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A report assessing the reasons for and the impacts of the land grab in PNG

Esther Hyde

ContentsEsther Hyde...........................................................1

List of Figures titles.................................................3

Abstract...............................................................4Terms of Reference.....................................................5

Aims of project.......................................................5Links to Key Ideas.....................................................5

Objectives.............................................................5Collection of Evidence.................................................6

Abbreviations.........................................................61.0 Introduction......................................................7

2.0 Papua New Guinea...................................................82.1 PNG History.......................................................8

2.2 Current Situation.................................................83.0 Land Grabbing......................................................9

3.1 Definition........................................................93.2 Factors Leading to the Land Grab..................................9

3.2.1 Rich Natural Resources........................................93.2.2 Low Adult Literacy and Poor Infrastructure....................9

3.2.3 Lack of Support to Customary Land Owners.....................103.2.4 Special Agricultural and Business Leases.....................11

3.2.5 Corruption of Government.....................................124.0 The Effects of Land Grabbing......................................14

4.1 Environment......................................................144.1.1 CO2 Emissions................................................14

5.1.2 Industrial Agriculture- Oil Palm Monoculture.................154.2.3 Climate Change...............................................16

4.2 Social...........................................................164.2.1 Loss of Land Rights..........................................16

4.2.2 Rascals......................................................162

Centre Number: 56355

Candidate Number: 0835

4.3 Economic Growth..................................................17

5.0 Conclusion......................................................186.0 Recommendations...................................................19

7.0 Bibliography......................................................20

List of Figures Figure 1: Map of Australasia

http://mapofaustralasia.com/australasia.jpg

Figure 2: Map of Papua New Guineahttp://paige-west.com/papua-new-guinea

Figure 3: Time line of PNG's history Information from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15593238

Figure 4: Pie chart showing the composition of PNG's economyhttp://www.treasury.gov.pg/html/publications/files/pub_files/2011/png-development-strategic-plan.2010-2030.pdf

Figure 5: Extracts from the 1996 Land Act of Papua New Guinea detailing SABLs

Figure 6: Map of the East Sepik Provence in Papua New Guinea; an area subject to huge land deals. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Sepik_Province_Papua_Niugini_locator.png

Figure 7: Map showing a road built by a TNC as a catalyst for a corrupt land deal, deforesting 1000 times the land agreed. http://www.onourlandfilm.com/film.html

Figure 8: A graph presenting PNG's increasing carbon emissions over the past 50 years.

http://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=en_atm_co2e_pc&hl=en&dl=en&idim=country:PNG:GIN:TMP#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=en_atm_co2e_pc&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:PNG&ifdim=region&tstart=-3136

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Figure 9: A bar graph displaying data of the steady increase in number of oil palm plantations in PNG. http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0323-hance_png_sabls.html

Figure 10: A graph showing increasing rates of deforestation in PNG http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2009/02/graph-of-day-deforestation-in-papua-new.html

Figure 11: PNG's annual economic growth in comparison to that of eastern Asia and the Pacific. http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/png

Figure 12: Population pyramid showing PNG's population distribution http://www.bartholomewmaps.com/images/pop_pyramids/PAPUA%20NEW%20GUINEA_1950.png

Table 1: Figure showing information about PNG including infant mortality and birth rate.http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/service_delivery_profile_papua_new_guinea.pdf

AbstractThis report examines the reasons for the land grab in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

and the impacts it has had on the nation’s economy, people and environment. It evaluates the importance of Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABLs) in driving land grabbing in PNG and explores the role that the government, Trans National Corporations and citizens have on implementing strategy. The main findings of this report indicate the effects on the environment including carbondioxide emissions, climate change and decreasing biodiversity whilst looking into the social impacts such as the increased crime rates and poverty. It also touches on the positive effect of deforestation on the economy whilst evaluatingits relationship with the development of the nation. This report concludes with recommendations for ways that the United Nations and the PNG government can workto take measures that will positively impact on the country as well as on the people in charge; for example raising awareness of landowners and the global community, empowering them to fight against these deals. Making the issue high profile is more likely to spark action.

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Terms of Reference

Aims of project

To investigate the political, social, economic and environmental impacts of the land grab in PNG. It aims to analyse the current situation in PNG and suggest action to be taken. The report is aimed at both the government of PNG

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and the UN, who can take positive action upon the findings to implement more sustainable and less damaging practices.

Links to Key Ideas

Theme 3 Key Idea 5 : Development requires participation and empowerment of individuals and communities.PNG has high economic growth but low social development. TNC's enter the country, take the resources and profits impacting the people by taking their land and homes with nothing in return. No development is felt by the people.

Theme 4 Key Idea 4: Globalisation affects economic developmentThe world becoming more interconnected has lead to the development of powerful TNC's who have the ability of triggering development as seen in the Asian Tigers and the BRICs. They also have the ability to take advantage of nations as is the case in PNG as they have far greater influence.

Theme 5 Key Idea 2: Empowerment of all groups in society in fundamental for developmentEmpowerment in the way of education and freedom of speech are importantas when an individual is empowered they have the potential to be productive towards a growing economy.

Theme 5 Key Idea 5: National and regional governments have an important role in the development process.Where a corrupt government is in power such as in PNG, poor judgement is made and money does not go to sectors which will initiate development. If the government has the people's best interests at heart, education will be focused on to ensure empowerment and thereforedevelopment but where it is not, the people will be taken advantage of and it will become difficult to acquire a higher quality of life.

Objectives Examine the reasons for the PNG land grab.

Investigate the tribal culture of PNG and how the land grab has affected this way of life.

Inspect the social, economic and environmental impacts that land grabbing has had on local communities and the country as a whole.

Investigate how corruption plays a role in the land grab.

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Collection of Evidence

In gathering research to form a conclusion sources from both sides of the issue are important to gain a more complete picture of the issue. Bias in sources can affect the viewpoint put across so it is necessary to ascertain provenance of material. Many articles and videos greatly oppose the act of land grabbing and so present a highly biased viewpoint. The landowners interviewed and reports from environmental NGOs, although biased, present views that are vital in understanding the issue and the impacts of land grabbing, especially socially. To ensure sources were factual, data was collected in the form of tables, graphs and maps to gain a detailed picture of the issue based on fact which supported the interviews. Government sources provided a balance to the debate as often these contain opposing bias for the positive impacts of land leasing.

Limitations with data collection are apparent in the age of some statistics. It can take years, even decades to compile reports, during which time situationscan vary. Wherever possible the most recent available data has been included.

Abbreviations PNG- Papua New Guinea

SABL- Special Agricultural Business Lease

TNC- Transnational Corporation

UNEP- United Nations Environmental Programme

GDP- Gross Domestic Product

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1.0 IntroductionPapua New Guinea is located in the South Western Pacific Ocean just

southeast of Asia and north of Australia (see figure 1) PNG shares its only land border with Indonesia and also includes some outer islands such as Bougainville, and Manus Island of which the total land mass is 459,854 square kilometres; around an equal size to the state of California.1

Land grabbing has dramatically changed the landscape of PNG since 1996, whenthe 1996 Land Act bought in Special Agricultural Lease Schemes (SABLs) which allowed land to be leased for a 99 year period. This has lead to land being passed from the indigenous people to corporations exploiting SABLs to gain

1 http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Papua-New-Guinea.html

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1526: Portuguese under Jorge de Menoses the first to discover PNG

1921: After WW1, the Australians took ownership of the land from England, Portugal and Germany

1546: Spanish explorer names main island of 'New Guinea' after the people's 'Guinean' (Africa) resemblance.

1768: French land on island east of New Guinea.

1961- Indigenous population involved in elections

1963 Indonesia given power over West New Guinea, now called Papua.

1975 Attains full independence from Australia

rights to their land although the Act was designed for small scale agriculturalprojects.

2.0 Papua New Guinea

2.1 PNG History

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Figure 2: http://paige-west.com/papua-new-guinea/ PNG and its islands.

1971 Landis renamed Papua NewGuinea

1989-1997: Bougainville separatist struggle. 1997

Figure 1:http://mapofaustralasia.com/australasia.jpgAustralasia; PNG shares a boarder with NewGuinea in the south western Pacific Ocean

Timeline of

PNG from 1526

1964 For the first time indigenous representatives are elected to the majority of seats in the House of Assembly.

1546: Spanish explorer names main island of 'New Guinea' after the people's 'Guinean' (Africa) resemblance.

1933 - Gold expeditions into the highlands found over a million people living in fertile valleys living simple lives.

1961- Indigenous population involved in elections 1975 Attains full independence from Australia

1999: Joseph Kabui elected president of the Bougainville People's Congress. Elect first Government in 2005

The first inhabitants of PNG arrived in waves from the Indonesian Archipelago. As a result of the countries diverse landscapes of mountains and rainforest, communities established in isolation from one another resulting in individual languages and cultures. Throughout PNG over 800 distinctive languagesare spoken. It is clear in figure 3 that there have been many different claims to the land of PNG. Despite this, their culture is still mostly intact.

2.2 Current SituationCurrently agriculture makes up 85% of the country's livelihood and 30% of

its GDP stressing how important the resource of land is at this stage of development.

In PNG land is recognised by law as under local ownership. Land is argued to be an invaluable resource. Some believe keeping the land in customary hands combats development but despite this, a new act has been passed allowing the indigenous population to register their land opening it up to transaction. The price given for the land is far below its value. The political situation is also unstable as the region of Bougainville is newly separated with its own government.

3.0 Land Grabbing

3.1 DefinitionLand Grabbing refers to the buying and selling of large pieces of land in developing countries by governments, transnational companies or individuals. This can be associated with extending lands or land to increase productivity andis usually seen alongside clearing large areas of forest belonging to indigenouspeople making it a controversial topic.

3.2 Factors Leading to the Land Grab

3.2.1 Rich Natural Resources

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“Quality education for all; building ahighly skilled workforce; creating

opportunities for PNGentrepreneurs”

Quote from the PNG 2010-30development plan

Box 1

“Paradox of wealth without development”

-The World Bank

Box 2

PNG is currently the 11th largest global producer of gold with mineral exportsmaking up 49.7% of GDP and 72% of its export earnings providing an income for 85% of the population. Figure 4 proves the economy is driven by natural resources, the most precious of these being its forest, providing economic wealth being due to PNG being the second largest exporter of tropical logs. This accounts for 3 million cubic meters annually.

3.2.2 Low Adult Literacy and Poor Infrastructure

Quality of life and human development have not been increasing at the same rate as the GDP of PNG; apparent from Table 1. In 2011 alone PNG’s GDP increased by 8.9% and continues to rise (In comparison Chinas GDP grew 9.8% in the same year). The Government has goals to improve education (Box 1) but despite 7.5% of government’s expenditure (2.3% of the GDP) being focused on education, adult literacy rates in 2009 were someof the lowest in Asia and the Pacific at 60.9%.There is an unequal distribution of educationresources in urban and rural settlements withmany villages remote nature being an obstacle.

Education initiates development, as the worldhas seen many South-East Asian countries exhibit. By putting major emphasis on

this sector, the country is provided with a literate population and therefore a productive and competitive workforce.

Although there is money being spent on education in PNG, around 40% of the country stillremain uneducated and therefore underpowered.

Through examples as Lattas gives and the example of Turuba Bay in the East Sepik

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Figure 4: This pie chart illustrates the composition of PNG’s economy, showing the emphasis on primary industry and natural resources such as its forests. This demonstrates a low levelof development and lack of secondary industry and therefore vulnerability to corruption and being taken advantage of by more powerful Transnational Corporations (TNC’s)

Table 1: http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/service_delivery_profile_papua_new_guinea.pdf Table showing the major development indicators from economic to social measures.

Provence (see figure 6, page 13), no level of education can prevent these powerful deals going through.

3.2.3 Lack of Support to Customary Land Owners11 per cent of PNG's land mass has been leased since 2004, most for a period

of 99 years without the permission of landowners. The Prime Minister of PNG: Peter O'Neill, is aware of the issue and has stated "It is a huge concern where many of our own people have been displaced without giving much thought". He has

also made promises to protect the country and its population from these land dealings. “We will make further amendments to try and make sure that there is a level playing field where developments taking place in rural settings and especially on traditional land must have the fullest respect and participation of the landowners”. Despite these statements, the PM is criticized ' for failingto act on the findings of his Commission of Inquiry into controversial land leases.'2

The land that these people own is the property of the people of PNG under customary law. SABLs (see 4.2.4) allow the government to lease the land from these communities to corporate entities, often foreign-owned logging and agriculture corporations. The owners of the land are not

considered, asked or given any notice in most cases. This is the cause of widespread Human Rights violations against these forest communities who sometimes are not informed until this logging commences. In other cases they tryto fight these corporations. Nelson Ume (Box 4) shows the spirit of many people in PNG.

2 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/an-png-land-grab-report/510340012

“As for me, I am not in a prison.I am on my land. That means freedom. I don’t want to be a prisoner”

-Nelson Ume- Coca farmer

"At Mu, villagers told of how the riot squad visited them unexpectedly at nightfall, holding machine guns and forcing them to sign documents without villagers being given time to read the documents (an ordinarily difficult exercisewithout electric lighting but more so when the documents are in English and involve legal language, and villagers are only literate in Pisin)."

Box 3-Andrew Lattas, on his blog about his experiences in PNG

http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2012/04/pomio-logging-lawlessness-a-crisis-

3.2.4 Special Agricultural and Business Leases

Section 11 and Section 102 of The Land Act of 1996 introduced SABLs opening up a 99 year lease system of customary land. SABLs were created to empower localcommunities and to increase development of small scale agricultural projects forexample rubber plantations. The landowner must lease their land to the government who then lease the land to large corporations; this is known as the lease-lease back scheme.

This opens up the doors for land to be leased without rent, to large corporations with all rights suspended until the end of the lease period; on average 99 years (see Figure 5, Section 102, part 4). This has lead to the leasing of 5 million hectors of customary land in the past decade alone.

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“in terms of area, 11 per cent of the land has been converted from customary ownershipto this form of lease arrangement over the past eight years or so”

Prof. C FilerConvenor of the Resource Management in Asia and the

Pacific project at the Australian National UniversityBox 3

SECTION 11. ACQUISITION OF CUSTOMARY LAND FOR THE GRANT OF SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL AND BUSINESS LEASE.(1) The Minister may lease customary land for the purpose of grantinga special agricultural and business lease of the land.(2) Where the Minister leases customary land under Subsection (1), aninstrument of lease in the approved form, executed by or on behalf ofthe customary landowners, is conclusive evidence that the State has agood title to the lease and that all customary rights in the land, except those which are specifically reserved in the lease, are suspended for the period of the lease to the State.(3) No rent or other compensation is payable by the State for a leaseof customary land under Subsection (1).

SECTION 102. GRANT OF SPECIAL AGRICULTURAL AND BUSINESS LEASES.(1) The Minister may grant a lease for special agricultural and business purposes of land acquired under Section 11.(2) A special agricultural and business lease shall be granted–(a) to a person or persons; or(b) to a land group, business group or other incorporated body,to whom the customary landowners have agreed that such a lease shouldbe granted.(3) A statement in the instrument of lease in the approved form referred to in Section 11(2) concerning the person, land group, business group or other incorporated body to whom a special agricultural and business lease over the land shall be granted, is conclusive evidence of the identity of the person (whether natural orcorporate) to whom the customary landowners agreed that the special agricultural and business lease should be granted.(4) A special agricultural and business lease may be granted for suchperiod, not exceeding 99 years, as to the Minister seems proper.(5) Rent is not payable for a special agricultural and business lease.

Figure 5 (page 11) offers evidence that landowners do not necessarily need toagree to the lease for the arrangement to continue. Section 11 part 2 states that the land may be leased 'by or on behalf of the customary land owners'. It is also made clear that no rent or compensation can be paid for an SABL.

SABLs drive the palm oil industry. If this volume of land was deforested, thequantity of carbon dioxide released would be equivalent to the emissions of Australia for 6 years.

It has been stated that this is one of the PNG’s development strategies- aiming to reduce customary land from 97% to 80% of the landmass by 2020 to “provide a secure well administered land market”. This goal was reached in 2011; 9 years early with leases showing no signs of slowing down. Mollock and others like theWorld Bank (Box 4) hold the opinion that

despite all of this growth and selling of resources, the people have not benefitted and no development has been witnessed.

3.2.5 Corruption of Government

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"It is not development; development is about people, improvement of theirstandard of living, their quality of life, infrastructure. But looking at what is happening right now, it is like ripping off our resources," 

Box 4-Gabriel Mollock

From the Turubu Eco Forestry forum,

As a consequence of duping rural communities into signing an SABL, the government can lease the land to logging companies of their choosing. Many villages are informed that it will improve their quality of life. Government representatives tell them "We are going to bring you a school, we're going to bring you a road.... There is no real benefits to the people" - Claire Kairo.3

There have been cases, for example in Turuba Bay in the East Sepik Province (see map in figure 6) where the idea of oil palm was rejected by the local people and though the issue progressed through court, nothing was done (box 6, page _).

The government believes that exporting natural resources will initiate development in PNG. Though it is one of the world's fastest growing economies, the people are not necessarily benefitting.

Logging companies are also notorious for logging more land than they are leased.An

example of this is a road running from the western provinces to the capital,

3 Claire Kairo is a dweller in PNG's forests who has been fighting SABLs and was interviewed by The Oakland Institutes team for the documentary on this issue'On Our Land'

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Figure 7 http://www.onourlandfilm.com/film.html A Map taken from a documentary on the PNG land grab showing the road runningfrom the west to Port Moresby.

Figure 6 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:East_Sepik_Province_Papua_Niugini_locator.png A map of PNG highlighting the East Sepik Provence where Turuba Bay

Port Moresby seen in figure 7. In return for putting infrastructure in place, landowners agreed for 20m either side of the road to be used for logging. By theend of the project, 35km of land either side of the road was logged; 1000 times the amount of land originally agreed.

4.0 The Effects of Land Grabbing

4.1 Environment

4.1.1 CO2 Emissions

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Deforestation of 5 million hectors of customary land has led to a CO2 release equivalent to Australia’s total emissions for 6 years. This has been increasing in correlation to deforestation and is contributing to global warming.

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Figure 8: http://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=en_atm_co2e_pc&hl=en&dl=en&idim=country:PNG:GIN:TMP#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=en_atm_co2e_pc&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:PNG&ifdim=region&tstart=-3136A graph presenting 50 years of PNG's carbon emissions demonstrating how output has fluctuated but has increased up to seven times what it was in 1960 showing increased

5.1.2 Industrial Agriculture- Oil Palm Monoculture

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Figure 10 http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2009/02/graph-of-day-deforestation-in-papua-new.html A graph displaying the increasing rate of deforestation in PNG since the year 1972.This corresponds with the data shown in figure 9 but highlights other issues as well.

Figure 9: http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0323-hance_png_sabls.htmlA bar graph displaying data of the steady increase in number of oil palm plantations in PNG. This growth corresponds with the annual deforestation showing this is the consequential land use of deforestation. This also shows decreased biodiversity having the effects of reducing habitats and endangering animals.

The demand for sustainable fuel is growing in MEDC’s and so Western governments are turning to crops such as the oil palm; an ineffective crop requiring large areas of land. The incidence of SABLs and palm oil plantations correlate showing extensive use for deforested areas. These ecosystems are productive and cost effective for the company but there is a large environmentaltoll. There is a decreased biodiversity as this is only one species of tree opposed to an entire forest; a monoculture as the result. Animals must compete for space causing many species to become endangered.

4.2.3 Climate Change

Once trees are removed there is little to bind the soil, creating problems for subsequent farming. Also as forests act as carbon stores this is released and can be detrimental to the planet exacerbating climate change.

A larger concern is the impact on the water cycle. Without the canopy, transpiration is reduced impacting cloud formation and therefore rainfall. This is the beginning of desertification as soil and nutrients are washed away as there are no longer tree roots to bind it. Most water consequently is transported as surface run off once more exacerbating climate change

4.2 Social

4.2.1 Loss of Land RightsMany landowners have found that

even when they oppose loggingschemes, they still occur due tocorruption of the government andisolation of their forestcommunities, for example MichealKyibah in Box 6. A lack of educationalso makes it hard to fight land deals.

4.2.2 Rascals The largest social problem in PNG is the increasing crime in the form of

gangs or ‘Rascals’ forming in cities like Port Moresby, as early as the 1950's. This has been fuelled by mass migration to urban areas as a result of people

losing their land to TNC’s. The outcomeis high unemployment and increasing crime rates. The voice in box 7 is of aGeneral of a group of Rascals who displays this common disregard for the government.

The Rascals are known for setting up road blocks, burning houses and hijacking vehicles in the highlands where crimes such as rape, murder and

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“The people did not accept the idea of this oil palm… we will not allow a road… I got it down on paper and sent it off to thecourt authority… and they used certain individuals and they used the police… they bulldozed it through. They bulldozed by force, yes. Even the government authoritiesare involved too”

"Our opposition, they have pushed us out of our land so we have got nothing to live on ... so we resort to violence"Rascal General interviewed by Ross Kemphttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/

robbery are common. PNG also remains a tribal nation with conflicts between tribes, being in a small area exacerbates the problems of conflict and violence.

Due to a corrupt police force who cannot control this trouble, it grows. Morepeople see this as an easy way to make moneyopposed to working for a wage (see Box 8)One report states "the police seem to havelittle or no impact on what urban gangs do"and that "less than 3 percent of breakingand entering cases resulted in arrests"4

showing that there is little to noconsequence to these criminal and violent actions- these Rascals seem to be the highest power in the areas in which they operate due to brute force.

4.3 Economic GrowthPNG has one of the world's fastest growing economies due to export of

natural resources by TNC's. The previous 10 years since 2012, the saw an averageof 6% annual growth, shown in figure 6. From this graph we can see a trend of economic growth. Despite this, levels of poverty in the capital have increased over this period of growth, whilst the World Bank states that nationwide povertylevels "have not changed significantly over the last 15 years". Deforestation and the export of natural resources have contributed to economic growth but

unless it benefits the people, the nation will see no development.

On the other hand, the GINI co-efficient , according to the CIA world fact book, PNG's value was 0.59 (1996) showing that the

4 https://journals.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/PacificStudies/article/viewFile/9782/9431

20rnational/data/idb/region.php?N=%20Results%20&T=12&A=separate&RT=0&Y=2014&R=-1&C=PP

Figure 11: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/png PNG's annual economic growth in comparison to that of eastern Asia and the

Pacific. The PNG data shows a general trend of growth although this has

"I can't be bothered working for a fortnights pay. I want the cash inmy hand quickly. Working is the hardway"

Box 8From a documentary about Rascals

in PNG

distribution is unequal throughout the country although more current data would be needed to ensure this is still accurate.

Figure 12 illustrates the population distribution of PNG as progressive in 2014. This creates a potential for economic growth as this is a large workforce although creates an increasing problem of unemployment due to the rising number of landless labourers, leading to crime.

5.0 ConclusionEvidence clearly indicates that the PNG land grab has had detrimental impacts

on environmental and social grounds. In order to develop, these issues must first be addressed.

Environmentally, this activity produces large quantities of CO2 with at least5 million hectors deforested. Not only does this decrease biodiversity but causes soil erosion, localised flooding and changing environments.

9% customary land has been leased which makes it no surprise that serious issues have sprung up as a result. A mass rural to urban migration of landless workers is created. Crime has become prevalent in PNG with emphasis on groups ofRascals as a result of the absence of work and a corrupt government whom none respect. Many sources also blame the lack of investment in sectors such as education and creating jobs and opportunities for people.

If the government were to focus on education, this would provoke a highly skilled workforce, a factor which attracts foreign direct investment for far more than just resource exploitation as education initiates development. Places such as the Asian Tigers have done this making their workforce productive and competitive. Another problem that has become apparent is the isolation of many groups and language barriers across the nation.

From various sources, the apparent root of problems in PNG come with the instability and corruption of the government and the lack of voice of the people. PNG is currently suffering from 'the resource curse' as a result of plentiful resources and a corrupt government who mismanage them and to overcome

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this, PNG requires a stable and well respected government. Although agriculture is the largest export earner and a large proportion of the population are subsistence farmers, the government does not aid this sector currently. This is echoed by Mollocks words (Box 4, Page 12)

The evidence collected illustrates that land grabbing has a profoundly negative impact on the political, social and to an extent, economic situations of PNG. Despite there being some positive effects on the PNG economy; this is not felt by the people and therefore has hindered the country's ability of a people lead development.

6.0 Recommendations Target: Raise awareness of the rights of landowners

Action: Landowners impacted by the land grab must travel to other villageseducating other landowners about SABLs making them aware of their rights. This makes them able to easily recognise these deals and know how best to combat them. Furthermore, all land deals must be monitored by both a government representative and a member of a conservation group thus decreasing the quantityof corrupt deals that result in larger land grabs than are initially licensed.

Target: Raise the profile of this issue in the global community.22

“Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trendsDeveloping international and national environmental instrumentsStrengthening institutions for the wise management of the environment”

-UNEP Website (March 2014)

Action: NGO’s such as Greenpeace have already launched programmes to raise awareness in that area of the world. Internet campaigns and promotional videos could also be created to raise awareness. This will spark groups such as the UN being required to step in to recommend a course of action regarding laws and reforestation projects. In each area affected, local people would be employed, so they can provide for their families and rebuild the bio diverse environment. Any law are needed on a global scale, such as a Union such as OPEC for oil or TNC's will just locate at the most favourable place they can exploit and PNG will lose much of its GDP.

Target: Reducing logging activity

Actions:

1. A limit must be put in place on the size of land area leased for logging, impacting positively on the rehabilitation of the forest

2. A law must be put in place stating that land should be left so it can flourish after deforestation so that every tree removed, two must be replaced. This would ensure a sustainable wood supply for the future.

3. All activities must be certified by an overseeing body such as a rainforest conservation group (such as in 7.1). This could take the form of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) 5 who aim to police environmental management.

Target: Introduce shares in leased land for the landowners.

Action: When a landowner consents to a land deal, a share in the profits of that land over the period that it is leased should be given (usually 99 years). This would ensure improved living standards of the people as they could afford anew house, education for their children or healthcare in this case, in return for their land which was their only source of ‘income’ previously. This would lead a bottom up development strategy; from the people. This could also include allowing the people to have an area of land to live on.

Target: Alter the 1996 PNG land act

Action: Make it impossible for customary land to be leased to large corporations. In these cases, most of the profit goes to TNCs and is not seen bythe people of PNG.

5 http://www.unep.org/About/23

7.0 Bibliography(2013, October 25). Retrieved from

http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/service_delivery_profile_papua_new_guinea.pdf

Adventure Kokoda. (n.d.). Economy. Retrieved November 2013, from Adventure Kokoda: http://www.kokodatreks.com/png/economy/naturalresources.cfm

Anderson, T. (2008). Land registration, Land Markets and Livelihoods in Paupa New Guinea.

Authority, P. N. (n.d.). Papua New Guinea History and People. Retrieved October 2013, from http://www.geographia.com/papua-newguinea/papuahistory.htm

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