Date: 31 Jan 2010 Comments: 1

Over 1,000 ILG’s were represented in Wewak on Saturday when Nupan (PNG) Trading Corporation Limited facilitated an awareness and consultation meeting at the invitation of many ILG Chairmans.

After a short discussion as to what carbon trading really was, necessary because of the confusion caused by malicious false information being spread by the logging companies, the Chairmans present voted unanimously to engage Nupan to facilitate the Project for them.

The facts are simple – the people own the land, the people own the forests, and the people have the right to decide to save their forests for future generations by not logging them, and initiating carbon trading.  They are clearly exercising this right.

The scientists present explained that many people would need to be employed by the ILG’s to maintain the forests, and work hard to repair the damage caused by logging in the past, by planting new trees, and new crops.

A key issue is that the Landowners can expect to receive revenue from carbon trading every year for over one hundred years, and at the same time they do not have to change anything they do by way for growing crops, food, of hunting and fishing.  All they have to do is make sure the forests are kept in a pristine condition for the life of the Project.

Many questions were asked, and the discussion showed just how aware and positive the landowners and villages are about the huge potential for carbon trading.

As one of the Chairman said, “This is all about preserving our way of life, while bringing money into our area so we can build schools, hospitals, and fix the roads.  This is the best thing to happen in East Sepik in a hundred years!”

While much work is yet to be done before the Project can start the formal verification process, there is no doubt that the people do not want logging, and that they clearly see that their future, and their children’s future, is in carbon trading.

– cited in PNG Post-Courier