PAPUA New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) currently has 27 final-year forestry students engaged in its offices throughout the country to complete their eight weeks of professional work experience. This engagement fulfills a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between PNGFA and PNG University of Technology (UNITECH) on 25th August, 2023 in Lae, Morobe Province.
Fourteen of the 27 students are engaged at the Wau/Bulolo plantation in Morobe province, nine are at the PNGFA headquarters in Port Moresby, two are in Vanimo, West Sepik Province, one is engaged in the reforestation and afforestation program in Simbu and another student is engaged in Madang province.
Twenty-four-year-old Mary Madonna Palik who is currently engaged at the PNGFA Madang Office had the privilege to participate in the recent training on the Logging Code of Practice (LCOP), Planning, Monitoring and Control Procedures (PMCP) and the opensource GIS software training held in the province from 18th – 23rd November, 2024.
As a student, Mary found the training immensely beneficial. It provided her with foundational insights into sustainable forestry management (SFM) tools such as LCOP and PMCP and techniques crucial for modern forestry practices specifically the use of technology.
Miss Palik said the experience was not just an educational milestone but a personal triumph as well.
“It is a huge opportunity for me to be part of this team and I have learned a lot and looking forward to acquire more knowledge in the future”, she said.
One of the most transformative aspects of the training for Mary was the shift from traditional methods to technological advancements in embracing SFM.
“The training program has helped me to understand that we will no longer be using chain and compass but technology especially using GIS knowledge.
“As a female, I am so fortunate to be part of this training especially in a field traditionally dominated by men.
The training is a collaborative effort between PNGFA, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and funded by USAID aimed to equip forest industry participants with essential skills in using modern software like QGIS and Q’field.
For Mary, this training was a golden opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience.
Mary expressed her heartfelt gratitude to PNGFA, JICA and USAID for their collaborative efforts in making this training possible.
The students started their industrial training with PNGFA on the 4th of November, 2024 and will complete their training on 24th December, 2024.
PNGFA has also engaged a final year Journalism student from the University of PNG who is doing her 12-week practical.
