The Papua New Guinea Forest Authority while appreciating the need to conserve and protect the nation’s forest resources is in itself not mandated to be the lead agency for activities associated with this function. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is the Government''s Lead Agency involved in Protection and Conservation of both plant and animal species.

Despite this, the PNG Forest Authority does in its Forest Plans set aside areas for protection and where in demand conserve areas that have been identified as having value. Such areas are delineated and excluded from any forestry timber harvesting operations.