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Papua New Guinea receives funds to continue bringing spirit of Laudato si' to life
Boasting more than 5% of the world's biodiversity on 1% of land area, Papua New Guinea receives payment to continue its work of conserving its forests and reducing CO2 emissions. Jul 25, 2025
National Forest Inventory Botany team members tag and record plant specimens collected the previous day at the NFI camp near Kupiano, Papua New Guinea. (© UN-REDD Programme)
By Kielce GussieAt the beginning of July, Papua New Guinea (PNG) became the first small island developing State in the world, and only the second country in Asia and the Pacific after Indonesia, to receive a results-based payment for the country's work in halting deforestation and conserving forests.
This payment is part of the initiative REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus), which is focused on encouraging and rewarding developing countries for their effort in this area.
In an interview with Vatican News, Serena Fortuna, Senior Forestry Officer at the FAO, explained Papua New Guinea's work, its importance, and how the country's mission to protect the planet ties into Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' .
Small but (bio)diverse
Papua New Guinea is a nation consisting of the mainland and around 600 offshore islands. Despite being roughly the size of California, the country boasts one of the highest rates of forest cover in the world - 78%.
As Fortuna described, the island nation is a hotspot for ecological variety, housing 'over 5% of the planet's biodiversity, but on less than 1% of the Earth's total land area', as well as 'more than 13,000 documented plant species.'
Since it's home to an important treasure trove of biodiversity and untouched green spaces, Papua New Guinea, in recent decades, has become a leading voice on forests and the fight against climate change. Together with Costa Rica, PNG first proposed the concept of a global initiative that rewards developing countries for efforts to stop deforestation.
Preservation for the future
REDD+ was created as a result of this proposal. The initiative is a chance to increase discussion across different sectors and encourage participation from different groups of people—local communities, indigenous peoples, governments—to reach their national climate and forest goals.--Vatican News
