Back in November 2006, FSC-Watch reported on the strange lack of consistency between SGS and other observers as diverse as Greenpeace and the World Bank, on the question of the legality, or otherwise, of logging in Papua New Guinea. Whilst most experts take the view that illegal forestry activities are rampant – possibly dominant – in PNG, SGS seems to believe that all log exports from PNG have been legal for the last 12 years. The PNG logging industry has repeatedly used SGS’s reports to claim that they are operating within the law.
Papua New Guinea
Update on complaint to FSC about SmartWood certification of Rimbunan Hijau subsidiary
FSC-Watch recently received this update on the PNG Eco-Forestry Forum’s complaint to FSC over the Smartwood certification of Rimbunan Hijau subsidiary, Ernslaw One:
Illegal logging in Papua New Guinea: who do we believe? Greenpeace, SGS, or the World Bank?
In August 2006, the World Bank reported that the level of illegal logging in Papua New Guinea could be as much as be 70 percent.
A mere two months later, the FSC accredited certifier SGS maintains that all log exports from PNG are fully legal – and have been for the last 12 years. The article below is from the PNG newspaper The National, which happens to be owned by Rimbunan Hijau, one of PNGs largest loggers.
FSC-Watch 