PNG govt must end export of round logs say environmental groups

The Papua New Guinea government has been called on to fully commit to ending the export of round logs from the country.

PNG's tropical rainforests are one of the world's most vital forest resources, yet the country has in recent years become the world's biggest exporter of round logs.

Environmental agencies Act Now! and Jubilee Australia say new logging contracts are being issued despite government assurances more than ten years ago it would end round log exports and foster downstream processing of the timber.

Act Now's Eddie Tanago said the government has to firmly commit now to end the export.

"It has taken too long. That is one thing that we really want to see happen and downstream processing happen within the country. We also have a promise by the Internal Revenue Commission to audit logging companies' accounts. That report is yet to be released. So that is something that that agency needs to look into."

The report from Act Now! and Jubilee Australia is called "The New Timber Barons: The Companies Logging the Rainforests of Papua New Guinea."