Forest Authority transfers powers to ABG

ABG Chief Secretary Kearneth Nanei and PNG National Forest Authority Managing Director, John Mosoro after the MOA signing in Port Moresby today (Image: Supplied)

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville will now be able to control and manage their forests.

This through the transfer of powers from the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority to the Autonomous Bougainville Government today, in Port Moresby.

The agreement between PNG FA and ABG represents a significant step forward in supporting Bougainville's autonomy aspirations.

It outlines a structured and practical approach to transferring selected forestry powers and responsibilities under the Forestry Act 1991 as amended to the ABG from 2025 to 2030.

PNG Forest Authority Managing Director John Mosoro says the MOA goes beyond power transfer, it's about building capacity, strengthening systems, and supporting Bougainville to manage its forests sustainably and in line with national standards.

Mosoro outlined the two main important schedules that will be followed under this, schedule one, or A, outlines the functions that will fully hand it over to ABG for independent implementation, which are currently implemented by the Forest Management Committee that has been established by the Bougainville government.

"On schedule B of the MOA, we have the list of functions that will be shared between PNGFA and ABG, where we will continue to work progressively together during the transition until when ABG legislates its own forestry laws," Mosoro said.

ABG Chief Secretary Kearneth Nanei says it's an historic occasion and significantly momentous for Bougainville for the first time a national agency, is relinquishing some of its powers and functions to a subnational agency.

Nanei adds the transferring of powers and functions to the autonomous region of Bougainville is empowering the people of Bougainville and the government of Bougainville to sustainably manage the forestry resources in the autonomous region of Bougainville.

Nanei says the PNG-ABG partnership will help empower Bougainville by building local capacity, both in manpower and regulatory institutions, to effectively manage forestry powers in the autonomous region.