The United Nations Development Programme's chief in Papua New Guinea says it has seven percent of the world's biodiversity and this should be recognised within its economy.
The agency is working, with Queensland's James Cook University, to value this natural environment.
It says such a valuation will eventually make Papua New Guinea rich.
The UNDP's resident representative, Dirk Wagener, told Don Wiseman that while these natural ecosystems produce many services for people, people don't recognise that.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
