DEFORESTATION IN PAPUA (Papua New Guinea, 2009)

Although seventy percent of Papua New Guinea is still covered with rain forest, in recent years various environmental organisations have been sounding the alarm. Two percent of the forest has been cleared, with more due to be cut. In the longer term that is a problem for the local population, but even more so for the unique flora and fauna. Deforestation leads to a decline in biodiversity, and the construction of roads to fragmentation of the natural habitat. It leads to a greater chance of droughts and forest fires, climate changes and decline in natural water purification. Commercial lumbering is not the only cause of the deforestation. Around villages the gathering of firewood and the creation of pasturage plays a role. Often villagers give permission for cutting trees after they are promised large sums of money, but are never paid. Katharina Hesse travelled to Papua New Guinea and photographed the local population in their increasingly barren surroundings.