Papua New Guinea is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, a proclamation even Pope Francis acknowledges.
But Papua New Guinea is also challenged with socio-economic developments that do not reach the rural majority despite the presence of numerous extractive industries.
The Pontiff in his remarks this morning at the APEC Haus said Papua New Guinea besides consisting of islands and languages, is also rich in natural resources.
“These goods are destined by God for the entire community.
“Even if outside experts and large international companies must be involved in the harnessing of these resources, it is only right that the needs of local people are given due consideration when distributing the proceeds and employing workers, to improve their living conditions.
“These environmental and cultural treasures represent at the same time a great responsibility, because they require everyone, civil authorities and all citizens, to promote initiatives that develop natural and human resources in a sustainable and equitable manner,” said Pope Francis.
Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae in acknowledging the work of the Catholic Church in the country also requested the Pope in his capacity as a world leader to help advocate on Climate Change and its impacts that is felt by small island nations like PNG.
“Climate change is real and is affecting the lives of our people in the remote Islands of Papua New Guinea.
“Across the Pacific, islands are sinking and are affected and displaced.
“We seek your prayers and support for global action and advocacy on climate change, we need to let the world know that there is no more time.
“What the world needs is commitment for action,” Sir Bob said.
President of the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Resources and Energy or PNG CORE, Anthony Smare says the Community Affairs and National Content Conference and Expo or CANCONEX is a safe space for uncomfortable courageous conversations.
Smare made the comment during the conclusion of the 2024 National Community Affairs & National Content Conference & Expo. CANCONEX, the conference and Expo started on the 1st and ended on the 3rd of July, and was hosted by the University of Papua New Guinea.
There were presentations by companies and stakeholders in the Mining, Petroleum and Energy sectors, and afterwards panel discussions, creating interaction between Resource Landowners, activists and Major Companies in the extractive and Energy industries.
With the focus on Community Affairs and Local Content, discussions on challenges and innovations in improving and addressing issues of national interest, that affect resource landowners and companies alike, were presented to over a thousand attendees over the three days.
One of the highlights of the CANCONEX was a continuation of last years inaugural CANCONEX in Lae, which featured the Issues of Bougainville; this years edition also welcomed the resource landowners from Bougainville and key partners which included the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), the Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) and the Panguna Land Owners.
Sensitive discussions on the legacy issues of the Panguna mine and the progress of reopening the mine took center stage, with the audience very much in tune.
The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), Ishmael Toroama, was present, he gave a speech and later the president was part of a panel discussion with BCL, and representatives of the Landowners, which included Theonila Roka Matbob, member for the Ioro Constituency in Central Bougainville, which is part of the Panguna mine area.
President of PNG CORE, Anthony Smare was invested in the conversations and facilitated the panel discussion, on Bougainville issues, he stressed during the closing of CANCONEX that the discussions were informative and very diverse.
“We need safe spaces for uncomfortable courageous conversations, we saw this in the session, the ABG President was here and Bougainville Copper Limited was here, BCL was not welcome back to Bougainville for 20 years, But I was surprised to hear them say that, mining was essential to grow their economy, as the President had said.
“But they were doing it in a way that they knew they had legacy issues and through processes such as remediation in which the people and the ABG are involved in, and that illustrates the importance of having safe spaces where extremely diverse views can be heard where people don’t take it personally but they realize its important to build a future where people feel included and they own that future,” Smare added.
With the convergence of resource owners and companies together not all views are agreed to, but like the President of PNG CORE alluded to in his closing remarks, the convention attendees are always expected to keep an open mind when observing discussions.
“I salute the companies that support this and that sponsor this, because they know that the people that are most uncomfortable with these conversations are the companies themselves, when they hear being mentioned.
“CANCONEX is successful because of what we want people to commit to when they come in, which is to open your mind to opinions which you don’t agree with, with people you don’t necessarily agree with or that you think you have nothing in common with, someone you have never met before, and this event only works because of the commitment the attendees make, you attend all the sessions and you talk to the interns the CEOs, Resource Landowners and community activists you have a whole spectrum that come here,” Smare added.
Environmental advocate Wenceslaus Magun has sounded the alarm over the potential negative impacts of sand mining on biodiversity and local communities in the Sumgilbar Area of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The region, spanning 51 kilometers from Murunas to Tokain in the Sumgilbar LLG of Sumkar District Madang, is under threat from the growing sand mining industry, particularly in the absence of a regulatory framework, allowing large-scale operations to proceed unchecked.
“Unregulated sand mining threatens both marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the Sumgilbar Area,” Magun stated.
Vanansius Barrar of Murukanam village Sumkar District says his village is under threat from logging activities and now sand mining is becoming a threat for locals who depend on the marine life for sustenance.
Sand mining, a rapidly expanding sector in PNG, poses significant environmental risks in the Sumgilbar Area, covering both land and sea territories, including crucial bodies of water like the Gilagi River.
The lack of comprehensive policies exacerbates challenges, with limited monitoring and transparency regarding sand extraction activities and the involved parties.
“The absence of effective policies and monitoring mechanisms enables unsustainable practices that jeopardize the environment,” added Magun.
Contrary to popular belief, sand is not a renewable resource and unregulated extraction poses immediate threats such as habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.
The environmental risks include coastal erosion, degradation of marine ecosystems, and disruption of freshwater systems.
Social risks are equally alarming, especially for communities’ dependent on the sea for food and finance.
Huge Leatherback Turtle laying in the sand. [[PHOTO FILE: Wenceslaus Magun]]
These risks include the depletion of fish stocks, loss of livelihoods, and the erosion of cultural practices tied to marine environments.
“Communities relying on these ecosystems face severe socio-economic impacts,” Magun emphasized.
Academic researcher, Ms. Winnifred Duk, currently pursuing a PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Goroka, supports this view.
“As sand protects the environment and is not a renewable resource, the large scale of mining sand would bring environmental concerns, and social and economic impacts, including the direct habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity,” says Duk.
The negative consequences of sand mining are profound. They encompass forced migration, loss of fertile land, increased social issues, and regulatory challenges linked to illegal operations.
The loss of biodiversity can lead to the collapse of local ecosystems, further endangering species like the leatherback turtle and undermining the food security of local communities.
“The threat to biodiversity and local livelihoods is immediate and requires urgent intervention,” Magun warned.
Another local, Willie Mayng, said their land is a conservation area and is a nesting zone for the endangered leatherback turtles.
The absence of policies governing sand mining in PNG is a critical issue requiring urgent attention.
The government’s acknowledgment of this lack underscores the need for a shift towards sustainable practices prioritizing ecosystem preservation.
“Without a proper regulatory framework, the detrimental effects of sand mining will continue unchecked,” Magun urged.
In response to the environmental concerns, Wenceslaus Magun, in collaboration with the Turtle Island Restoration Network, initiated the Sea Turtles Restoration Project in Karkum village.
This project aims to prevent the loss of endangered sea turtles, marine habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity while restoring food sources and promoting alternative economic opportunities.
“Our focus is on protecting both the environment and the community’s livelihood,” Magun explained.
The project’s primary goal is to involve resource owners in marine and near-shore resource management plans and empower indigenous communities to actively preserve their environment.
This not only benefits endangered species like leatherback turtles but also supports the livelihoods of the people.
PHOTO FILE: Provided by Wenceslaus Magun.
Magun and his team emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage and traditional practices intertwined with the environment.
“Integrating traditional knowledge with modern conservation efforts is key to our success,” stated Magun.
The project seeks sustainable solutions that balance community needs with environmental protection, aiming to raise awareness about the significance of preserving endangered species and promoting alternative income sources.
Through the Sea Turtles Restoration Project, Magun and his team collaborated with the Turtle Island Restoration Network to establish the MAKATA Association, a local NGO sustaining the project.
MAKATA ensures the vision of saving, protecting and restoring endangered leatherback sea turtles and marine resources is achieved; allowing inhabitants to sustainably utilize these resources for improved lifestyles in harmony with their cultures and spirituality.
“By fostering sustainable practices, we can ensure a better future for both people and nature,” Magun affirmed.
On November 17, 2008, representatives from each of the four clans in Karkum village signed a conservation deed, granting them more control over their resources.
This deed maintains customary practices, empowering them to be direct custodians and stewards of their resources.
The conservation deed enables them to assert their customary rights, respond to threats, and actively manage land and sea to protect important areas while recording and safeguarding traditional knowledge.
“The conservation deed is a crucial step in empowering local communities to protect their heritage and environment”. Magun concluded.
ACT NOW! has released another case study report that reveals more illegal logging under the pretext of agriculture development.
This new report titled “A New Forest Grab” focuses on the Mengen agriculture project in East New Britain Province.
ACT NOW! says the report reveals how a Malaysian owned logging company, KK Connections, has used highly suspicious claims that will establish a forest plantation and agriculture projects to obtain a Forest Clearing Authority (FCA), which it is now using as cover to export thousands of cubic meters of round logs.
An FCA is only supposed to be used to allow the clearing of small, discrete areas of forest for agriculture or other land use changes, but satellite images analyzed by ACT NOW reveal the logging company in the Mengen area is roaming over a large area, selectively felling and extracting valuable timber with no forest clearance or agriculture planting.
The second report follows its first report, Ten Years Without a Crop, published last month in conjunction with Jubilee Australia.
The first report according to ACT NOW! revealed how another Malaysian-owned logging company, Global Elite Limited who has already sold US$31 million (115 million kina) worth of round logs from the Wammy FCA in West Sepik Province, but has not established promised palm oil or rubber plantations.
ACT NOW!’s Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago said to make matters worse, both reports highlight how the FCA logging operations have been approved by the PNG Forest Authority without the informed consent of a significant proportion of customary landowners.
He said just last week, Prime Minister Marape again reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the protection and sustainable management of our forest resources, yet the PNG Forest Authority is continuing to allow illegal logging across the entire country.
ACT NOW! Is calling on the PNG Forest Authority to cancel the Forest Clearing Authorities for both the Mengen and Wammy projects and to impose a moratorium on logging in all FCA areas.
In total there are 24 active FCA logging operations across nine Provinces which cover an average area of 61,849 hectares, the equivalent of more than 11,000 rugby fields.
Eddie Tanago, said: “FCAs are routinely being used as a loophole to authorize the theft of PNG’s forests. We call on the National Forest Board and PNG Forest Authority to extend the current moratorium on new FCAs, suspend logging in all existing FCAs and conduct a comprehensive public review of the projects”.
ACT NOW says it is also calling on the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Fraud squad to open investigations into these illegal logging operations as they are continuing under the supervision of Forest Authority officers.
There’s notable development made in the ongoing discussions between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) in relation to the Judicial Review Dialogue.
This includes the appointment of five Bougainvillean directors to reflect it’s local representatation.
“I am pleased to advise that good progress has been made in our ongoing discussions with Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) aimed at amicably ending long-running Judicial Review proceedings in the National Court of PNG, “said Toroama.
In January 2018, the Bougainville Government refused an extension of BCL’s exploration licence (ELO1).
In April 2018, the Court granted a leave to BCL for a judicial review of the decision.
Toroama said much has happened since then, including the historic referendum that’s paving Bougainville’s path to independence.
“BCL has also continued its transition as a local company, and the ABG currently has 36.45% shareholding in BCL. Through this, the process of transferring another 36.45% presently held by the National Government started,” said Toroama.
Panguna Mine Pit
In total, the ABG and people of Bougainville are set to have a 72.9% ownership stake in BCL.
As a result, the ABG and BCL have agreed on terms for a deed of settlement that would result in BCL ending the judicial review proceedings once the parties have delivered on a series of undertakings.
These include BCL contributing funds to assist Panguna reburials and reactivating the Bougainville Copper Foundation education scholarships program.
For its part, the ABG has agreed, consistent with the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, to reconsider BCL’s EL01 extension application with a view to extending the exploration licence for five years.
“It must be stressed that this would NOT be a mining licence; the issuance of which is subject to a separate process. BCL has agreed to file a notice with the court for the discontinuance of the Judicial Review,” said Toroama.
An extension of EL01 will allow BCL to continue its program of community support and work cooperatively with the ABG, landowners and the broader community to achieve mutual goals.
An abandoned bridge near the once busy mining area of Panguna.
Any future redevelopment of Panguna under a mining licence will inevitably require the involvement of many project partners. The ABG will continue to progress dialogue with landowners and important stakeholders in preparation for the eventual granting of a mining licence in the near future.
In the meantime, required feasibility related activities must be progressed under an exploration licence; these activities will take years to complete before the project sees actual mining development stage.
“Panguna is also a Bougainville-wide agenda given its relationship with the Bougainville Crisis. This fact, coupled with evidence of strong backing across Bougainville from prior consultative forums undertaken by the ABG in North, Central and South Bougainville supports my decision to pursue this path as President,” President Toroama said.
Teams conducting the Coastal Water Survey in Bougainville have been deployed to all three districts in the Region.
The survey is vital as it will allow the transfer of fisheries powers from the National Fisheries Department, to the Autonomous Bougainville Government and will be carried out within three nautical miles in Bougainville.
This move is considered a significant progress towards Bougainville’s political aspirations, especially in defining territorial sovereignty and rights through the reference coordinates for baseline, internal waters and coastal waters.
It is being facilitated through the ABG Department of Primary Industries & Marine Resources, the National Fisheries Authority, the National Department of Justice and Attorney General, the National Maritime Safety Authority and the Geoscience Energy & Maritime (GEM) Division of Pacific Community (SPC).
The findings of this survey will help Bougainville in mapping its coastal hazards or disasters such as tsunamis in coastal communities.
The Coastal Waters Survey is aligned with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) for formalizing maritime boundaries. By aligning with UNCLOS, this enhances Bougainville’s standing on the international stage.
Being a martime region, the ABG believes this survey will enhance maritime services, regulate shipping, and boost economic development
An additial bonus the survey gives the maritime benefits, is that the Coastal Water Survey adds value for future land demarcation, paving way for development, including road infrastructure projects
THE Acting Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning, John Rosso, officially opened the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum this morning in Port Moresby in the presence of Ministers and Departmental Heads from the fisheries sectors across the Pacific region.
Under the theme, “Strengthening Tuna Sustainability and Industry development in the ‘Blue Pacific Continent’ through increased innovation, partnership and participation”, stakeholders will address challenges faced by the regional tuna industry and chart a course forward for the future of the tuna resource and whole industry.
Managing Director of the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority said, the last Tuna Forum in 2019 was disrupted by Covid-19 but this year’s conference is well represented by all the Pacific nations.
“Pacific island countries value the importance of maintaining dialogue. These meetings have assisted countries in the region to come together and develop common positions and strategies to ensure the sustainable management of tuna in our region”, Ilakini said.
Mr Phil Roberts, Chairman of the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum and Board Director of Tri Marine International Pte Ltd, Singapore who described PNG as a ‘True leader in Pacific Industry and tuna management’ said the challenge now is maintaining the momentum whilst facing global challenges such as climate change and the developments in the industry through the creation of jobs and economic activity.
“Fisheries in the Western Pacific is the best managed in the world, there’s a lot to do but I feel optimistic,” he said.
The Pacific Tuna forum is known for its impact on the sustainable management of tuna resources and preserving the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
The two-day forum will focus on key areas including Sustainable fisheries management; Ecosystem Conservation; Climate Resilience; Market Access and Trade; and Indigenous and Local Knowledge.
Expected outcomes from the forum discussions include Policy Recommendations, Innovative Solutions, Stakeholder Collaboration and Public Awareness for Tuna Fishing and Marine Resource sectors in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
The 8th Pacific Tuna forum is organized by the National Fisheries authority of Papua New Guinea with INFOFISH and regional partners including the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Parties to the Nauru Agreement Organization and the PNG Fishing Industry Association.
Seven Fisheries Ministers and Heads of Fisheries Departments from the Pacific Region converged into East New Britain at the start of this month led by the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources of Papua New Guinea, Jelta Wong for the Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative.
The Ministers and departmental heads were all invited to sit in on two high-level meetings to discuss key issues related to fisheries management, conservation, and sustainable development in the Pacific region.
The Forum Fisheries Committee meeting based on the U.S treaty distribution of funds was the first on the agenda. This meeting provided the platform for all heads of Fisheries in the Pacific to dialogue on how best to distribute the US$6million provided by the U.S Government to island nations that are members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) treaty.
Justin Ilakini, NFA Managing Director.
Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority, Justin Ilakini said: “the aim of this meeting is to broker a deal amongst all parties involved to reach an agreement on an equal distribution of the funds to aid in development of the sector in smaller island nations of the Pacific Region.
The second meeting, the Pacific Island Ministers East New Britain Initiative saw PNG take the lead in providing the platform for Pacific Ministers across the region to create dialogue in addressing two key issues.
The first being climate change and the second, to tap into opportunities to maximize economic returns from the Pacific’s shared tuna resource.
Mr Ilakini in a press conference in Kokopo expressed hope that the leaders will identify practical ways of implementing the forum leaders’ development aspirations as contained in the Blue Pacific Continent.
“We are leading the initiative and providing the platform for our Pacific Island leaders to have the opportunity to have a voice in speaking from their own National Levels to see how we can collaborate as a region to drive the Pacific Island interest going forward in this multi-million-dollar industry which we have come to know as one of the most lucrative industries that we have; the tuna industry.”
To this, PNG’s Minister for Fisheries explained that the whole meet was to create a purpose for the region and showcase what the region is capable of doing in this space.
He further elaborated that the focus is on creating more wealth for the Pacific and controlling the stocks of the Pacific’s shared tuna resources against world players in the global tuna market.
“It’s better that if we stand united as one, the world will know that they can’t come and pick us off one by one”
Minister Wong said, that the initiative further aims to foster dialogue on better ways to mitigate Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing; capitalize on the tuna resource; and ensure that the Pacific gets the best value from its shared tuna resource.
ABOUT twenty media practitioners from Port Moresby and East New Britain completed a three-day media training course on the importance of the fisheries sector in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Region.
The aim of the media training is to ensure that journalists are better prepared to report on the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum that will be hosted by Papua New Guinea in the capital city, Port Moresby.
Training participants in discussion.(From left) Carolyn from the Wantok Niuspaper in discussion with Godwin and Wasita from EMTV.
Part of the learnings included the growth of the National Fisheries Authority over time, their operating procedures and authoritative regulations and fishing. Among the topics of fishing was the most important, shared tuna resource of the Pacific region.
The training fostered interactive discussion between facilitators and journalists about some of the issues impacting the tuna market directly, such as Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and the impacts of external forces such as climate change and COVID-19.
Discussions about preservation and sustainable management of the resource for the future of the country and the wider Pacific and its people were some of the key indicators of the workshop.
President of the Papua New Guinea Media Council, Neville Choi, who was one of four facilitators of the training, encouraged journalists to do more research on tuna and the industry after the workshop in order to effectively report on the topics.
“Tuna is a global market and it impacts some of the major countries who deal with business and economics in the Pacific and a key to understanding all of that is knowing about the fish. The fish in itself is important and where it’s going to be in the next 50 years is important to our own Pacific livelihoods.”
Another facilitator and long-time Pacific journalist, Lisa Williams-Lahari, who’s been covering and following the Tuna stories globally shared her experiences as a Pacific islander and a journalist covering tuna; a resource that is closer to the heart of the pacific people.
“As a journalist following the tuna story worldwide, PNG has really represented the tuna tigers of this region (Pacific) to the world; in terms of leadership and development; and in terms of following the dollars that our people will benefit from in the terms to come.”
The three-day media training ended with a presentation of certificates to all participants and training facilitators.
The training was initiated and funded by the National Fisheries Authority in preparation for the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum which will be hosted by Papua New Guinea at the Stanley Hotel from the 6th-7th of September in Port Moresby.
FOURTEEN media workers from Port Moresby are joining other media workers in Kokopo for a three-day media workshop ahead of the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum to be hosted on the 6th-8th of September in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The biannual PTF is the main arena where all stakeholders gather gauge the pulse of the tuna industry in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the broader ‘Blue Pacific Continent’; and to keep abreast of the latest sustainable management initiatives, innovative approaches and transformational endeavors at play or that could be further harnessed for the betterment of the industry.
The media workers training is most focused tuna and the inner workings of fisheries industry and will broaden the knowledge of those in attendance.
It is also an essential step toward understanding the importance of the tuna resource in and around the Pacific Region and will help journalists and reporters better cover the event and write stories about the 8th PTF next week.
Facilitators of the trainings include representatives from the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authorities, Forum Fisheries Agency and Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. Representing the PNG Media Council, President, Neville Choi will be facilitating a session on media ethics around the reporting of tuna resources and story writing in today’s training session.
The media training is hosted by the PNG National Fisheries Authority at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort in Kokopo, East New Britain.
