A summary paper on the abuse of Forest Clearing Authorities to facilitate large-scale tropical forest logging in Papua New Guinea.

Report by ACT NOW! on the performance of District Development Authorities based on an analysis of the data published on the DDA Watch website from June 2023 - June 2024. The report reveals widespread failures in transparency, governance, and financial accountability among all 93 DDAs. DDA Watch is an independent, politically neutral platform developed by ACT NOW! to provide the public with information on their local DDA and access to critical documents.

The third in a series of investigative reports into the abuse of Forest Clearance Authorities This case study looks at the Wasu Cattle Farm project in Morobe Province and raises serious questions about the project’s legality.

Written by Dr Hannah Harris from Macquarie University in Australia, the report examines how novel criminal law tools can be used to combat illegal logging and forest crime in PNG and the wider Asia Pacific region and how laws designed to target economic crimes (money-laundering, corruption, tax evasion) can also be leveraged in the fight against environmental crimes.

Chinese translation of ACT NOW's Timber Legality Risk Assessment, 2023. The assessment finds there is a very high risk that almost all logging taking place in natural forest areas in Papua New Guinea is illegal. The assessment is based on a comprehensive review of all the available literature, including the reports of official government inquiries, court cases, international organisations and civil society groups.

Anti-Money Laundering Risk Alert documents the body of evidence linking Malaysian logging conglomerate, Giant Kingdom Group, to forestry crime in Papua New Guinea. The report also documents a significant number of financial and designated non-financial businesses and professions in Malaysia which have significant exposure to the group.

The second in a series of investigative reports into the misuse of Forest Clearing Authorities as a cover for a large-scale selective logging operations. This case study looks at the Mengen FCA in East New Britain Province.

The Timber Legality Risk Assessment finds a very high risk that almost all logging taking place in natural forest areas in Papua New Guinea is illegal. The assessment is based on a comprehensive review of all the available literature, including the reports of official government inquiries, court cases, international organisations and civil society groups.

Investigative report into the Wammy Agriculture Project reveals how false promises of oil palm and rubber planting were used to obtain a Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) which has instead been used as a cover for a large-scale selective logging operation.

Report on the non-bank lenders providing finance to the logging industry in Papua New Guinea.

Carbon trading is just one part of an international move to put a price on nature and make it part of the global economy. Unfortunately this will do nothing to slow global warning and represents yet another attempt by corporations to greenwash their image while continuing to destroy the planet.

Research report reveals the ten groups of companies, all with strong links to Malaysia, responsible for nearly 70% of Papua New Guinea’s round log exports between 2019 and 2021.

Research paper looks at the history of government attempts to reduce the level of unprocessed round log exports and analyses whether current government policies to end log exports by 2025 are likely to be successful.

Report reveals how commercial banks operating in Papua New Guinea have supported the destructive logging of tropical forests despite numerous reports exposing the legal, environmental and human rights abuses associated with the logging operations.

Research study by ACT NOW that finds despite the high reported prevalence of corruption, only a very small number of officials are being charged with corruption related offences and, over the past two years (2019/20), of 28 people charged none have been convicted or imprisoned.

From Extraction to Inclusion explains why the large-scale extraction of natural resources has failed to deliver promised development outcomes and how the government should instead focus on protecting customary land and invest in local farmers in order to put people at the centre of PNG's development and improve their lives and livelihoods.

Revised edition of the Policy Proposals for Open and Accountable Government. Using extensive research, benchmarked international best practice and wide consultation, ACT NOW! has identified 22 measures to make government more transparent and accountable. If adopted, these measures could increase economic growth and boost the size of the economy.

Incorporated Land Groups have been in use for nearly half a century but their original intended purpose and limitations are often poorly understand and their use has been fraught with controversy and abuse. In this short paper ACT NOW! examines the history behind ILGs, the uses to which they have been put and the controversies and abuses.

A briefing paper published by the Oakland Institute and Jubilee Australia that details how the National Land Summit held on May 1-3 2019 is an attempt by the government to ‘mobilize’ customary land to allow greater access to multinational companies and commercial banks for logging, mining, and industrial agriculture leases.

A report highlighting the appalling human rights abuses suffered by the victims of the huge SABL land-grab in Papua New Guinea.

Paper by academic Caroline Hambloch investigating the recent expansion of oil palm in East New Britain and highlighting the dangers of land registration processes.

Communities affected by three Special Agriculture Business Leases in the West Pomio District of East New Britain Province have assessed the economic damage caused by logging and oil palm planting. The assessment values the damage at more than K2.4 billion.

A Consultation Document containing fifteen policy proposals developed to contribute to the national debate on improving governance and service delivery.

An economic evaluation of the compensation to which Papua New Guinea’s customary landholders - wrongly dispossessed through Special Agricultural Business Leases (SABL) - might be entitled if they successfully sued the government. The evaluation involves the calculation of commercial loss but also, and probably more importantly, economic equivalent value loss. The framework identifies the relevant heads of value (not just priced transactions) and demonstrates appropriate methods for valuation. Wr

A short, 12 page report, explaining what land registration is, its historical context and why it is dangerous for local communities and Papua New Guinea's development as an independent nation. Written and produced by ACT NOW! Publication date: March 2017.

A critical evaluation of the core assumptions underlying the Development Strategic Plan (2010-30) and its consistency with the National Goals and Directive Principles in the Constitution. Written by Patrick Kaiku and published by ACT NOW! in August 2016.

An analysis of how far the government's Vision 2050 meets the requirements of the Constitution and National Goals. Written by Patrick Kaiku and published by ACT NOW! Publication date: November 2015

Seminal 1973 report the Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters