Schools, communities and landowners nationwide will take part in a massive tree planting program for the next five years ( 2025 -2030) according to Forest Minister Salio Waipo.
Minister Waipo made the remarks at a meeting with the Acting Managing Director of PNG Forest Authority John Mosoro and directors last Thursday.
Minister Waipo said the Prime Minister and NEC last Wednesday unanimously endorsed a PNG Forest Authority submission on the National Reforestation and Afforestation Program ( NRAP) 2025 – 2030) which will involve the tree planting exercise.
The five year rolling program will be managed by PNG Forest Authority through it’s provincial and community extension officers. Targeted are 800,000 hectares of grasslands and plantations for tree planting.
Minister Waipo commended the Acting Managing Director of PNG Forest Authority John Mosoro and his directors and thanked them for their hard working effort and commitment in putting together the submission to cabinet.
“I want to thank and congratulate you Acting MD and your team for tirelesly working on the submission which will benefit Papua New Guineans. The submission received overwhelming support by Prime Minister James Marape and ministers of cabinet. I appreciate you all for your tireless effort.
“While most talk about extractive industries we are focused on sustaining our renewable resource,” Mr Waipo said.
The Acting Managing Director of PNG Forest Authority John Mosoro thanked Minister Waipo for his support in taking the submission to NEC and for endorsement.
Mr Mosoro described the program as a ‘ game changer’ for forestry operations going forward .
“The target is to convert 800,000 hectares of grasslands into tree plantations. This is a major paradigm shift. This is a crucial strategy that will enable us to do away with logging of virgin forests and move on to carbon trading and nature based solutions,
Mr Mosoro said.
He described the programme as ‘home grown’ with ideas and knowledge contributed by PNGFA’s own national forestry officers.
Mr. Mosoro further thanked his forestry team saying; “When you appoint the right people in the right positions and trust them, and when you set them on a task – they will do it well, ” he said.
When Mosoro took over as the new Managing Director of PNGFA in 2021 – he immediately set in place the urgent need to reform Forestry.
Mr Mosoro said he is happy that his plan will finally become a reality now that NEC has endorsed the National Reforestation and Afforestation Program.