E&OE….
Topics: Owen Stanley Ranges World Heritage listing; Protecting the forests of Papua New Guinea
JOURNALIST:
The Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea – they’re planning a combined push, we’re told, to have the Kokoda Track and the Owen Stanley Ranges listed as World Heritage Sites. News of the plan emerging after a visit to PNG by Australia’s Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who joins us now from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. Minister, good morning, welcome to Pacific Beat.
GREG HUNT:
Good morning, Richard. It was a real privilege to be in PNG, a country that’s making progress, but as Ministers and other people told me, is battling through challenges. But really the people are doing a very good job in difficult circumstances.
JOURNALIST:
Now this initiative to put the Kokoda Track in particular on the list of World Heritage sites, why do you want to do this now and what will it take to achieve that goal?
GREG HUNT:
Well the first thing of course is this is a PNG plan and a PNG decision so it’s entirely a matter for Papua New Guinea. But we have said as Australia and I have said in my own right is if PNG wants to go down this path we would fully and absolutely support them.
The reason why PNG is considering it is, firstly there’s extraordinary natural value in terms of biodiversity. The Owen Stanley Ranges is one of the world’s great biological arks. Secondly, there are outstanding landscape values. Just to see the area is to see one of the most majestic places on earth.
And thirdly of course, there is extraordinary cultural and shared military history. Cultural history going back thousands and thousands of years; military history most notably from 1942. And so it would honour and respect and protect that, but also it would be a magnet and symbol for international visitors.
JOURNALIST:
So in order to achieve the listing is it a case that you apply to the UN and, as it were, you jockey for a position for other sites around the world who would like a similar listing? Do you have to be persuasive in essence?
GREG HUNT:
That’s correct. My initial judgment and the advice of those that know the biodiversity is that the case for the Owen Stanley Ranges would be outstanding. Now that’s an enormous area, and so PNG would have to determine which parts. I think they would start with the Kokoda area and include the ranges around it. How far that’s entirely a matter for PNG.
But the case to what’s called the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO I think would be compelling and strong. And we would be delighted to help if PNG wanted to head down that track. But it’s entirely a matter for them to balance all of their own needs. And we’d be a good friend and good neighbour if that’s what they choose to do.
JOURNALIST:
And were it to happen presumably the World Heritage listing would prevent any inappropriate development, if I can put it that way, on the Kokoda track which is so important to so many people in both countries.
GREG HUNT:
Well the World Heritage Committee does exercise a very vigilant eye. And so states that do inscribe properties do it knowing that it’s a long-term enduring commitment. But there was very very strong interest from the PNG Ministers and community that I met.
John Pundari as Environment Minister was leading this concept and I think for the world to have a magnificent World Heritage site in PNG which brings together so many different values would be tremendous internationally and I think would be a great point for PNG internally. And it would help with the vexed issue of bringing tourism and visitors into the country.
JOURNALIST:
Now as well as talking about this World Heritage listing plan, I gather there were also discussions about this Asia-Pacific Rainforest Recovery plan and Australia initiated draft. So where is that heading, and in a sense, does the World Heritage listing fit in as a part of that?
GREG HUNT:
Well it could well, but PNG is actually doing tremendous work, so you have obviously the Environment Minister John Pundari, but also Douglas Tomuriesa who is the Forestry Minister, and the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, who are very focused on the fact that PNG is not part of the problem when it comes to global emissions, but it is potentially part of the solution.
And what we’re working towards is to ensure that there’s proper recognition of forestry protection and avoided deforestation in the UN system coming out of the global conference on climate change at Paris at the end of the year. And that opens up the possibility of fund flows for genuine and significant forest protection.
And so what we saw was PNG proposing initiatives and Australia would partner with them in taking these initiatives to the global climate conference at Paris at the end of the year. And this all grows out of the Asia-Pacific Rainforest Recovery plan.
JOURNALIST:
And just one other point, if I may, you mentioned at the beginning that while you were in PNG you’ve got some idea of the crisis which is escalating in the highlands in terms of food supply because of the current weather picture. I appreciate you were not fully briefed on the matter at the time, but presumably that’s something you would be reporting back to Canberra and be on standby to help as a government if needs be?
GREG HUNT:
Yes, absolutely. I mean, the El Niño effect was widely reported in the papers. I visited markets and some of the locals said look the prices are higher than they might usually be because in some areas there are very significant issues with crops. And so you couldn’t but help be aware.
And Australia is an aid partner to the value of about $500 million Australian or one billion kina a year, and emergency support is a critical part of that. Obviously we want development first, but when an emergency arises, Australia will always be the first country there.
JOURNALIST:
Minister, thank you very much indeed for talking to us on Pacific Beat this morning, it’s good to have you on the programme.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks Richard.
(ENDS)