Papua New Guinea has become the first small island developing state to receive a results-based payment for its efforts in halting deforestation and conserving forests.
Papua New Guinea Earns Payment for Forest Conservation Efforts
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, July 25, 2025 – At the start of July, Papua New Guinea (PNG) secured a significant financial reward for its crucial work in preserving its forests and curbing carbon dioxide emissions. This marks PNG as the first small island developing state globally, and the second nation in the Asia-Pacific region after Indonesia, to gain such a payment under the REDD+ initiative.
The REDD+ program, an acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, is designed to incentivize and compensate developing countries for their dedication to protecting their vital forest resources.
Serena Fortuna, a Senior Forestry Officer with the FAO, highlighted the importance of PNG’s mission in a recent discussion. She explained how the country’s commitment to safeguarding its natural environment aligns with Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’.
A Biodiversity Powerhouse
Papua New Guinea, an archipelago comprising a mainland and about 600 islands, is roughly the size of California. Yet, it boasts an exceptional environmental treasure. With a remarkable 78% forest cover, PNG is a global leader in forest preservation.
Fortuna elaborated on the nation’s ecological significance. She noted that PNG is home to “over 5% of the planet’s biodiversity, but on less than 1% of the Earth’s total land area.” The country also nurtures “more than 13,000 documented plant species,” underscoring its status as a biodiversity hotspot.
Given its rich natural heritage and extensive green spaces, Papua New Guinea has emerged as a prominent advocate for forest protection and the global fight against climate change. It was PNG, alongside Costa Rica, that initially proposed a worldwide framework to financially reward developing nations for their efforts to halt deforestation.
Securing the Future Through Preservation
The REDD+ initiative was directly born from this pioneering proposal. It aims to foster broader dialogue and encourage collective action from various stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous peoples, and governments. The ultimate goal is to help these nations achieve their national climate and forest conservation objectives.
Did you know? Papua New Guinea contains more than 5% of the world’s biodiversity on less than 1% of its land area.
