By SEPKOLIN WALNE
The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) hosted a regional workshop on Timber Legality Standards (TLS) for the Southern region last Friday to promote legal and sustainable timber production and trade.
PNGFA Director, Forest Policy and Planning, Dambis Kaip, highlighted the key legal requirements under TLS.
“Legal resources ownership and forest rights, valid forest permits and environmental approvals given and proper timber harvesting and transport documentation,” he said.
Mr Kaip also highlighted the challenges PNGFA faced in implementing the PNG TLS.
“Most stakeholders, especially Forest Industry Participants (FIPs), are aware of TLS but lack of understanding of its content, noncompliance implications, and operational requirements.
“Additionally, a lack of strong partnership could hinder effective collaboration among stakeholders,” Mr Kaip said.
He stressed that to address these challenges, and as part of the PNG TLS implementation strategy, the PNGFA intends to conduct three regional workshops in the Southern, Momase, Highlands and New Guinea Island regions to educate and engage key stakeholders.
“These workshops will strengthen awareness and understanding, create ownership, contribute towards a Timber Legality Verification System (TLVS) roadmap, and commence preparation of stakeholders’ readiness to implement the PNG TLS.
“The outcome of these three regional workshops would feed into a national workshop to be held in March 2026,” Mr Kaip added.
The objective of the PNG TLS regional is to raise awareness, explain the requirements, procedures and benefits of compliance with forestry-specific laws as defined by the PNG TLS, and build a sound understanding of the PNG TLS among stakeholders.