Port Moresby, Wednesday, April 15, 2026
The PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA) has confirmed that no legal action has been filed against the authority by any non-government organisation (NGO).
Acting Managing Director John Mosoro said he is not obligated to respond to what he described as unsubstantiated statements made by NGOs regarding the authority’s operations.
“I am not required to report to or respond to any unsubstantial statements made by non-government organisations in relation to the operations of the PNG Forest Authority,” Mosoro said.
He clarified that, in his role, he reports directly to the Chief Secretary under the Prime Minister’s Department and would not engage with repeated negative media statements from the NGO group.
Mosoro highlighted that since his appointment in 2022, the PNGFA has implemented key regulatory reforms aimed at improving efficiency and strengthening the forestry sector’s contribution to Papua New Guinea.
These reforms include the ongoing review of the Forestry Act, a continued moratorium on new Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) projects, and audits of existing FCAs. He revealed that 24 non-compliant FCAs are currently in the process of being cancelled.
Other initiatives include the rollout of Timber Legality Standards, forest sector economic modelling, and the establishment of PNG Diwai Holdings as part of a revenue generation plan.
The authority is also implementing its National Forestry Development Program (2023–2027) and a National Reforestation and Afforestation Strategy recently endorsed by the National Executive Council.
Mosoro further stated that the issues raised by the NGO had already been addressed by the Parliamentary Committee on Public Sector Reforms last year.
“According to my legal director, no court action was filed by that NGO as reported in the media,” he said.
He added that the NGO had been asked to specify the information it required, noting that administrative avenues exist for such requests.
However, he maintained that the group has no legal grounds to demand information from PNGFA.
The Acting Managing Director also revealed that the NGO had been invited multiple times to engage directly with the authority but had failed to respond.
“It brings us to question what their real agenda is and whose interest they are really serving,” Mosoro said.