance in the first half of the year and we anticipate a strong second half from the project.
“We also had a successful appraisal up at Muruk two which tested very good reservoir quality sands that proves that Muruk two is in continuity with Muruk one.
“That will have ramifications on re-source based announcements later this year and early next year.
“The Papua LNG has also dominated our discussions and interest over the last three or four months.
“We are effectively all ready to align our joint ventures, align the interest of the various commercial entities.
‘We are all ready to go when the Papua LNG and P’nyang gas agreements are confirmed and finalised by the PNG Government.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/firm-signs-deal-to-increase-lng-contracted-volumes/

Hela signs agreement to recruit police reservist unit

Posted on The National

ABOUT 120 school-leavers in Hela will be recruited for the police reservist unit to address law and order problems in their communities.
It is part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Hela administration and police to take back Hela from warlords and to address lawlessness in the long term.
The MoU came about after Police Minister Bryan Kramer, acting Police Deputy Comm David Manning, acting Special Service Division director Chief Supt Julius Tasion and Hela Governor Philip Undialu visited Hela last month after 18 women and three children were brutally murdered in Karida village.
They were sent by Prime Minister James Marape on a fact-finding trip and reported their findings to the National Executive Council.
The agreement allows 30 school-leavers to be recruited from Komo, Margarima, Koroba, Lake Kopiago, Tari and Pori.
They will be paid about K300 per fortnight for about two years before deciding their future in the regular force, pursue other careers or education opportunities.
The reservists are to undertake matriculation studies to pursue further tertiary education.
Undialu said that this was part of the plan to address chronic law issues such as ongoing tribal fights in Hela.
“This MoU is part of our effort in strengthening the law and justice sector like the courts systems and Correctional Services in the province,” he said yesterday.
“There is a breakdown in the law and justice sector which is resulting in widespread lawlessness.
“At the same time, there are about 20,000 school leavers in the province and we want to engage them to address law and order in their own districts. “They will be intelligence sources to provide information on how guns and ammunitions are coming into the province resulting in ongoing tribal fights.
“Hela is an important province because it hosts the LNG project.”

Go to this link for more: https://www.thenational.com.pg/hela-signs-agreement-to-recruit-police-reservist-unit/