Better forest management will be a key factor in Papua New Guinea’s future ability to supply the Asian market with wood products, a forest seminar has heard.
The Papua New Guinea Forest Industries Association (PNGFIA), which made a presentation at the seminar in Lae, Morobe province, also said the country’s forest sector needs to be expanded to meet market demand.
PNGFIA said rising demand due to population growth and increasing prosperity had led to a changed regional market situation. But it warned that poor forest management practices could result in dramatic supply reductions to that market.
The association’s 25-year forestry industry plan predicts a big shortfall in global wood supply in the next decade, with softwood expected to fall short by more than 400 million m3 by 2010 and hardwood by 140 million m3.
PNGFIA said its plan, starting this year, could improve the value of forest production by more than 100%.
It also believes technological innovations and market changes provide an opportunity for utilising hardwoods to manufacture a variety of domestic and export products.
