PNG has a total of about 46.9 million hectare of which 77.8% is forested with 13 natural forest types and forest plantations with various species planted. The second major land use in PNG is cropland, which covers 11.0% of the total land area. Grassland covers 5.3% and wetland comprised 4.8% of the total land mass. Other Land including bare soil and rock covers 0.2% of the total land area. Settlements including villages and cities cover 0.9% of the land area.
Source: Papua New Guinea’s National REDD+ Forest Reference Level 2017
PNG government want a responsible sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources of the country for the benefit of the present and future generations. The central theme of this new development road map presented by StaRS is to shift the country’s socio-economic growth away from the current unsustainable growth strategy that it is following and towards a road map that is truly responsible, sustainable and able to place PNG in a competitive, advantageous position into the future.