The International Tropical Timber Organisation has allocated US$473,000 to further forest law enforcement in Papua New Guinea.
The money is part of a US$10-point-1 million fund, which the ITTO's governing body, the International Tropical Timber Council, has committed for new projects and activities.
PNG's National Forest Service policy director, Dike Kari, told the National newspaper that its the first time an international organisation has given money to help PNG address alleged illegal activities in the forestry sector.
Other PNG projects funded by the ITTO for 2008 are US$105,000 to assist PNG to undertake forest inventory, US$79,920 for re-forestation of tropical savannah grassland with high value teak, and US$54,450 for training to reduce the impact of logging.
