PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and is amongst the 164 countries in the world that have submitted their national plans to combat Climate Change since the Paris Agreement was adopted in December of 2015.
PNG needs to earnestly embrace what the Paris Accord has to offer.
With 60% of the country’s surface area covered by forests, is home to the third largest area of intact tropical forests in the world. A large portion of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the use of land and forests (LULUCF). A well-established forestry sector concentrating on the extraction and export of logs contributes approximately US$297 million to PNG’s national economy each year.
Carbon, as an alternative commodity for trade, should have been included as part the government’s drive to promote environmentally sustainable economic growth.
When carbon trade was first suggested for PNG, two expatriates; Kevin Conrad and Robert Kirks were pushing for each of their carbon trade schemes. While Kirks was not easily accepted with his voluntary carbon trade scheme into PNG, Conrad had his way to convince the then Prime minister Sir Michael somare with REDD+.
The then Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Don Polye got behind Kirks seeing it would benefit the customary land, forest and carbon owners in PNG. A bit of tag of war between Polye-Kirks and Somare-Conrad over which carbon trade scheme would best fitting the nation.
Robert Kirks never failed by got sidelined by the government, and thus Voluntary Carbon Trade scheme was not supported by policy framework and not recognized by the Government.
The NA-led Government was then very instrumental in policy framework for REDD+ programmes in PNG. Whilst REDD+ is seen as having enormous potential in PNG, challenges may lie ahead.
The country’s forestry sector is also characterized by a lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms, persistent allegations of corrupt practices and significant losses to the government purse.
Therefore, it is a requirement under this international treaty to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). This is to ensure we assist in the international effort to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Many people in the developed world speculate that reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests in developing countries will be cheap and easy.
In the case of PNG, it will not be cheap and easy to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation of forests.
The implementation of REDD+ on customary land will be a daunting task for the government because natural forests and land belongs to the customary landowners (CLOs), and not the Government.
As such the PNG Government will have to find better ways to implement the REDD+ concept so that REDD+ is efficiently implemented in PNG.
In so doing, the CLOs will be happy, the Government will be happy, carbon brokers will be happy, and REDD+ projects will not be jeopardized in future due to legal, social and environmental implications.
Moreover, PNG will fulfill its international obligation to reduce its GHG emissions from LULUCF. And this will portray a good image of PNG on the international arena.
More than 97% of the land in PNG is customarily owned, accounting for the total of 29 hectares of forested land. Therefore, control of deforestation and degradation of forests will not be an easy task.
In an undated article, researcher Nalau Bingeding of National Research Institute points out there is likely to be conflict of interest among CLOs and competition between developmental sectors for forested land for development.
Conflict of Interest between city resident CLOs who may want a logging or agroforestry project, while village based CLOs may want a conservation or carbon trade project. A good example is the issuance of the SPABL over a large area of forest in the Collingwood Bay Area (Oro Province).
Competition between development sectors – One sector may want a piece of a forested land for its development, but another sector may also be interested in the same piece of land for its development. For example, a company may want to develop a forested land for oil palm, but the Department of Environment and Conversation may want that land for conservation. So there will definitely be competition for forested lands for development.
So how do we eliminate conflict of interest among CLOs and competition between developmental sectors for forested lands for development?
A National Land Use Plan (NLUP) is an option that has to be looked at. With a NLUP, areas around the country have to be designated for different economic activities based on some opportunity cost or cost-benefit-analysis and sound scientific knowledge (both forested and non-forested land).
In this way the most appropriate activity or activities are designated for an area, thus it should minimize the chances of conflict of interest among CLOs and competition between developmental sectors for development of forested lands.
In order for customary land to be unlocked for social and economic development, a report recommended for a voluntary registration system of customary land to be established under the Land Groups Incorporation Act 1974 (recommendation 49). Since 2009 two Acts have been passed by parliament in response to this recommendation: (i) Land Group Incorporation (Amendment) Act 2009 and (ii) Land Registration (Customary Land) Act 2009.
The mechanisms for unlocking customary land for social and economic development are not yet in place.
There has been an increase in the number of Special Agricultural and Business Lease (SABL) granted over customary land in the name of economic development.
If SPABLs are granted over customary land (under the Lease Lease-Back (LLB) system) for REDD+ program and carbon trade, we may attract the ire of the international community.
This is because indigenous rights are protected under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Rights is now part of the negotiating text on REDD at the UNFCCC COPs.
To date, SABLs in the country have been reported channeled through a competent court, all leases under SPABL were forfeited and the land is back to the customary landowners.
The Government is yet to publish all the forfeited leases under SABL.
REDD+ funds were proposed to put in trust accounts set up by parliament and then monies disbursed to customary landowners via a board of trustees.
REDD+ funds already established include Mama Graun Conservation Fund, PNG National Forest Fund (GreenPeace 2010) and the PES Fund (EcoForestry Forum 2010).
Whether these funds are indeed operating to benefit the indigenous people of PNG or not is something not known at this stage. - Via Garamut News.
