Comments: How activists and scientists saved a rainforest island from destruction for palm oil

Thank you for this encouraging and well-written article. I have bookmarked your site.

Alex Fiedler

The article above is not factual in some respects.

First, the project in question was sponsored by the provincial government, not the national government. The previous provincial governor, recently voted out of office, had sponsored the project.

Second, the government of Sir Michael Somare was not involved in the project development at any level.

Third, the land in question was state-lease, so any claims of ownership by the 'natives' is factually incorrect.

In any event, the pressure by the NGO's did induce the Malaysian investor to withdraw from the project. This should be applauded by all. But, that is where the focus of future efforts should be placed -- on unscrupulous investors and first world buyers of palm oils NOT struggling third world nations.

Sepik Mangi

"Third, the land in question was state-lease, so any claims of ownership by the 'natives' is factually incorrect."

Doesn't this mean that it had been taken away from the local people by the provincial government so that it could be leased to anyone who provided a big enough bribe to the governor? A bit cruel, I know, but the so-called natives should have the first claim on the land.

Bob Irving

It was true that the previous provincial government sponsored the project but with support from the national government. the people of woodlark island know that there are certain ministers involved at the background. note that vitroplant office is based in port moresby, not alotau, milne bay province. if the sepik mangi investigates more he would uncovered more that what he thought that time he wrote the comments.

woodlark island - 97% is state land, taken by the government through the process of declaration by Queen as crown land during colonial days. whether is a state land or not, by right in every sense, the island is ours. we were there thousands of years before the provincial government, national government and the colonial masters came. the "claims for ownership by natives" by right, so in a lot of sense, the sepik mangi is wrong to say that our cliam for ownership is factually incorrect.

woodlark islander

Leka Pitoi

How could sepik mangi state that the Somare government had no involvment in the Project?

Ambiquous comment. The Woodlark Island Community fought with heart putting up petitions to stop the project all the way to the national level. Does this show, the national government had nothing to do with this?

How could the Project eventuate without prior approval from the national level?

The Island is rich with natural resources both on the land and the sea.

So we are comfortable where we are.

97% of land is government owned? It was bought by lousy tobacco and cigar and axes (at that time)and to say our claims for the land was factually incorrect goes to the rubbish bin. We will fight with heart to preserve our land, our resources and our future because, as Leka has commented, our ancestors have been there before the lease, the government and the queen.

Niwel Abel

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