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Nature and EnvironmentPapua New Guinea

The Forests of Papua New Guinea - The Time for Solutions

March 31, 2025

Mundiya Kepanga's fight against deforestation has paid off.

The Forests of Papua New Guinea - The Time for Solutions
Image: ZED

The leader of the Huli tribe in the forests of Papua New Guinea is delighted that the government wants to make the country a global role model for sustainable forest management.

Mundiya Kepanga is a Papuan chief from the Tari region in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Kepanga comes from a traditional tribal community.Image: ZED

Mundiya Kepanga was born in the forests of Papua New Guinea and has become an internationally recognized campaigner for his country's primary forests. The nation's government has also realized just how important a role the forest plays, for the island state, and has initiated numerous projects to protect it.

Papua New Guinea has the largest tropical forest in Australasia, the richest coral reefs in the world and one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world. Image: ZED

Mundiya Kepanga decides to visit some of these projects. In his own home region, he first receives scientists who have been commissioned to carry out an extensive inventory of biodiversity in the forests of Papua New Guinea. 

Image: ZED

Mundiya Kepanga then sets out to explore the diverse ecosystems of his country: After a visit to one of Papua New Guinea's few secondary plantation forests, he learns about some of the solutions being developed in the heart of the primary forests to better protect them.

Image: ZED

Including the cultivation of vanilla in low-altitude agroforestry. He also learns about the various programs to protect and monitor biodiversity as a way of combating illegal trade.

The rainforests in Papua are experiencing an unprecedented onslaught of timber, palm oil and mining companies. Land grabbing and clear-cutting are increasing massively. The indigenous Papuans are losing their livelihood along with the forest. Image: ZED

At the close of his trip, Mundiya Kepanga shares his new-found knowledge with his community to encourage people to actively implement alternatives to deforestation and contribute to this green revolution.
 

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