PAPUA New Guinea is all set to launch its "Save the Forests" campaign in a big way. Forests minister Tim Neville said that he is determined to phase out all log exports by the year 2000, in order to achieve sustainable forestry. "We have allowed a gross imbalance whereby the permitted harvest greatly exceeds the forest's capacity to replace itself. This is a forestry sector which has not been controlled," he says.

He plans to change all that. Logging companies have been instructed to conduct feasibility studies for processing their timber within the country by the end of July. "Those that respond positively will be given priority for negotiation of timber concessions. Those who do not may be denied further permission to export," says Neville.