Malaysian companies are currently being called out for allegedly causing massive deforestation in Papua New Guinea, turning the country into the world’s largest exporter of tropical timber.
Switzerland-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF), has since taken to the internet to call for the public to sign a petition urging the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, to step in and stop these alleged Malaysian companies from logging in the country.
A Swiss NGO called out Malaysian companies for allegedly destroying forests in Papua New Guinea
In a letter to the Prime Minister, BMF wrote, “Dear Prime Minister, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots and part of the 3rd largest tropical rainforests on the planet.”
“The forest is currently under threat, mainly by Malaysian-owned companies that clearcut PNG forests through the misuse of Forest Clearing Authority licenses (FCAs). Despite a 2023 moratorium on new FCA licenses, widespread deforestation persists, with FCAs now as the single largest driver of forest loss in PNG.”
The NGO also included 3 methods in which the country can prevent deforestation in Papua New Guinea, by these alleged Malaysian companies. Their methods are as follows:
- Respect the rights of the local landowners
- Cancel all FCA licenses
- Improve transparency and establish a public register of all timber harvesting operations
“The forests of Papua New Guinea are being severely damaged by foreign companies, mainly from Malaysia or with close ties to Malaysia,”
“One of the major causes of deforestation in PNG is the so-called Forest Clearance Authority (FCA) licences that are largely controlled by Malaysian families (from the state of Sarawak) and contribute to the clearcutting of huge areas of forests. Currently, 1.6 million hectares of untouched forest are threatened with clear-cutting due to FCA licenses,” BMF explained on its website.
It added that a report of PNGEA, Rimbawatch and Bruno Manser Fonds apparently reveals that 63 of 67 FCA licences are controlled by Malaysian-linked companies, covering 94% of all FCA licences.
A viral video
BMF took to its Instagram page to showcase a video, which has since gone viral, which showcases snippets of the deforestation and logging activities in Papua New Guinea, allegedly conducted by Malaysian companies.
Their video also showcased local activists pointing out how unsustainable the deforestation activities are, and locals claiming they are being treated like slaves by the alleged Malaysian companies.
You can check out the video here.
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