Vanimo forest project faces problems

Because of the poor response from potential developers, the Papua New Guinea Government extended from November 30, to December 31, 1976, the deadline for applications to es tablish an integrated forestry pro t ject at Vanimo in the country’s north-western region.

Revealing this late last year, a i senior PNG forestry official denied press speculation that the government had already settled on a SA42O million programme for Vanimo in I conjunction with three foreign firms, two U.S. and one Korean.

He said that a short list of in terested companies would be drawn [up in January 1977. The companies involved would then be invited to carry out feasibility studies and sub mit their proposals for evaluation by : the government.

In assessing the various plans, the [government would seek the advice of experts from the United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Nearly 85% of the country’s land surface is covered with tropical forest, but PNG has very little wood-based industry. Forestry operations began 30 years ago, but the country still has fewer than 100 sawmills, most of which are small-scale. Exports of un processed logs bring in something un

der Kl 5 million annually.

The development of a forestry in dustry has been hampered by such factors as difficult terrain, lack of roads and ports and a land tenure system which vests ownership of forests in traditional village leaders.

To have the right to exploit timber resources, the government must pay a fee to the owners of the land who merely give permission to take out timber for a defined period.

At loma in Northern Province, one of the eight areas identified by the government as capable of supporting large-scale timber industries, opposi tion from traditional owners forced the shelving of development plans.

At Vanimo, on the other hand, the owners are keen to see development go ahead.

Of the more than 285,000 hectares of forest in the Vanimo area, about 200,000 hectares are available for in dustrial purposes. The timber stands, estimated at 31 million cubic metres, are considered sufficient to support saw milling and veneer operations for

25 years, and a pulp mill for 15 to 20 years.

UNDP-FAO consultants have ad vised the government to set up train ing programmes to create the cadre of forestry workers required for such projects as Vanimo.

PNG already has a sub professional college at Bulolo in Morobe Province, while the Universi ty of Technology in Lae has launched a degree course in forestry.

Another forestry industries educa

tion centre is being established in Lae with assistance from the New Zealand Government.

The PNG Government has already set up an Office of Environment and Conservation to study and advise upon the environmental impact of forest industries development. • Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Primary Industry, Mr Boyamo Sali, late last year presented higher certificates and diplomas in forestry to 29 graduates of the Bulolo Forestry College.