The Papua New Guinea Government submits PNG’s first Biennial Update Report (BUR1) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report follows the BUR guidelines for developing countries according to paragraphs 39 to 42 of Decision 2/CP.17 and its Annex III.
Background
1996-2000: The PNG Forestry Authority (PNGFA) with support from CSIRO developed the Forest Inventory Mapping (FIM) System to specifically map forest and vegetation types using forest mapping units or boundaries (or FMU) derived from aerial photography in 1973-4 at 1:100,000 scale and other relevant map overlays.
The Pacific region is already having to address loss and damage, where climate change impacts exceed the limits of adaptation. In a 1.5˚C scenario these losses will be greater than today, however with planning and investment it will be possible for many Pacific island societies to adapt to the impacts of climate change in order to minimize these losses and to develop more resilient societies.
DEFINITION - % of total arable land that is under cultivation
PURPOSE - Tracks the area of arable land that is developed for agriculture
DESIRE OUTCOME - Stable trend in area under cultivation. A decreasing area under cultivation might affect food security and an increasing trend under area under cultivation implies some conversion of natural vegetation to agriculture