WWF - News from the Forests of New Guinea

More than 1000 new species found in New Guinea

2011-06-27

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - A remarkable 1,060 new species have been discovered the island of New Guinea from 1998 to 2008, but poorly planned and unsustainable development - particularly from logging and forest conversion to agriculture - is putting many of these unique creatures at risk, a new WWF study finds.

Final Frontier: Newly Discovered species of New Guinea (1998 – 2008) shows that 218 new kinds of plants - close to 100 of which are orchids - 43 reptiles and 12 mammals, including a unique snub-fin dolphin, have been found on the tropical island over a ten year period.

Added to the tally is an astounding 580 invertebrates and 134 amphibians, 2 birds and 71 fish, among them an extremely rare 2.5m long river shark.

"This report shows that New Guinea's forests and rivers are among the richest and most biodiverse in the world. But it also shows us that unchecked human demand can push even the wealthiest environments to bankruptcy," says Dr. Neil Stronach, WWF Western Melanesia's Program Representative.

Untouched rainforest
New Guinea is the largest tropical island on Earth and is divided between the countries of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the East and Indonesia in the West. It contains the third largest tract of rainforest in the world after the Amazon and the Congo.

View WWF Critical Regions of the World in a larger map

This mysterious island covers less than 0.5 per cent of the Earth's landmass but shelters 6 to 8 per cent of the world's species. Over two thirds of these species are found nowhere else on earth.

It is also home to Asia's most pristine rivers and wetlands. Its natural gifts also extend to the reefs surrounding New Guinea, in the heart of the Coral Triangle, which have the world's highest concentration of coral and reef fish.

"If you look at New Guinea in terms of biological diversity, it is much more like a continent than an island," says Dr. Stronach. "Scientists found an average of two new species each week from 1998 – 2008 – nearly unheard of in this day and age," he says.

No fewer than seven brightly colored new species of rainbow fish were identified in PNG and Papua in Indonesia over the ten-year period, including Allen's rainbow fish (Chilatherina alleni).

WWF scientists added to the known orchid diversity found on the island, collecting hundreds of orchids in PNG's Kikori region. Eight of these were new to science, including the ornate and exquisite firework-like display of the Dendrobium spectabile orchid.

Alarming rate of forest loss
"Despite its remote location, New Guinea's natural habitats are being lost at an alarming rate. The island's forests are facing serious threats including logging, mining, wildlife trade and conversion to agriculture, particularly oil palm," says Dr. Eric Verheij, Conservation Director, WWF Western Melanesia.

In PNG between 1972 and 2002, independent studies have shown that 24 per cent of rainforests were cleared or degraded through logging or subsistence agriculture.

The same studies point out that the forest clearance rate for forests accessible to industrial logging is up to 3.4 per cent annually, much higher than previously reported.

China buys close to 82 per cent of PNG's timber exports each year, representing a total volume of over two million cubic meters. Studies suggest 70 per cent of this logging is illegal.

Demand for palm oil is also destroying many of New Guinea's most valuable rainforests. Large forest areas on the island (and across the region) are being cleared for oil palm monocultures, destroying critical habitat for many endangered species. The destruction of these forests, which are usually cleared by burning releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and accelerates climate change.

However, many oil palm producers in New Guinea and around the world are pursing certification through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the world's most credible sustainable palm oil initiative. Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) guarantees that social and environmental safeguards have been met during production. And importantly, CSPO also assures that high conservation value forests haven't been cleared.

Based on the first chapter of WWF's new Living Forests Report, more than 230 million hectares of forest will disappear around the world by 2050 if no action is taken. The report proposes that policymakers and businesses unite around a goal of Zero Nett Deforestation and Degradation (ZNDD) by 2020 as a global benchmark to avoid dangerous climate change and curb biodiversity loss.

"As a region with high rates of poverty, it is absolutely essential that New Guinea's precious reefs, rainforests, and wetlands are not plundered but managed sustainably for future generations," says Dr Susanne Schmitt, New Guinea Programme Manager at WWF-UK.

"Environmental protection and economic development must go together to ensure the survival of New Guinea's unique species and natural habitats," added Dr. Schmitt.

For more information please contact
Papua New Guinea: Dr. Eric Verheij, Conservation Director, WWF Western Melanesia Programme Office +675 320 0149, everheij@wwfpacific.org.pg

Singapore: Chris Chaplin, WWF International, +65 9826 3802, cchaplin@wwf.sg

United Kingdom: Johanna Sargent, Senior Press Officer, WWF UK, +44 1483 412375 ext 375, +44 7867 697 519, jsargent@wwf.org.uk

More than 1000 new species found in New Guinea

2011-06-27

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - A remarkable 1,060 new species have been discovered the island of New Guinea from 1998 to 2008, but poorly planned and unsustainable development - particularly from logging and forest conversion to agriculture - is putting many of these unique creatures at risk, a new WWF study finds.

Final Frontier: Newly Discovered species of New Guinea (1998 – 2008) shows that 218 new kinds of plants - close to 100 of which are orchids - 43 reptiles and 12 mammals, including a unique snub-fin dolphin, have been found on the tropical island over a ten year period.

Added to the tally is an astounding 580 invertebrates and 134 amphibians, 2 birds and 71 fish, among them an extremely rare 2.5m long river shark.

"This report shows that New Guinea's forests and rivers are among the richest and most biodiverse in the world. But it also shows us that unchecked human demand can push even the wealthiest environments to bankruptcy," says Dr. Neil Stronach, WWF Western Melanesia's Program Representative.

Untouched rainforest
New Guinea is the largest tropical island on Earth and is divided between the countries of Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the East and Indonesia in the West. It contains the third largest tract of rainforest in the world after the Amazon and the Congo.

View WWF Critical Regions of the World in a larger map

This mysterious island covers less than 0.5 per cent of the Earth's landmass but shelters 6 to 8 per cent of the world's species. Over two thirds of these species are found nowhere else on earth.

It is also home to Asia's most pristine rivers and wetlands. Its natural gifts also extend to the reefs surrounding New Guinea, in the heart of the Coral Triangle, which have the world's highest concentration of coral and reef fish.

"If you look at New Guinea in terms of biological diversity, it is much more like a continent than an island," says Dr. Stronach. "Scientists found an average of two new species each week from 1998 – 2008 – nearly unheard of in this day and age," he says.

No fewer than seven brightly colored new species of rainbow fish were identified in PNG and Papua in Indonesia over the ten-year period, including Allen's rainbow fish (Chilatherina alleni).

WWF scientists added to the known orchid diversity found on the island, collecting hundreds of orchids in PNG's Kikori region. Eight of these were new to science, including the ornate and exquisite firework-like display of the Dendrobium spectabile orchid.

Alarming rate of forest loss
"Despite its remote location, New Guinea's natural habitats are being lost at an alarming rate. The island's forests are facing serious threats including logging, mining, wildlife trade and conversion to agriculture, particularly oil palm," says Dr. Eric Verheij, Conservation Director, WWF Western Melanesia.

In PNG between 1972 and 2002, independent studies have shown that 24 per cent of rainforests were cleared or degraded through logging or subsistence agriculture.

The same studies point out that the forest clearance rate for forests accessible to industrial logging is up to 3.4 per cent annually, much higher than previously reported.

China buys close to 82 per cent of PNG's timber exports each year, representing a total volume of over two million cubic meters. Studies suggest 70 per cent of this logging is illegal.

Demand for palm oil is also destroying many of New Guinea's most valuable rainforests. Large forest areas on the island (and across the region) are being cleared for oil palm monocultures, destroying critical habitat for many endangered species. The destruction of these forests, which are usually cleared by burning releases huge amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and accelerates climate change.

However, many oil palm producers in New Guinea and around the world are pursing certification through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), the world's most credible sustainable palm oil initiative. Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) guarantees that social and environmental safeguards have been met during production. And importantly, CSPO also assures that high conservation value forests haven't been cleared.

Based on the first chapter of WWF's new Living Forests Report, more than 230 million hectares of forest will disappear around the world by 2050 if no action is taken. The report proposes that policymakers and businesses unite around a goal of Zero Net Deforestation and Degradation (ZNDD) by 2020 as a global benchmark to avoid dangerous climate change and curb biodiversity loss.

"As a region with high rates of poverty, it is absolutely essential that New Guinea's precious reefs, rainforests, and wetlands are not plundered but managed sustainably for future generations," says Dr Susanne Schmitt, New Guinea Programme Manager at WWF-UK.

"Environmental protection and economic development must go together to ensure the survival of New Guinea's unique species and natural habitats," added Dr. Schmitt.

Forests fundamental to effective climate deal

2009-10-25

Buenos Aires, Argentina – The world's ability to control climate change could be crippled if global leaders do not support clear and effective targets to arrest deforestation at climate talks in Copenhagen in December, WWF said at the conclusion of a key global foresty summit.

As the XIIIth World Forestry Congress finished Friday, WWF called for an ambitious and bold climate deal at Copenhagen to give clear guidance and incentives for the forestry sector to do its part in stopping catastrophic climate change and adapt to predicted changes.

"Setting immediate deforestation targets is a key component of any climate change agreement," said Rodney Taylor, Director of WWF International's Forest program.

"If the global deal on climate change ignores the dangers of unchecked deforestation, it will set the world on an accelerated path to savage climate change."

Despite conservation efforts, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares per year, or 36 football fields a minute. It generates almost 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and halting forest loss has been identified as one of the most cost-effective ways to keep the world out of the danger zone of runaway climate change.

To this end, WWF during the Congress proposed a global target of zero net deforestation by 2020 to avoid runaway climate change and stop the current catastrophic trend of species loss.

"A zero net deforestation by 2020 target will set the scale and urgency needed to gather the political will to stop forest loss," Taylor said.

WWF will continue to advocate for a strong deforestation target to be included in all other relevant international treaties and agreements, including in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In Copenhagen, negotiators need to agree to strong financial and emissions reduction commitments to craft a climate deal that enables developing countries to halt forest loss.

"WWF received strong feedback at the Congress from various sectors, including governments, other NGOs, and the private sector to support our target on deforestation," said Gerald Steindlegger, WWF International's Forest Manager on Global Policy.

Many developing countries already are adopting major deforestation policies that mirror WWF's call for zero net deforestation by 2020.

On Wednesday, government representatives from Argentina and Paraguay pledged during a special ceremony co-hosted by WWF and its partner organization Fundacion Vida Silvestre at the Congress to work towards zero net deforestation in the Atlantic Forest, and to implement a package of measures that include national legislation to enforce those commitments.

The Atlantic Forest initially spanned 500,000 square kms, shared between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. However, only 7.4 percent of the forest is left today – or about 35,000 square kilometers, making it one of the most threatened and fragmented subtropical forests in the world.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian government already has established a zero deforestation target by 2010 for the Atlantic Forest. Brazil also has pledged to establish protected areas covering at least 10 percent of the forest.

This year, the World Forestry Congress brought together more than 4,000 participants in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Local communities celebrate new protected areas in Papua New Guinea

2007-09-28

Bensbach, Papua New Guinea – The creation of three new wildlife management areas in Papua New Guinea will protect some of Asia-Pacific's most expansive and unique wildlife habitats.

The new Aramba, Tonda extension and Weriaver areas cover about 710,000 hectares in Papua New Guinea's Western Province, and join up with the existing Tonda wildlife management area of 610,000 hectares. These areas, together with the adjoining Wasur National Park in Papua, mean that almost 2 million hectares of the TransFly Ecoregion will be protected.

"The creation of these new protected areas means that the TransFly region will now contain the largest continuous protected area in the country," said Dr David Melick, WWF's TransFly Ecoregion Coordinator.

The TransFly is a vast, low-lying coastal region of grasslands, savannas wetlands and monsoon forest in south-central New Guinea. Home to such unique wildlife as marsupial cats, endemic flying possums and birds of paradise, the region covers more than 10 million hectares, straddling the borders of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

"We hope that this region will soon be formally recognized as a cross-border conservation zone to enable international action on conservation and livelihood threats," Dr Melick added.

Hundreds of local tribal groups from surrounding villages celebrated the announcement of the protected areas in a traditional ceremony. Local community leaders, politicians and wildlife officials took part in the ceremony, as well as world-renowned conservationist and author Professor Jared Diamond, and WWF representatives, including WWF International's Executive Director of Conservation, Guillermo Castilleja.

"In this remote corner of the world, we are engaging with communities in villages and officials in planning offices to design a long-lasting conservation blueprint for the Transfly," Castilleja said, "a vision that will support the area's unique landscapes, wildlife and traditional ways of life."

There are over 60 cultural groups, whose lives, customs, languages and knowledge are linked inextricably with the landscapes of the TransFly. It is also home to some of the largest wetlands in the Asia-Pacific region, but it is threatened by development, agricultural expansion and the spread of exotic species. Millions of birds inhabit the floodplains, with over 50 per cent of New Guinea's bird species found in the ecoregion, including 80 endemic species.

The wildlife management areas will be managed by local landowner committees, with assistance from WWF to promote protection of wildlife and habitat, and sustainable enterprises such as eco-tourism.

For further information:
Lydia Kaia, Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 320 0149
E-mail: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg

Celebrating crocodiles in Papua New Guinea

2007-03-05

Ambunti, Papua New Guinea – A two-day festival in eastern Papua New Guinea celebrated the region's pristine environment and wildlife.

The WWF-supported crocodile festival in East Sepik highlighted the importance of crocodile conservation and the species' habitat along the Sepik River, one of the largest unpolluted rivers in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Sepik River is home to some of the world's largest freshwater and saltwater crocodile populations. However, both species are threatened by ongoing mining, logging and agricultural activities, as well as the dangers of commercial exploitation of crocodile skin and eggs.

"Crocodiles are important part of the region's ecosystem," said David Peter, the freshwater programme manager at WWF Papua New Guinea.

"The festival was intended to increase local enthusiasm for conservation and an opportunity to let communities learn about the importance of sustainable development."

At the festival WWF released a publication on nature and community tourism along the Sepik, a travel guide to one of the world's most important centres of biological and cultural diversity.

The launch of the publication represents a new initiative by WWF to promote community tourism and conservation in the region. By visiting the villages, tourists will directly help improve people's lives. The income communities earn from eco-tourism activities, for example, will go directly to paying school fees and buying medicines.

"The promotion of community tourism in the Sepik is absolutely imperative," stressed Peter. "If people can see the economic value in conserving the diverse culture and biodiversity of this region, they are less likely to destroy it."

For further information:
Lydia Kaia, Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 320 0149
E-mail: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg

Crafting a Vision for the Future: Protecting New Guinea's TransFly...

2006-10-25

"When I was a little boy, you could walk into the bush about 2km and come back 30 minutes later with something you'd hunted," Yul explains nostalgically. "But now you have to walk for hours and hours, sometimes even days". What threats does the TransFly face, and how is WWF working to address these problems?

Protecting Sacred Lands in the Last Paradise on Earth...

2006-10-25

"You dig a big yam up with a stick made out of yuka, it has to be a big one," explains Abia Bai, a community elder from the Maiyawa tribe, who is sharing with me the secret to a good yam harvest. Find out more about the people of the TransFly, a vast savanna region in Papua that WWF is trying to protect.

New protected areas for Papua New Guinea

2006-10-25

Musula and Wabimisen, Papua New Guinea – Local communities in Papua New Guinea gathered along the volcanic slopes of Mount Bosavi in the country's Southern Highlands to celebrate the creation of three new protected areas.

The new wildlife management areas, covering 80,000ha of PNG's Kikori River Basin, are home to pristine rainforests and rich wildlife such as the world's longest lizard and giant pigeons and butterflies. It is also the region where eight new orchid species were recently discovered by WWF.

"Today's announcement is an important milestone in strengthening the system of protected areas in PNG and gives a boost to the efforts of WWF and its partners in achieving big conservation results in the Kikori region," said WWF PNG protected areas officer Saina Jeffrey.

"The declaration signifies a commitment by local landowners to conserve and safeguard their land, and to protect it against destructive development such as unsustainable logging."

The three new protected areas at Sulamesi (70,159ha), Hose (4,830ha) and Arisai (4,661ha) were established on the customary lands of the Kosua and Orogo people in order to help safeguard the forests and its unique biodiversity, as well as to provide sustainable income activities for those that depend on the natural resources.

"Today we recognise the Bosavi people's efforts in protecting their land and heritage, including the source of the Kikori River, for future generations," said WWF PNG's Country Programme Manager, Michael Avosa.

END NOTES:

• New Guinea — the world's second largest island that is split between Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Irian Jaya — has the largest remaining rainforest in the Asia-Pacific region.

• WWF has been working in PNG since 1995, focusing its conservation efforts on linking community action, science and effective policy to ensure the protection and sustainable use of forests, freshwater and marine resources across the island of New Guinea.

• In 1993, with the PNG National Executive Council's approval, WWF Kikori River Programme established a model Integrated Conservation and Development Project in a tropical rainforest of 2.3 million hectares in the Southern Highlands and Gulf Provinces of Papua New Guinea.

For further information:
Lydia Kaia, Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 320 0149
Email: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg

WWF discovers new species of orchids in Papua New Guinea

2006-10-16

Gland, Switzerland – A series of expeditions by WWF scientists into previously unexplored areas of tropical rainforest in Papua New Guinea have revealed new orchid species previously unknown to science.

Over the course of expeditions to PNG's Kikori region between 1998 and 2006, WWF teams collected some 300 species of orchids. Of those collected, eight have been confirmed as new species, while 20 more have yet to be verified as new.

PNG already has more recorded orchid species than any other country in the world.

"The island of New Guinea is an incredible goldmine of orchids," said Wayne Harris, a botanist from Queensland Herbarium in Australia and one of the world's leading authorities on orchids. "There are over 3,000 known species found here with countless varieties undoubtedly yet to be discovered."

WWF, together with the Kutubu Joint Venture Partnership, is working towards the long-term conservation of the Kikori region and the amazing diversity of plants and animals that it supports. The region is one of the last areas in PNG that includes such a variety of different forest habitats. Along with orchids and other plant-life, these remarkable forests are home to some of the country's most unique wildlife, such as birds of paradise, giant cassowaries and the enigmatic tree kangaroo.

The announcement of the disovery comes just a week ahead of the official launch of two new wildlife management areas, which will protect significant areas of rainforest where these orchids have been found.

WWF's work in conserving the Kikori region is also vital to local communities. More than 20,000 people, from 12 different ethnic groups, live in the area and rely on the natural resources of its forests and streams for their subsistence livelihood.

"The discovery of such a large number of new orchid species is incredibly exciting," said WWF Forest Ecologist Olo Gebia.

"The sad reality is that many of these plants, including those which may contain cures to some of the world's most deadly diseases, may become extinct before they have even been discovered. This gives even greater urgency to ensuring the long-term conservation of this remarkable region."

END NOTES:

• WWF carried out orchid surveys in the Kikori catchment area in 1998, 2000, and more recently, from 27 July to 3 August 2006. An orchid field guide will be produced using the data collected.

• In 1993, with the PNG National Executive Council's approval, WWF Kikori River Programme established an integrated conservation and development project in 2.3 million hectares of tropical rainforest in the Southern Highlands and Gulf Provinces of Papua New Guinea.

•The Kutubu Joint Venture Partnership is a consortium of companies managing oil and gas fields in the Kikori Basin. WWF has a decade-long engagement with the partnership to demonstrate best practice in the oil and gas operations in the area.

For further information:
Lydia Kaia, Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 320 0149
Email: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg

Soh Koon Chng, Communications Manager
WWF Global Forests Programme
Tel: +41 22 364 9018
Email: skchng@wwfint.org

Oxley's skewed agenda won't help PNG

2006-09-28

WWF's response to 'A skewed vision from team green' by Alan Oxley, featured in The Australian (16 September 2006) and The Post Courier (PNG) (27 September 2006).

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) – Renewed allegations from a logging industry spin-doctor that WWF is pursuing a campaign to replace commercial forestry with eco-forestry in PNG are completely baseless and unfounded, says the global conservation organisation [1].

"WWF successfully works with more than 300 major logging companies and timber consuming companies worldwide. The notion that we are somehow anti-commercial forestry, propagated by Mr Oxley and his consultancy ITS Global, is simply untrue. The facts speak for themselves", said Mr Michael Avosa, WWF-PNG's Country Programme Manager [2].

The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), a successful partnership between WWF and forward-thinking members of the forest industry, helps conserve the world's forests while providing economic and social benefits for the businesses and people that depend on them. The GFTN employs 1.5 million people globally and has annual forest product sales exceeding USD $48 billion per year.

"WWF works with communities on small-scale eco-forestry projects, but we also work with many commercial logging companies who appreciate that truly sustainable forestry provides greater economic and social benefits to themselves and the owners of the resource", said Ted Mamu, WWF-PNG's Sustainable Forestry Officer.

The same charges were levied last month by Mr Oxley and ITS, in a report commissioned by Malaysian-owned Rimbunan Hijau, PNG's largest forestry company [3]. The report was widely discredited because it was poorly researched containing factual inaccuracies, not least the wrongly based assumption that WWF owns and manages the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) [4], an independent forest management scheme.

Global wood importers, suppliers, retailers and consumers are increasingly demanding greater evidence that environmental criteria are being applied and met on the wood they purchase. In June this year, the UK Timber Trade Federation issued its own press release advising its members that, "sourcing wood products made from timber from Papua New Guinea (PNG) or the Solomon Islands was 'high risk'", in that evidence could not be provided that environmental standards had been met [5].

WWF promotes and supports the FSC because timber-consuming countries recognise the FSC as one of the few schemes that guarantees the timber has come from a legal and sustainable source. Unfortunately, there are currently no FSC or equivalent certified forests within PNG because of the logging industry's refusal to certify its operations, despite WWF offers of assistance.

Mr Oxley also consults for the PEFC, an industry-lead international forest management scheme, which is struggling to be acknowledged as an equal to the FSC, due to its weaker social and environmental criteria [6].

"It is easier to understand why Mr Oxley has such strong views toward WWF and the FSC, when you consider that he is paid by certain sections of the logging industry to have these views which undermine efforts to help indigenous people around the world derive some economic benefit from their forests", said Mr Mamu.

"It's a no-brainer. Mr Oxley claims we're sabotaging PNG's economic development when in fact we're simply being realistic", said Mr Avosa. "If PNG is going to make money from its forest resources it absolutely must be in a position to supply certified timber to the world market. The sooner Mr Oxley, the PNG logging industry, or anyone else in denial realises this, the quicker both industry and communities in PNG will benefit economically", he added.
.

Editor's notes:

WWF has been working in PNG since 1995. Our work focuses on linking community action, science and effective policy to ensure the protection and sustainable use of forests, freshwater and marine resources across the island of New Guinea.

[1] 'A skewed vision from team green', 16 September 2006, The Australian, can be downloaded:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20419525-30417,00.html

[2] WWF is helping forest managers in timber-producing countries to establish market links in timber–consuming countries, through its Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), a successful initiative that now includes more than 300 major timber producing and consuming companies worldwide.

[3] 'Whatever it takes: Greenpeace's anti-forestry campaign in Papua New Guinea' (July 2006), a report by ITS Global, a Melbourne-based consulting firm, for Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group, can be downloaded here

WWF's response: 'Timber market speaks for itself says WWF', 10 August 2006, can be downloaded here

[4] The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), promotes good forest management practice, ensuring that it is environmentally appropriate, as well as socially and economically beneficial. The FSC is one of the few forest certification systems accepted internationally, including by environmental NGOs, which provides the guarantee that wood products have come from a legal and sustainable source. Today, 73 million hectares of the world's forests in 72 countries have been FSC-certified. Forest products derived from FSC-certified forests are allowed to carry the FSC trademark.

[5] See Timber Trade Federation (UK) press release: 'TTF Advises Members on PNG and Solomons', released on 28 June 2006. This can be downloaded here

[6] See article 'ITS Global consults to PEFC'

For further information contact:
Lydia Kaia
Communications Officer
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 320 0149
Email: lkaia@wwfpacific.org.pg

Michael Avosa
Country Programme Manager
WWF Papua New Guinea
Email: mavosa@wwfpacific.org.pg

A conservation vision for New Guinea's wetlands

2006-05-17

Madang, Papua New Guinea – A conservation "vision" to protect one of the Asia-Pacific region's largest, richest and most pristine wetlands on the island of New Guinea has been officially launched today, with governments, community leaders, scientists and conservation organizations declaring their commitment to support it.

"The vision highlights and strengthens the need to conserve this globally significant environment and its biodiversity," said Terry Warra, Acting Managing Director of the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority

"It will not only assist the communities that live in the TransFly, but also provides a powerful symbol of the cooperation and friendship between our two countries."

Straddling the border of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, this unique coastal landscape of grasslands, savannas, wetlands and monsoon forest habitats spans 10 million hectares. The TransFly is home to over half of New Guinea's bird species, including 80 that are endemic to the island, as well as numerous species of birds of paradise. There are also endemic marsupial cats, flying possums and a rich diversity of reptiles.

However, the protected habitats and species that help identify the TransFly as an outstanding area of biodiversity are increasingly under threat from logging, agricultural expansion, and road and settlement development.

"Until now, there has been no attempt to prioritise conservation efforts in the region, properly document its biodiversity values or identify how conservation efforts can proceed hand in hand with development," said Michele Bowe, WWF Papua New Guinea's TransFly Coordinator. "The vision is a blueprint for conservation and development in the TransFly over the next 50 years."

The launch of the TransFly Biodiversity Vision represents the culmination of three years of consultation, data collection, mapping and analysis by WWF to identify and prioritise the habitats and species, and document the importance of the region's traditional cultures, local landowner groups and their livelihoods. The lives, customs, beliefs, languages and knowledge of over 60 cultural groups are linked inextricably with the geography of the TransFly.

"Our culture is precious to future generations", said Yul Bole Gebze, a Community Leader from Papua, Indonesia, adding "Commitment to the Vision will stop the destruction of our land. We have many sacred places that mark the route of our ancestors' spirits, the preservation of which has now been recognised by this Vision".

Today's announcement coincides with the launch of a new WWF publication Beyond Belief – Linking Faiths and protected areas to support biodiversity conservation, which explores the relationship between sacred areas, spiritual beliefs and protected areas, like the TransFly.

For further information
Christian Thompson, Communications Advisor
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 852 1763
E-mail: cthompson@wwfpacific.org.pg

Michele Bowe, TransFly Ecoregion Coordinator
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +679 3315 533
E-mail: mbowe@wwfpacific.org.pg

::: Asia-Pacific Story :::
Essential oils from New Guinea's forests

2006-01-20

By Bella Roscher and Kathrin Dellantonio , WWF-Switzerland

It is already hot and humid in the city of Merauke when the four-wheel drive picks us up at the hotel at 6am. The WWF team — consisting of WWF-Indonesia's freshwater expert Barano, Linke, the Director of the WWF office in Merauke, a couple of her team members and ourselves — are heading to Wasur National Park on the south coast of the province of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya). Papua is Indonesia's most eastern province bordering with Papua New Guinea, making up about half of the island of New Guinea.

Alfred Russell Wallace, an English naturalist, evolutionist, geographer and anthropologist who traveled to New Guinea in 1958 stated that the island "contains more strange and new and beautiful natural objects than any other part of the globe". Indeed, few places on earth rival the diversity of New Guinea, one of the great natural jewels of our planet.

Pacific paradise
The island contains the world's third largest block of tropical rainforest and beats the record in many respects. For example, it is home to the world's largest pigeon, smallest parrot, longest lizard and largest butterfly. Although it covers only one-tenth of the land area of Australia, it has as many bird and plant species as its neighbour, and has more orchid species than in any other part of the world. Its extensive mangroves and pristine coral reefs are outstanding too. Many of the species are endemic which makes the island a global hotspot of biodiversity. New Guinea is also rich in terms of cultural heritage: Almost one-fifth of the world's human languages are spoken on this island. Many communities are inextricably linked to the natural wealth of the island.

The island's geological development has created steep mountains and valleys that form great barriers across the country. Neighbouring areas were left cut off from one another and unique wildlife could develop in this isolation. On New Guinea, many different ecoregions exist next to each other: tropical grasslands, cloud forests, savannas, mangroves, swamp forests and even glaciers higher than 5,000m. Nowhere else on earth can you walk from glaciers through tropical rainforests to mangroves.

We're driving on a dirt road heading towards the village Yereu inside the Wasur National Park. Our driver is maneuvering the jeep immaculately in the deep mud, just like a race car driver. Along both sides of the road stretch immense wetland forests with individual trees standing firm in the water masses. A seemingly endless landscape with human-size termite nests sticking up here and there, like castles in the desert.

"Stop the car!" Barano suddenly shouts.

He jumps out of the mud-covered vehicle and directs me over to a plant that seems to be everywhere. An invasive species from South America, he states. It's intruding on the natural vegetation, just like the water hyacinths that were turning our rivers and streams into green floating carpets a couple of years ago. Barano takes his binoculars from his eyes and points to the tree tops — eclectus parrots!

"Sexual dimorphism extreme", says my bird book and I agree — the male distinctive green, the female intense scarlet.

Oil production
The road has turned into a big brown puddle in the middle of the forest, so we have to walk the last few metres to get to Yereu. We are welcomed by the village head, a soft-spoken Javanese. "Follow me," he says and shows us directly to the pride of the village – an oil distillery. Here the locals produce the essential caju put oil sold in and around Merauke. For many communities in Wasur National Park it is an important source of income. Other sources of income are for example vegetable growing, hunting and showing tourists around.

Leaves from the Mallaleuca tree (Asteromythus simpocarpa) are picked by hand and transported to the village by foot, bicycle or boat during the rainy season. There they are spread out on a large shelf to air and thereby reduce the water contents. The leaves are then boiled in a wooden boiler. Cold water is added to quicken the condensation process. After about two hours, oil and water begin to flow slowly from the condensation drum, with the oil on top and water at the bottom. Finally, the oil is collected in old beer bottles, labeled and distributed to stores and hotels in Merauke and Jakarta via a local NGO. The oil is for external use to rub on an aching stomach for example. It also soothes mosquito bites. A bottle is around two Swiss Francs.

The communities have agreed on a rotation agreement for leaf-picking to give the trees enough time to grow new leaves.

"If a leaf-picker cuts down a tree or picks all the leaves off one tree, this person is no longer allowed to be a leaf-picker," explains the Javanese village leader.

This simple system of sustainability guarantees the continuity of this important source of income for the people that depend on it. The village leader then invites me to sit down among the village women producing little baskets for the oil bottles. The women are reserved but loosen up when I try the white potato-like vegetable that one of the women serves me.

A little boy points to a distant dead tree where a young sea eagle is screaming out loudly. He then takes my hand and leads me to the back garden where a baby Timor deer is being held captive. Dried deer meat is a delicacy here but the deer are getting rare as their natural habitat is shrinking.

Facing deforestation
New Guinea's forests are facing deforestation. Industrial logging and the development of oil palm plantations and open cast mines are major causes. Indonesia is the second largest producer of palm oil in the world and also Papua New Guinea is expanding its palm oil production.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, 57 million hectares of forests have been depleted since 1950, an area thirteen times bigger than Switzerland. The main reasons for conversion are logging, pulp production, agriculture and oil palm plantations. Currently 5.4 million hectares are covered by oil palm plantations, compared to 3 million in 1997. The industry provides jobs and export earnings. But it also causes land use conflicts, displaces traditional agriculture, and contributes to forest fires and biodiversity loss.

WWF is working with palm oil companies, government agencies, and local people in the land use planning process to save areas that are of high social and environmental value from being converted. Together with other stakeholders, WWF has initiated the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. This international, non-profit organization focuses on promoting sustainable palm oil. In 2005, international criteria for sustainable palm oil production were developed. The first palm oil produced according to these criteria is expected to be available on the market this year.

Another threat to New Guinea's natural areas is the large population growth. Already today, six million people depend on New Guinea's forests and rivers for their survival. The forests provides them with food, shelter and medicine. The population is expected to double during the next thirty years. This will put additional pressure on the environment as the population will need fuel wood, timber and land.

WWF believes that only a long-term, large-scale and integrated conservation process can save New Guinea's natural beauty and biodiversity from being destroyed. Different interest groups have to work together to guarantee the successful implementation of conservation strategies. It is important to know indigenous knowledge and socio-cultural values of the communities living in the area and depending on it. Often, environmental degradation is linked to poverty. Therefore, WWF aims to link conservation efforts with the development of sustainable livelihoods.

WWF supports caju put oil production as well as the production of many other forest products by national park villages such as word carvings, organic rice, mountain salt and wild pepper.

With two men from Yereu, we go for a short walk in the forest.

"Look above you!" one of the man tells me. I look up and catch a last glimpse of a blue-winged kookaburra sailing quickly over our heads, its blue feathers sparkle when it flies. I'm walking in water up to my knees. It's so peaceful. Not a sound.

It is getting dark. On our way back to Merauke, we stop at a little shed across a stream. A farmer and his family greet us. He is not an ordinary farmer. He grows orchids that he carefully collects in the forest. Proudly he shows us his orchid garden with flowers in all colors and shapes. So much beauty on the island of New Guinea, and all in one single spot!

New protected areas for Papua New Guinea

2005-10-26

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – The government of Papua New Guinea announced today that it will gazette 12 new protected areas covering some of the country's most biologically diverse forests, wetlands and coral reefs.

The proposed protected areas are in Madang, the Sepik River, Mount Bosavi (Southern Highlands and Western Provinces), and the TransFly (Western Province), which together will add a further 771,451ha to Papua New Guinea's protected area system — an increase of almost 50 per cent.

"This is the most significant expansion of our protected area system this decade," said Papua New Guinea Environment Minister William Duma.

"We are very proud of the efforts of landholding communities who requested protection of their land and congratulate the non-government organizations and companies who have assisted them."

As all the protected areas are owned by local communities, management practices will be developed and run by the communities themselves. The protected areas will promote the sustainable use of wildlife and its habitats for subsistence and cash income, as well as strengthening land rights and cultural sites.

"We hope these proposed protected areas will help some of the country's least developed communities to improve their livelihoods," added Minister Duma. "They have been established for many reasons, including increasing fish stocks, ensuring sustainable harvest of animals and forest products, clarifying land boundaries, drawing tourists and protecting sacred areas."

Nominating communities were recognized by WWF with certificates of conservation leadership given by WWF International Director General designate James Leape.

"This is an important step in protecting one of the world's great environmental treasures," said Leape.

"Papua New Guinea has the largest block of tropical rainforest in the Asia Pacific, the largest and healthiest wetlands in the region and some of the richest coral reefs on the planet, but these are under intense pressure from unsustainable fishing and logging."

Papua New Guinea currently has one of the lowest coverage of protected area of any country. Only 2.7 per cent of the country's land area and 0.07 per cent of its territorial waters are included in protected areas.

The government has committed to protecting 10 per cent of the country's land in protected areas by 2010 and 10 per cent of its marine areas by 2012. The 12 additions will bring the current protect land total to around 4 per cent. The government is also proposing a Protected Area initiative, with support from community organizations, landowners and donors, to ensure that the 10 per cent target is reached.

"A global effort is needed to support the remarkable effort now underway to protect and manage Papua New Guinea's environment and promote sustainable natural resource industries," added Leape.

"WWF will be committing its resources to this and we call on governments and donors in the region and around the world to assist."

END NOTES:

• The 12 protected areas include the: Madang Lagoon (estimated to contain 700 species of coral and over 1,000 species of reef fishes — as many as the Great Barrier Reef in a fraction of the area); Mount Bosavi and the Kikori River Basin (part of a unique landscape of extinct volcanoes, limestone gorges, and rainforests); Sepik River Basin (perhaps the largest unpolluted river in the Asia Pacific region and home to one of the world's largest crocodile populations); and TransFly ecoregion (home to important migratory bird sites and some of the region's largest and healthiest wetlands).

• The event marking the protected area announcement was organized by the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation, with support from WWF Papua New Guinea. The following local organizations were recognized: Ambunti District Council of Women, Aquaventures Pty Ltd (dive operators), Bauabaua Theatre Company, HELP Resources, Kosua Orogo Resource Owners Association, New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Oil Search Pty Ltd, PNG Forest Authority and Wetlands International.

For more information:
Ashwini Prahba, Communications Coordinator
WWF South Pacific Programme Office
Tel: +679 3315 533
E-mail: aprabha@wwfpacific.org.fj

Paul Chatterton, Conservation Manager
WWF Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 853 3220
E-mail: pchat@wwfpacific.org.pg

Deep in the perfumed forests of Papua New Guinea

2005-10-21

By Guy Jowett

A repeated sharp knocking sound interrupts the busy chirrups, trills and cackles of a million insects and birds deep in the steamy, dense rainforest of Papua New Guinea. The disturbance comes not from an exotic, newly-discovered woodpecker, but from a machete being brought down on its target by Tony, a local from the East Sepik village of Pukapuki.

In a land once famed for its fearsome head-hunters, it's a relief to report that nowadays the machete-wielding hunters have recently found a rather different commodity to prize — agarwood.

Tony delivers a final blow, then holds aloft a rather unimpressive looking chunk of wood. It has been splintered from an equally unimposing tree — certainly unremarkable when compared to the towering forest that surrounds us. However, its discovery was greeted with great excitement.

But with the likes of gold, copper, oil and gas already discovered in Papua New Guinea (PNG), not to mention the vast timber resources, why is agarwood considered so important?

The sweet smell of resin
"What makes it so valuable is its smell," says WWF's sustainable resource use trainer Leo Sunari.

"When these trees are injured or infected — maybe by certain insects, maybe by other means, we're not too sure yet — they produce this dark resin in response."

The resin's long-lasting fragrance has made agarwood (also referred to as eaglewood and aloeswood, and more locally as gaharu) popular for thousands of years throughout Asia and the Middle East, where it's used for cultural, religious and medicinal purposes, and as a perfume. Worldwide sources are now dwindling, so its discovery in PNG in 1997 spurred intense harvesting.

"They were going crazy," Leo recalls. "The trees were being chopped down and the roots dug up, because that's where they thought the infection was most likely to be."

To curb the rate of destruction, WWF has been working with local communities in PNG — who own about 97 per cent of the land — offering workshops to help them map their land, predict where the agarwood trees are, and develop ways of managing their resources sustainably.

"As part of that work, we're teaching them how to extract the agarwood resin without killing the trees," adds Leo. "And, we're making sure they know its real value, so they're not ripped off by traders."

WWF is also helping communities designate certain regions as official wildlife management areas, which will help to protect them from being handed over as concessions to loggers and mining companies.

All in all, agarwood could provide a long-term sustainable livelihood for some of the poorest people in the country. It will also boost the survival prospects of the world's third largest remaining rainforest and all the wonders it contains.

A strange and beautiful land
Alfred Russel Wallace, the Victorian anthropologist and biologist who, along with Charles Darwin, hit upon the theory of natural selection, travelled to the equatorial island of New Guinea in 1858, describing it as "a country which contained more strange and new and beautiful natural objects than any other part of the globe".

So far, I had been focusing — all too unsuccessfully — on avoiding much of this "strange and beautiful" fauna and flora, as I'd battled for three hours in the heat of the day somewhere in the province of East Sepik, in the north-west of the country. Razor-sharp fronds and spiny creepers reached from on high to snare me, and a maze of buttressed tree roots were hell-bent on tripping me up. Sloshing through countless streams resulted in a coating of leeches.

Now permitted a short breather, I take in some of the natural wealth for myself. New Guinea has more than its fair share of the stuff, much of it unique to the islands.

A huge butterfly flutters by me, like a massive leaf tumbling gently down, and it strikes me that this is truly a land of giants. The Queen Alexandra birdwing butterfly is the world's largest, with a whopping 30cm wingspan. If lizards are your thing, the longest you'll find anywhere is here — Salvadori's monitor lizard, measuring in at 2.5m. And pigeon fanciers are in for a treat. Not only are these the biggest, but they also sport superb crowns of feathers.

Or if you're after weird and wonderful, there's a mammal that lays eggs — the long-beaked echidna (or giant spiny anteater) which, despite its alias, rather prefers juicy earthworms to ants. And PNG's marsupials range from many types of kangaroo that have decided it's better to live up in the trees, to the bronze quoll (or marsupial "cat"), which is the largest marsupial predator here.

Not that the quoll is very big. And, it's precisely this lack of large predators that's behind the incredible diversity of birds in New Guinea — 762 species were identified in a recent census. Most famous are its 38 of the world's 42 species of birds of paradise. These extraordinary birds, with their fantastic courtship displays and resplendent plumage, were once considered too magical to be from this planet — it was thought instead that they hovered between heaven and earth.

Words from the magistrate
After a long day's hike through some of the country's most inhospitable terrain, it's time for a little more of the same before spending the night in a small shack, open on all sides to the elements. Tony wields his machete once more to construct a quick makeshift bed from a few vast palm leaves. His ease in using what the forest has to offer is a sign of how closely connected these people are with their environment.

It's a theme I take up the next day with a Pukapuki elder, introduced to me simply as "The Magistrate".

"The forests are our lives," says the Magistrate who has donned his traditional dress of feathers, flowers and shells, which highlight a close relationship with nature. "We rely on them not just for building materials, but also medicines, food and fuel."

Transportation too. Pukapuki, like most villages, is right next to a river. Here it's the April River, a tributary of the mighty Sepik, one of PNG's two most important waterways, which snakes 1,100km through the north of the country, and is considered the soul of the country. There are no roads in this region. To get around, villagers rely on long, thin canoes carved from tall trees.

"Today, we have to go much further to find good trees for making canoes, or to hunt for wild pigs, when before there were many nearby," adds the Magistrate who has noticed the effects of resources being over-harvested during his lifetime.

The next generation
Sitting by a small fire, darkness has fallen almost in an instant, giving the insects their cue to beef up the noise to a deafening level. Above it all, I manage a few words with Bernard Sepani, 25, a local who is helping WWF to map local forest resources.

"Our needs are limited," he says. "All we really need is just some money for education and healthcare."

We're interrupted by a huge insect buzzing around a lantern, which prompts Bernard to add lanterns and kerosene to the list of needs. He'd also like another water filter to safeguard the village freshwater supply. And, when pressed, dreams of an outboard motor for the dug-out canoe, which would improve transportation to neighbouring village markets.

It's a far cry from the satellite TV and brick-built houses promised by some mining and logging companies in return for rights to their land.

"That's a real challenge, trying to convince communities that the sustainable approach is best in the long-term," notes Ted Mamu, WWF's conservation science coordinator in PNG. "People go with the wind. When loggers come with hard cash, why wouldn't they go for that instead?"

As well as our ongoing battle with international mining and logging companies, WWF is simply trying to formalize a process that's been going on for centuries — allowing people to live in harmony with nature. That is why the global conservation organization is working to ensure there are plans in place that will enable them to continue to do so, despite the huge expected population increase, and pressures of development.

That night, the magistrate's wife gives birth to their third child, a boy. When he is Bernard's age, today's new nurseries of agarwood trees may be mature enough to produce a steady supply of valuable incense, and along with it a strong income that will sustain his people.

In the meantime, there are great hopes for other sources of income — from cash crops to ecotourism, as well as for certified forest management. And, while it's early days yet, the good news is that WWF is already hard at work here, in one of the very few places on Earth where there's still an opportunity to save large areas of wilderness.

Gazing out into the darkness, I soak up the unforgettable sounds of PNG's "strange and new and beautiful" nature, and find myself rooting for this land of wonders and its fabulous potential.

* Guy Jowett is the Publications Editor at WWF-UK

END NOTES:

• WWF is collaborating with local authorities and other non-government organizations to provide education and training to local communities about the importance of agarwood as a resource, and encouraging sustainable management of the industry. These training workshops come under a project funded by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. As part of a pilot project, agarwood management teams have been set up in selected locations around PNG to work directly with rural agarwood farmers in practicing and promoting sustainable harvest and trade of agarwood industry. Sites already selected include: the Hunstein Range and Karawari River in East Sepik Province, Vailala in Gulf Province and Cape Rodney in the Central Province, and Maramuni in Enga Province.

• PNG forms the eastern half of New Guinea, just above the northernmost tip of Australia. Its geographical location is important, being at something of a tectonic crossroads where Australasia, Asia and the Pacific Ocean floor all meet. The geologically recent jostling between these three has created steep mountains and valleys that form great barriers across the country, leaving neighbouring areas cut off from one another, and unique wildlife developing in splendid isolation. The remarkable array of species, many found only here, put New Guinea among the world's top 10 places for biodiversity.

::: Project Profile :::
Eaglewood management in Papua New Guinea

2005-03-23

Eaglewood — also called agarwood, gaharu or aloeswood — is known around the world for its highly valuable perfume and incense, and Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the last remaining frontiers for natural areas of these trees.

Increasing demand for the tree's oil, however, has led to local landowners overharvesting its timber, hence reducing the chances of natural regeneration and causing commercial extinction in some areas. Villagers are then paid only a fraction of the real value of the wood.

WWF is collaborating with local authorities and other non-government organizations (NGOs) to provide education and training to local communities about the importance of eaglewood as a resource, and encouraging sustainable management of the industry. These training workshops come under a project funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

As part of a pilot project, eaglewood management teams have been set up in selected locations around PNG to work directly with rural eaglewood farmers in practicing and promoting sustainable harvest and trade of eaglewood industry.

Sites already selected include: the Hunstein Range and Karawari River in East Sepik Province, Vailala in Gulf Province and Cape Rodney in the Central Province and Maramuni in Enga Province.

"Managing Eaglewood in a sustainable manner will greatly benefit rural communities across the island of New Guinea, by improving the quality of life in villages," said WWF-PNG's Sustainable Resource Use Trainer, Leo Sunari.

"There is a lot to learn about the species and much information to be exchanged in order to design the best management procedures for commercial harvesting and trade."

A major goal of the project is to develop a number of demonstration Eaglewood Management Areas. These are areas of forest set aside by landowners for the sustainable harvest of eaglewood. Within these areas, communities will be assisted to prevent extinction of their eaglewood trees, maximize harvest of resin while minimizing damage; promote regeneration; and improve income and benefit sharing.

Teams have so far completed field patrols to Cape Rodney (Central Province) and the Hunstein Range (East Sepik Province), and field patrols are also planned for Vailala in the Gulf Province.

To date, the team has: assisted with Clan boundary descriptions; drafted marketing and conservation laws and penalties; drafted simple Eaglewood Management Plans; helped local communities form Eaglewood Management Committees; and provided some training on seed/nursery project.

The eaglewood management areas will also protect large areas of some of the richest rainforest areas in the world while also provide a living to some of the world's poorest communities.

By providing training and extension support to local communities and resource owners through its conservation work in eaglewood management, WWF hopes that those involved in the eaglewood industry will continue to better manage and harvest this very valuable forest resource, which will in the long term be a major source of revenue for rural communities towards sustaining and improving their livelihoods.

* By Mary Piafu, Leo Sunari and Michael Avosa, WWF PNG Programme Office

END NOTES:

Eaglewood management areas are set up by communities using a 14-step method:

1. Community Interest: Community sends a letter to government and NGOs agreeing to develop and harvest eaglewood resources sustainably under a management plan.

2. Clan Group Meeting: Meeting of clans in the community to discuss their interest and steps in developing an eaglewood management plan.

3. Community Survey: Use hands-on workshops to map clans, ownership, areas of eaglewood, disputes, harvest history, and rules (for eaglewood and similar species).

4. Scientific Survey: An eaglewood inventory is conducted by the community with technical support from NGOs and government (looking at eaglewood distribution, species and other biodiversity values).

5. Survey Review: Review the results of the two surveys and discuss options for best eaglewood management.

6. Boundary Mapping: Formally map the boundaries for eaglewood harvest and other land uses.

7. Rules & Guidelines: Develop rules for the sustainable harvest for eaglewood including penalties and methods of enforcement.

8. Marketing: Identify registered buyers, fair prices and the best ways to sell eaglewood.

9. Eaglewood Management Group: The community or clan decides on a group to ensure that the rules are followed.

10. Eaglewood Management Plan: Compile the results of the steps above into an eaglewood management plan.

11. Declare a eaglewood Harvest Area: Declare the area under a wildlife management area, community eaglewood management agreement and/ or custom law.

12. Eaglewood Harvest: Harvest eaglewood based on the harvest rules above.

13. Rehabilitation: Reforest and enrich old harvest sites. Establish eaglewood nurseries in the forest.

14. Monitoring: Inspection/assessment of the eaglewood cut-over to determine impact and quality of harvest.

WWF - News from the Forests of New Guinea

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More than 1000 new species found in New Guinea

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Protecting Sacred Lands in the Last Paradise on Earth...

New protected areas for Papua New Guinea

WWF discovers new species of orchids in Papua New Guinea

Oxley's skewed agenda won't help PNG

A conservation vision for New Guinea's wetlands

::: Asia-Pacific Story :::Essential oils from New Guinea's forests

New protected areas for Papua New Guinea

Deep in the perfumed forests of Papua New Guinea

::: Project Profile :::Eaglewood management in Papua New Guinea

::: Asia-Pacific Story :::
Essential oils from New Guinea's forests

::: Project Profile :::
Eaglewood management in Papua New Guinea