PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) staff, partners, students and community celebrated the International Day of Forests (IDoF), 2026 meaningfully planting trees and mangroves in Kuriva and Hula in the Central province over the weekend on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st of March, 2026 consecutively.
The IDoF theme “Forests and Economy”, was translated to the public in a colorful ‘float’ where different directorates of PNGFA showcased and depicted the theme with graphic designs, artifacts, and natural bush materials on trucks.
The route of the float started at the PNGFA car park through Hohola, Poreporena freeway, Gordon, 8 Mile, Laloki, and; onto the Hiritano Highway to the Kuriva Forest Station.
The Acting Managing Director John Mosoro who supported the celebrations was not able to attend in person due to another engagement, however, sent his messages to be delivered at Kuriva and Hula by the Acting Chief Executive Officer Jim Menge.
Mr Mosoro said in his official address that the International Day of Forests is very important event for the forestry sector where Papua New Guinea, as one of the 194 member states of the United Nations, commemorates the 14th International Day of Forests.
The official day was on Saturday 21st March as declared by the UN in December 2012, but PNGFA began celebrations on Friday the 20th of March in Kuriva Forest Station – planting trees and on Saturday the 21st of March, 2026, they celebrated by planting mangroves at Hula Central province.
Mr Mosoro highlighted in his address that Papua New Guinea is home to the world’s third largest tropical rain forest with a diverse biodiversity.
“As we all know, forests play a critical role in regulating climate but most importantly sustains all life forms. This is evident for us all who rely entirely on the forest for food, shelter, clean water from the catchments, medicine, and other necessities.
“However, expansion in development has led to forest degradation and deforestation, hence measures are in place through policy interventions and improved technology to ensure our forests are protected, conserved and managed in a sustainable manner,” Mr Mosoro said.
PNG Forest Authority is the government agency responsible in the management and development of all Forest Resources in the country.
PNGFA’s role is to;
• Monitor logging operations
• Develop forest plantations
• Conduct forest research, amongst our other responsibilities.
Mr Mosoro said within the last four (4) years, in an effort to ensure efficiency in implementing government policies, the PNG Forest Authority has undergone major reforms including:
• An Organizational restructure in 2021 with a submission currently before Department of Personnel Management for yet another restructure in alignment with the need for additional skilled manpower due to the:
• Review of the 1991 Forestry Act (as amended)
• Development of the National Forest Development Program
• Establishment of PNG Diwai Holdings Limited as the business arm of PNG Forest Authority
• Promoting Reforestation and afforestation through the development of the National Reforestation and Afforestation Program which was endorsed by NEC on 11th February, 2026, in its Decision no. 26/2026.
• Formulating the Timber Legality Standards aimed at improving forest governance.
For the long term, the following initiatives are to progress the forestry sector toward the next 50 years:
• Establishment of four (4) Industrial Parks
• Research and development – making structural reforms to Forest Research Institute which will be renamed the South Pacific Regional Forest and Science Research Institute
• Establishment of Commercial Forest Plantations in strategic locations of the country to support downstream processing
• Development of timber concession through PNG Diwai Holdings Limited
• Nature-based solutions
• Creating more employment
Mr Mosoro acknowledge the support of all donor and development partners for working with the PNGFA in the implementation of various projects in alignment with the reforms in which the PNGFA is undertaking:
• European Union
• UK Government through the Ministry of Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
• Expertise France
• USAID
• FAO
• Asian Development Bank
• Australian Government through the Dept. of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• JICA
• UK Aid
• ACIAR
• ITTO
• AusAID
• Aim4Forests
• Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• UNREDD Programme
• Forest Industry Participants (FIPs)
The 2026 International Day of Forests (March 21) theme of “Forests and economies,” highlights forests as vital, often undervalued drivers of economic prosperity, jobs, and sustainable development. It focuses on integrating forest health with economic stability, emphasizing sustainable livelihoods, investment and green innovations.
Five (5) Key Aspects of the 2026 Theme (Forests and Economy) are:
• Driving Economic Prosperity: Forests provide essential materials, generate millions of formal and informal jobs in sectors like forestry, eco-tourism, and manufacturing globally.
• Sustainable Material Innovation: Highlighting the shift toward a bioeconomy, forests offer renewable alternatives to materials like plastics, concrete, and steel.
• Economic Infrastructure: Healthy forests provide essential, often overlooked ecosystem services, including water regulation, soil protection for agriculture, and climate mitigation.
• Investment Need: The theme highlights that current forest investment is insufficient (roughly $$$84 billion in 2023) and needs to triple by 2030 to unlock their full potential and support livelihoods.
• Combatting Degradation: Addressing deforestation is crucial, as its loss poses catastrophic risks to the economy and climate.
Mr Mosoro said key uses of forests include providing Livelihood & Economic Value which this year’s theme “Forests and Economies” falls under.
“They provide food, bushmeat and medicine. Forests also generate revenue through tourism, recreation and sustainable harvesting.
• Forestry continues to bring in its fair share of revenue earnings for the country annually, and in 2025, the sector and industry recorded the harvesting of 2.06 million cubic metres of logs from which an indicative 1.6 million cubic metres of logs were exported;
• In 2025, the indicative log export FOB value registered was K566.8 million, log export duty payable to the State was K244.9 million, with the Log Export Development Levy (LEDL) amounting to K13.0 million. PNG exported 150kg of Massoy Bark which earned USD450,000 (K1.85 million). The other processed products totalled 124,054 cubic metres earning USD40.7 million (K167.9 million). Royalty paid to resource owners in 2025 indicatively stood at K37.4 million. “Mr Mosoro said.
“I must stress that Forests are importantly the habitats for a vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species of plants, animals and insects.
“Forests also hold cultural and social significance whereby they host sacred value for many indigenous cultures, offering spaces for tradition and spiritual practices, especially for our country PNG
‘Last but not the least, Forests help mitigate noise pollution, protect against harsh solar radiation, and continue to be the lungs of our home planet, the earth.” Mr Mosoro said.
Mr Mosoro concluded by expressing his gratitude to his staff in the provinces and project sites commemorating the International Day of Forests.
“Thank you for your efforts in making this year’s International Day of Forests a reality.
“Forests are not only important for human beings but for all forms of life on planet Earth.
“God created us uniquely, as human beings to be custodians over the forests to ensure forests are used wisely today and preserved for future generations. “With that, Happy International Day of Forests!” Mr Mosoro said.