The Government of Papua New Guinea launches a new National Land Use Management System

The new system was developed with the support of UNDP's 'Establishing Systems for Sustainable Integrated Land Use Planning Across New Britain Island' Project.

June 27, 2025

UNDP Resident Representative, Nicholas Booth (left), the Director for Sustainable Environment Programs of CEPA, Kay Kalim (middle), and Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. John Rosso, formally launching the system.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

In a significant stride towards sustainable land governance in Papua New Guinea, the Government of Papua New Guinea and UNDP officially launched the country's new National Land Use Information Management System (NLUIMS) at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby on 27 June 2025. The new integrated, web-based platform aims to revolutionize land use planning and management across the nation.

Papua New Guinea has long grappled with challenges stemming from fragmented and uncoordinated land use practices. The absence of a centralized system has contributed to increasing land disputes, illegal extraction of natural resources and other severe issues. The introduction of NLUIMS seeks to mitigate these issues by providing a comprehensive solution for storing, managing, and visualizing land use data.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and Minister for Lands & Physical Planning, Hon. John Rosso, attended the launching ceremony.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

In his remarks at the launching ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands and Physical Planning of Papua New Guinea, Hon. John Rosso, emphasized the transformative potential of the new system:

“This system provides us with a foundation for harmonizing our laws, eliminating contradictory policies, and ensuring that every hectare contributes meaningfully to national development. No longer will mining concessions overlap with conservation areas. No longer will urban sprawl undermine our agricultural zones. This is a decisive step towards a unified, legally enforceable land use framework.”

Man in a suit speaking at a podium with a darkened backdrop and a projection screen. — In his remarks, UNDP Resident Representative, Nicholas Booth, emphasized the importance of land management for sustainable development.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

The development of NLUIMS was a collaborative effort involving the Department of Lands and Physical Planning (DLPP), Conservation and Environment Protection Authority, UNDP, and Mammoth Geospatial. It marks a significant achievement in Papua New Guinea’s land governance reform journey, enabling government officers to store, manage, and visualize land use data through an integrated, web-based system.

At the launching ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Nicholas Booth, highlighted the importance of reliable and transparent land governance systems, stating:

“Land is the foundation of prosperity in every country, particularly Papua New Guinea. This country is blessed with an extraordinary constitution that invests the ownership of land in all Papua New Guineans. While that is a good start, you also need reliable, secure and transparent systems of land governance. Today we are taking a step towards that and I am incredibly proud that UNDP has been able to be a part of enabling it.”

In recent decades, absence of a centralized land management system has contributed to increasing land disputes and unsustainable resource extraction in Papua New Guinea.

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

To ensure the effective utilization of NLUIMS, DLPP staff underwent specialized training in information management and system administration in JUne. This capacity-building initiative equipped GIS technical officers from DLPP’s three technical divisions with the necessary skills to manage the system effectively.

By centralizing land use data and fostering inter-agency collaboration, the system lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and equitable development. As Hon. John Rosso aptly noted,

“This is a decisive step towards a unified, legally enforceable land use framework.”

The National Land Use Information Management System is now accessible to the public at https://luims.dlpp.gov.pg, offering a transparent and user-friendly interface for exploring land use data and planning resources.

UNDP’s “Establishing Systems for Sustainable Integrated Land Use Planning Across New Britain Island” project is generously funded by the Global Environment Facility.