The forestry sector plays a crucial role in Fiji’s economy, being one of the 21 key industries. In 2022, the industry generated approximately $31.1 million, accounting for 0.3 percent of the country’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as Minister for Forestry Alitia Bainivalu noted at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Conference in Macao, China.
Although Fiji does not export logs, it processes its roundwood into sawn wood and woodchips, which are the primary products. Bainivalu explained that woodchips are intended for export while sawn wood caters to both domestic and international markets. In 2022, the forestry sector contributed roughly 6.8 percent, equating to $93.0 million, to the total domestic export earnings estimated at $1.1 billion.
The minister highlighted that the Fijian government had the foresight to invest in forestry plantations even before independence in 1970, utilizing fast-growing exotic species like pine and mahogany. This strategy has led to the establishment of two commercial plantation companies, co-owned by the government and local landowners—one focused on managing pine and the other on mahogany.
The initiative aims to foster a sustainable timber industry while reducing reliance on natural forests. Currently, production from natural forests is declining, contributing only 3 percent of the national total, whereas forest plantations account for the majority, with mahogany contributing 6 percent and pine 91 percent.
Bainivalu projected that mahogany plantation production could double in the next 18-24 months, raising total wood production to nearly 600,000 cubic meters annually. As most of the remaining natural forests are likely to be preserved for non-wood services, the majority of wood will come from plantations.
However, Bainivalu identified climate change as a significant challenge for the sector. She noted that the clear distinction between wet and dry seasons has blurred, complicating plantation establishment and harvesting. Increasing temperatures and prolonged dry spells heighten the risk of forest fires, particularly affecting pine plantations. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the ability of key plantation species to adapt to changing weather patterns poses greater risks, especially given that the commercial plantations consist of single species, amplifying the threat of pests and diseases.