Australia-PNG Memorandum of understanding

The forestry Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australia and PNG that was signed in June 2009 is designed to foster greater collaboration on issues confronting forests and forest industries in both PNG and Australia.

Areas of concern identified by both countries include:

• Sustainable forest management
• Forest certification
• Governance in the forestry sector
• Community participation in forest management
• Forest protection; and
• Provision of leadership in forest conservation. 

Both countries believe that research and capacity building can be used to support efforts in these areas.

The forestry MoU is designed to assist both governments in promoting and implementing joint decisions made in these areas, including delivering sustainable forest management and forest practise certification.

How to make it happen?

Both PNG and Australia have agreed to establish a framework that will allow greater interaction and cooperation that will:

• Allow Australia and PNG to cooperate on sustainable forest management and certification of forests
• Promote trade and investment while improving the verification of legal origins of timber and timber products
• Identify areas where capacity building and skills are needed to support the aims of the MoU in both countries
• Identify areas where Australia and PNG can collaborate on forestry issues through existing multilateral forestry forums; and
• Identify opportunities collaborative forest research activities which support the aims of the MoU.

The plan of work coming from this MoU will change as progress is made and will be discussed and reviewed through the Australia-PNG bilateral forestry relationship.