Report on misuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs) in PNG launched
A new report investigating the role of Malaysian companies and individuals in large – scale forest clearance in Papua New Guinea through the misuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs) was launched on Tuesday October 14 at Gateway Hotel by partners RimbaWatch, Bruno Manser Fonds and the Papua New Guinea Environmental Alliance, which the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council is part of.
Present to witness the launching were representatives from the Civil Society Organizations, Financial Institutions and Non – Government Organizations.
The program began with the presentation on the key findings and recommendations with stakeholder discussions and feedback and then the launching of the report titled “Malaysia’s Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip over Papua New Guinea’s Forests”. This was followed by an interactive panel discussion from members of the audience and the panellists.
Prominent Malaysian environmental activist and CEO of Keruan, an environmental organization in Sarawak, Malaysia, Mr Komeok Joe said that it is sad to see the same companies that have destroyed forests in Malaysian Borneo do the same to the forests here in Papua New Guinea. He stressed that these foreign companies will not stop if nothing is done. Mr Joe warned that Papua New Guinea may face the same fate if nothing is done to address the threat of losing its forests to foreign logging companies.
Civil Society Organizations from PNG, Malaysia and Switzerland have now stood in solidarity in a joint appeal calling for:
The cancellation of the Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs)
Investigations into potential transboundary criminal activities
Better protection of native landowners and PNG’s Forest resources.
CIMC’s Senior Project Officer for Agriculture and Natural Resources Sectoral Committee Mr Fabian Paliken joined a delegation from PNG and Malaysia who launched the report in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in a press conference on October 21, 2025.
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