In 2016, PNG provided 29% of China's tropical log imports, making it the country's single largest supplier.

The report notes that, on paper, the legal system in PNG guarantees that indigenous Papua New Guineans have control over their forests.

"In reality, however, the government is responsible for a catastrophic failure to uphold these laws, and the forest sector has been plagued for decades by allegations of corruption and lawbreaking."

The investigation reveals how a large number of logging operations in PNG violate the law despite their holding government-issued permits.

China is the world's largest consumer and manufacturer of wood and wood products.

Yet it has no regulation to keep illegal timber from entering its borders.

The report says the timber trade has profound implications for PNG.

70% of the country is covered by forest ecosystems that are home to some of the world's rarest plants and animals.

The forest is also central to the cultural traditions and livelihoods of PNG's eight million people.

By continuing to import tropical timber from PNG on such a scale, China is driving the destruction of a vulnerable and ancient forest, the report says.

The report makes two recommendation for action by China and six for action by PNG.

Source

• globalwitness.org
• >theguardian.com
• Image: globalwitness.org

This is so New Zealanders can better evaluate the trade deal's implications, the bishops stated.

The bishops acknowledge the right and duty of any New Zealand Government to promote the nation's trading opportunities.

And they are mindful that the well-being of New Zealanders depends on economic growth.

But the lack of transparency and public involvement on the TPP is a cause for great concern, the bishops stated.

"The sense of unease stretches across the community, and includes people in business, academics and unionists.

"Corporate interests are party to the TPP negotiations and able to exert influence in favour of their own interests, while the people are excluded.

"This leads to the belief that ordinary New Zealanders, and particularly those who are poorer, will be disadvantaged by the TPPA and all the benefits will accrue to those who already have considerable wealth.

"The bishops accept that secrecy may be the norm in ordinary trade agreements, but the TPP is more than just a trade negotiation.

"It has the capacity to reach into domestic economies, and to dictate what happens within a nation's own political and legal systems."

The bishops pointed to the parallel Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, where the European Commission has introduced measures to increase transparency and allow public scrutiny and consultation.

The bishops asked New Zealand's Government to give serious consideration to making the draft text of the TPP available, so that New Zealanders "are able to evaluate for themselves, according to their own principles, the potential negatives and positives of the TPP".

Last month, Bishop Charles Drennan joined a public protest in Palmerston North against the proposed trade agreement.

Sources

• New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference
• Stuff
• Image: Hoosier Ag Today

"In a world that has made great strides in improving food production and distribution, far too many of God's children still go to bed hungry or suffer from a lack of nutrition, a tragedy that has lifelong consequences for health and educational achievement," they said.

The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States will hold their 2013 summit in the UK on June 17 and 18.

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