Academic literature on the topic 'Forest management Environmental aspects Papua New Guinea'

Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest tropical rainforest area, especially in Papua Island together with Papua New Guinea accounted the third largest tropical rainforests in the world, after the Amazon (336.7 million ha) and Congo (181.3 million ha). The total tropical rainforest area is 68.7 million ha contained Papua about 57% (39.2 million ha) and 43% (29.5 million ha) Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, deforestation rates in the few decades increased from 1.39 million ha in the period 1985 – 1997 and 0.6 million ha in the period 2000 – 2005. The direct impact of rapid LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry) changes since 1980`s has accumulated critical land by 29.0% of forest area in West Papua and 31.4% of forest area in Papua. Climate change affected in Papua region due to rapid amount GHG`s emissions into the atmosphere by increasing average temperature about 0.7oC, minimum temperature (0.7oC) and maximum temperature (1.2oC) during period 1996 – 2005. Other effects of climate change the decreased rainfall up to 26% per month in the last decade, 50% reduced total agriculture productivity, expanded malaria diseases, and increased extreme condition such as drought with intensity of forest fire detected in Sorong due to inter-annual climate variability events, such as the El-Niño event and flood due to the La-Niña event. However, it is difficult task to build mitigation and adaptation planning in the region or local scale due to the lack information, the lack human resources, and local topography and phenomena. In that case, so far, no study has been conducted in Papua region to build mitigation and adaptation planning for carbon management. Therefore, this study tries to promote a carbon management program for help local government to solve forest environmental problems consideration of climate change.

SUMMARYPapua New Guinea (PNG) has been the site of a great deal of scientific work, and a fair amount of interdisciplinary debate, within the broad field of historical ecology, which encompasses the study of indigenous society-environment relationships over different time periods. However, this in itself provides no guarantee that scientists engaged in such debate will have a greater influence on the formulation of environmental conservation policies in a state where indigenous decision makers now hold the levers of political power. Five environmental policy paradigms which have emerged in the course of public debate about environmental conservation in PNG over the past half century; the wildlife management, environmental planning, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem assessment, and carbon sequestration paradigms. Each paradigm has framed a distinctive form of interdisciplinary debate about indigenous society-environment relationships within a contemporary political framework. However, a further connection can be drawn between the role of interdisciplinary debate in an evolving national policy framework and the history of scientific debate about the nature of indigenous society-environment relationships in the pre-colonial era. This connection places a distinctive emphasis on the relationship between indigenous agricultural practices and management of the national forest estate for reasons which are themselves a contingent effect of the nature of European colonial intervention over the course of the last century and a half. This particular bias in the relationship between historical ecology and environmental policy has lasted down to the present day. PNG's environmental policy problems are unlikely to have any rational or sensible solution in the absence of a better scientific understanding of the complexity of indigenous society-environment relationships. Scientists need to understand the complexity of the environmental policy process as a historical process in its own right in order to work out which policy problems offer both the scope and the incentive to sustain specific forms of interdisciplinary debate that are likely to produce better policy outcomes.

Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania that hosts unique rain forests and forest ecosystems which are crucial for sequestering atmospheric carbon, conserving biodiversity, supporting the livelihood of indigenous people, and underpinning the timber market of the country. As a result of urban sprawl, agricultural expansion, and illegal logging, there has been a tremendous increase in land-use land cover (LULC) change happening in the country in the past few decades and this has triggered massive deforestation and forest degradation. However, only a few studies have ventured into quantifying the long-term trends and their associated spatial patterns—and have often presented contrasting responses. Herein, we intended to assess the extent of deforestation and the rate of urbanization that happened in the past 33 years (1987–2020) in the Bumbu river basin in Papua New Guinea using satellite imagery—for the years 1987, 2002, 2010, and 2020—and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. On performing image classification, land use maps were developed and later compared with Google Earth’s high-resolution satellite images for accuracy assessment purposes. For probing into the spatial aspects of the land-use change issues, the study area was divided into four urban zones and four forest zones according to the four main cardinal directions centered in the urban and forest area centers of the 1987 image; subsequently, the rate of urban area expansion in each urban zone was separately calculated. From our preliminary analysis and literature survey, we observed several hurdles regarding the classification of regenerative forests and mixed pixels and gaps in LULC studies that have happened in Papua New Guinea to date. Through this communication paper, we aim to disseminate our preliminary results, which highlight a rapid increase in urban extent from 14.39 km2 in 1987 to 23.06 km2 in 2020 accompanied by a considerable decrease in forest extent from 76.29 km2 in 1987 to 59.43 km2 in 2020; this observation favors the presumption that urban and agricultural land expansion is happening at the cost of forest cover. Moreover, strategies for addressing technical issues and for integrating land-use change with various socioeconomic and environmental variables are presented soliciting feedback.

Abstract I report nonrandom selection of sites for incubation mounds and interspecific sharing of mounds by three sympatric megapodes (Wattled Brush-turkey [Aepypodius arfakianus], Brown-collared Talegalla [Talegalla jobiensis] and New Guinea Megapode [Megapodius decollatus]) in the Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea. Talegallas used mounds concurrently with New Guinea Megapodes, and renovated brush-turkey mounds after the latter species had finished breeding. New Guinea Megapodes and brush-turkeys did not use the same mounds. Analysis of 18 environmental variables at 80 mound sites and 91 random points showed that (1) mound sites of the three species differed significantly from random points. Mounds were associated with large trees and in less disturbed habitat, characteristics which contribute to the functioning of the mound. (2) Mound sites of the three species differed from each other. Brush-turkey sites were steeper, and had fewer and smaller trees in the mound and more herbs in the surrounding forest than those of the other two species. New Guinea Megapode and talegalla sites were not clearly separated. (3) Some important environmental variables had significant effects of study location and location × species, suggesting that inter- and intraspecific differences in mound sites are dependent on the habitat in which the mounds are located. Given this, caution should be applied to generalizations about widespread species from site-selection studies in a small subset of habitats. I recommended landowners be advised not to locate gardens or cut trees close to mounds, and exclude some areas from logging concessions and mining leases. Selección de Sitios para Montículos de Incubación en Tres Megapódidos Simpátricos de Papua Nueva Guinea Resumen. Se reporta la selección no azarosa de sitios para incubación y como comparten estos sitios tres especies simpátricas de la familia de Megapodiidae (Aepypodius arfakianus, Talegalla jobiensis y Megapodius decollatus) en tres sitios en el área de manejo de vida silvestre Crater Mountain en las tierras altas del este de Papua Nueva Guinea. Individuos de Talegalla usaron los sitios al mismo tiempo que Megapodius, pero utilizaron sitios de Aepypodius después que ésta los abandonara. Un análisis sobre 18 características ambientales de 80 sitios y 91 puntos ubicados al azar indicó que (1) Las características ambientales de los sitios de incubación de las tres especies fueron significativamente diferentes de las registradas en puntos al azar. Los sitios de incubación se concentraron en áreas con árboles grandes y en áreas con menos perturbación que los puntos azarosos, factores que contribuyen a la función del sitio. (2) Las tres especies utilizaron sitios diferentes: Aepypodius utilizó sitios con mayor pendiente, con menos árboles y de menor tamaños, y con mayor cobertura herbacea en el bosque circundante, que las otras dos especies. Los sitios de Megapodius y de Talegalla no se distinguieron claramente uno de otro. (3) Algunas variables ambientales importantes tuvieron efectos significativos de ubicación y de ubicación × especies, lo cual sugiere que las diferencias entre y dentro de cada especies dependieron del hábitat en el cual se encontraban. Dados estos resultados, se recomienda precaución al generalizar los resultados para especies con amplia distribución geográfica basados en áreas pequeñas. Se recomienda no sembrar, ni cortar árboles cerca de los sitios de incubación, y que algunas áreas sean excluídas de las conseciones para actividades forestales y de mineras.

The Kikori Basin in Papua New Guinea is the host environment for the gas production and onland transport facilities for ExxonMobil’s PNG LNG. The remoteness of the basin, its vast expanses of intact primary tropical forest, ruggedness, varied and low density population, and the localised impacts of the existing oil and gas industry provided considerable environmental and social challenges to routing and siting of project facilities and infrastructure. Meeting the project’s demanding permitting schedule, while retaining flexibility in design scope for contractor execution, necessitated that the routing process advance at two scales. One was a broad scale that settled a route for project environmental impact assessment using data at the scale of existing regional mapping supplemented by rapid assessment field surveys on the ground; and another a fine scale using pre-construction surveys to identify small-scale constraints to be avoided by tactical routing at a local scale of tens or hundreds of metres for environmental management planning. Reducing potential impacts on the environment was a project priority and the routing process used was integral to this. The approach allowed the project to overcome ubiquitous high value environmental constraints under the scrutiny of project lenders focussed on satisfying industry’s international good practice environmental and social guidelines. This paper will expand on the routing process, including the methods used and key players. The lessons will provide valuable awareness of issues and hurdles to be overcome for other companies intent on developing future oil and gas developments in Papua New Guinea and similar difficult geographies.

A set of 94 variable charge soils (Oxisols and Ultisols) from humid tropical Queensland has been formed into three groups on the basis of their surface charge characteristics. Mean curves of basic cation exchange capacity (CECB) against pH, total cation exchange capacity (CECT) against pH, and anion exchange capacity (AEC) against pH for each group at various soil depths were derived, to describe the essential features of each group, designated as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 soils. Type 1 soils have high CEC and low AEC, Type 2 soils have low CEC and low AEC, and Type 3 soils have low CEC and high AEC. A number of statistical devices were employed to illustrate the clear separation of the three groups. Additional Oxisol and Ultisol soils from southern China, Peru and the south-eastern United States were successfully allocated to our three groups, but this was not possible for some Andisols from Papua New Guinea. Aspects of possible different management requirements of each group are discussed.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The rapid spread of dengue could lead to a global pandemic, and so the geographical extent of this spread needs to be assessed and predicted. There are also reasons to suggest that transmission of dengue from non-human primates in tropical forest cycles is being underestimated. We investigate the fine-scale geographic changes in transmission risk since the late 20th century, and take into account for the first time the potential role that primate biogeography and sylvatic vectors play in increasing the disease transmission risk. We apply a biogeographic framework to the most recent global dataset of dengue cases. Temporally stratified models describing favorable areas for vector presence and for disease transmission are combined. Our models were validated for predictive capacity, and point to a significant broadening of vector presence in tropical and non-tropical areas globally. We show that dengue transmission is likely to spread to affected areas in China, Papua New Guinea, Australia, USA, Colombia, Venezuela, Madagascar, as well as to cities in Europe and Japan. These models also suggest that dengue transmission is likely to spread to regions where there are presently no or very few reports of occurrence. According to our results, sylvatic dengue cycles account for a small percentage of the global extent of the human case record, but could be increasing in relevance in Asia, Africa, and South America. The spatial distribution of factors favoring transmission risk in different regions of the world allows for distinct management strategies to be prepared.

Biodiversity in the Solomon Islands Is extremely rich, and in the Pacific is second only to Papua New Guinea. Despite this high diversity there are only rough estimates for the biodiversity of most taxa in the Solomon Islands. As part of a terrestrial biodiversity survey, we conducted nocturnal surveys for frogs in a range of habitats from 10?1 060 m on Choiseul Island. This work was carried out between June 2005 and January 2006. In addition to the nocturnal surveys, we also conducted opportunistic diurnal searches for reptiles as well as community environmental education and awareness workshops. Fifteen frog species (65% of all Solomon Island frogs) including all five endemic species, were found during our surveys of Choiseul Island. Most of the species were fairly widespread and abundant, however, four species (Discodeles bufoniformis, Palmatorrapia solomonis, Brachylodes trossulus and B. wolfi) were fairly restricted in their distribution. In addition, we found 20 reptile species during opportunistic surveys (30% of all Solomon Island reptiles Including four endemics). Important habitats on Choiseul Island based on frog species richness and abundance are mid-altitude rainforest (500?600 m), primary lowland rainforest and lowland coastal forest. Unfortunately, it is these habitats that are most threatened by logging operations on the island. In order to aid biodiversity conservation on Choiseul Island we recommend a number of activities including additional biodiversity surveys, increased community awareness and education about biodiversity and the impacts of logging, and the drawing up of a management plan including all terrestrial taxa for Choiseul Island forests.

[Truncated abstract] Globally, tropical rainforests are noted for their high biodiversity and key roles in carbon storage and influence on climate. Nevertheless, tropical deforestation in many parts of the world continues at an alarming rate. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), tropical rainforest is relatively well maintained, with about 70 % of the land area still covered by primary forest. However, PNG's native forests are coming under increasing pressure, particularly from selective logging for high quality timber. While the forests of PNG, and more broadly the entire New Guinea Island, are recognised as of high conservation and ecological significance, they remain grossly understudied with little knowledge of key ecosystem processes within lowland forests in particular. Such knowledge is urgently required if the impacts of logging and other land-use change are to be assessed and in order to develop sustainable management systems. This thesis investigated the impacts of logging on diversity and nutrient cycling in a lowland tropical rainforest growing on limestone soils in the area of the Mongi-Busiga Forest Management Agreement (FMA, which is a logging concession area), in northeastern PNG. These forests are on relatively young soils and provide a useful contrast to the majority of tropical forests. The research includes a four-year study of the recovery of diversity and structure after logging, and quantified forest structure, tree species diversity, forest biomass and productivity, and nutrient distribution and cycling. This thesis also examines the ecological sustainability of Eucalyptus deglupta plantations in Wasab, PNG as an alternative resource for timber and biomass energy. The thesis concludes with a discussion of long-term forest recovery and sustainable forest management in north-eastern PNG. Two adjacent one-hectare plots were established in lowland tropical rainforest at Mongi-Busiga FMA. One of these plots was subsequently selectively logged, one year after establishment. Before logging, the two one-hectare plots contained a total of 37 families, 70 genera and 110 tree species that were >5 cm in diameter at breast height. Mean basal area was 42.4 m2 ha-1. Two tree species, Madhuca leucodermis (Sapotaceae) and Pometia pinnata (Sapindaceae) accounted for ~60% of the total basal area. Gymnacranthera paniculata (Myristicaceae) was the most common species and accounted for 13% of individuals. ... This study concludes that the Mongi-Busiga forest has many unusual characteristics for a tropical forest, including relatively low diversity of tree species, high accumulation of P in the biomass, and N limitations, compared to other tropical rainforests. However, those extraordinary characteristics may be explained well by the underlying geology of young, marine-derived limestone. Sustainable management of the lowland tropical forests of PNG should consider the consequences of logging on nutrient cycling processes, with the possible significant removal of P from site with repeated logging, as well as the interactions between N and P in these systems. Establishment of Eucalyptus plantations on previously cleared land also has the potential to meet some of the timber and biomass energy requirements of northern PNG in ecologically sustainable manner.

Corruption and poor governance are well-documented problems in the management of forests around the world, and are widely cited to be contributing to deforestation and forest degradation. However, whilst the link between corruption, poor governance and deforestation is widely assumed, few studies have analysed the mechanisms by which corruption and poor governance may be contributing to deforestation and forest degradation. That is, there has been research that supports the claim that corruption contributes to deforestation, however many of these studies have utilised measures of corruption, such as corruption perceptions indexes, which hide a lot of the variation in types of corruption. Localised case-studies of corruption and poor governance, which have identified many types of corruption, have often not focused on the impact on forest management. These two streams of research demonstrate that corruption and poor governance are multifaceted phenomena and may impact on forests in diverse and context-specific ways. This thesis seeks therefore to integrate these two streams of research by addressing the questions 'Does corruption and poor governance contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea? And if so, how?' Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) were selected as case studies for this research due to the important forest reserves and the high prevalence of corruption and poor governance. Grounded theory methodology, which provides a systematic and rigorous approach to generating theories from the data, was used to analyse the process of forest governance and corruption. Based on the data collected from semi-structured interviews and government and media reports, two grounded theories were developed on forest governance and on corruption in the forests. The core process of forest governance that emerged from the data was one of a process of negotiation over if, and how, regulations were implemented. The grounded theory on corruption also highlights the complex systems and relationships that support, or demand, corrupt exchanges in different contexts. The findings from the two grounded theories were then drawn on to analyse if and how corruption and poor governance contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in Indonesia and PNG. The analysis focuses on four stages of forest management-land-use planning, concession allocation, monitoring and enforcing and the distribution of benefits-to identify what types of corruption and poor governance is occurring, and how this may impact upon the forests. The findings point to some very complex relationships between corruption, poor governance and deforestation and forest degradation in the case study countries, and highlight how other factors, such as regulatory quality, need to be understood in order to determine whether any specific corrupt exchange contributes to deforestation and forest degradation. My thesis is whilst corruption and poor governance do not necessarily lead to more area of forestland being cleared, corruption and poor governance do contribute to the wider problems associated with deforestation, such as unsustainable forest exploitation and environmental injustices. These findings have implications for current efforts to improve forest governance as a means to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in these two countries.