PhD Scholar

Determining the optimum land-use options in the context of the April Salumei forest area, Papua New Guinea

E-mail: Martin.Golman@anu.edu.au

In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the forest resources are managed on behalf of the landowners by the Government. Management of these forests by the Government lacks the capacity for proper planning, strategically, tactically and operationally. In addition, planning to integrate resource owners' social and environmental values of their forests is done poorly. As PNG's forest assets are presently managed mostly for timber uses, the future of these resources may be depleted if no strategic planning is adopted. Landowners are the great losers with their own resources along the process of development. These landowners can be a great asset to development of the country if they become key participants in the process of planning and decision making, and to share the wealth of their resources equitably.

This research will develop a multiple use forest planning model in a case study area of Samsai Niksek of East Sepik Province in PNG. Data from customary landowners and the natural environment will be integrated in the model to determine a feasible landuse option for the research area.

This doctoral research is supported by the John Allwright Fellowship of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).