Hela signs pact for reforestation

*From L-R:* Hela provincial administrator, Ronny Angu, governor Philip Undialu, NFA Managing Director John Mosoro and officers from NFA inside the new office at Hulukumaiya Haus *(Image: Supplied)*

Hela has become the first province in Papua New Guinea to sign a memorandum of understanding [MoU] with the National Forest Authority [NFA] to implement the government's National Deforestation and Afforestation Program.

The partnership was officialized in Tari on Tuesday, coinciding with the opening of the NFA’s new provincial office.

Under the agreement, the Hela provincial government has allocated office space at Hulukumaiya Haus and committed an initial 15 hectares of land towards the NFA’s nationwide reforestation target of 800 hectares.

Hela Governor Philip Undialu praised the quick change from policy to action, thanking NFA managing director John Mosoro and Prime Minister James Marape for rolling out the initiative within three months.

Undialu said he wanted the project to become a community-driven effort across the province.

“I want to turn this into a true community effort," he said. "Every school child in Hela will plant a tree, and every public servant will plant 1,000 trees each.”

Undialu said Hela was putting into practice Prime Minister Marape’s message at the COP30 climate summit that "forests are the lungs of the world."

“Investing in oxygen is the ultimate pathway to sustainable development, and it is one of the most important investments we can make for future generations,” Undialu said. “This is a true generational investment. The trees we plant today will give life, jobs, and climate security to our children and grandchildren.”

The new Tari office will coordinate tree-planting, environmental monitoring, and community awareness programs across the province.