Forest Certification in Developing and Transitioning ... - UTas ePrints

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forest certification in developing and transitioning countries
Figure 2 Concession Expansion 1975-2000
Average area of concessions
(ha)
Period of Initiation
Source: Shearman and Cannon 2002
Of the total forest area of Papua New Guinea (26.1 million hectares), 7.1 million
hectares (27 percent), had been allocated to forestry operations by 1996. By the year
2002, this figure had increased to 11.2 million hectares (42 percent), allocated to either
working concessions or earmarked for forestry in unallocated concessions. While 14.9
million hectares remained unallocated, of the total forest resource available in 1996,
only 11.7 million hectares was suitable for forestry operations (see Table 1). Of this area
of unconstrained forest (accessible or operable), some 6.7 million hectares or 57 percent
has been allocated to the forestry sector.
When these figures are adjusted to equate to log volumes per hectare, approximately
70 percent of the total timber resources have already been allocated to the timber
industry. This is because the most attractive areas in terms of access and timber
volumes have already been logged. It is unclear what portion of the land has been set
aside as protected areas and parks, and most of it is located in the constrained forests.
yale school of forestry & environmental studies