The Forestry Sector is one of the 21 key industries fueling Fiji’s economy, contributing around $31.1 million in 2022, according to Minister for Forestry Alitia Bainivalu. This contribution represents approximately 0.3 percent of Fiji’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Minister Bainivalu made these remarks at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Conference held in Macao, China this week. She highlighted that while Fiji does not export logs, it processes all of its round wood production into two primary products: sawn wood and woodchips. Sawn wood is aimed at both domestic and export markets, while woodchips are exclusively for export.
In 2022, the forestry sector accounted for about 6.8 percent, or $93 million, of the total domestic export earnings, which were estimated at $1.1 billion.
Bainivalu noted that Fiji has been fortunate to have a government that invested in forestry plantations prior to independence in 1970. The country utilized two fast-growing exotic species, pine and mahogany, leading to the establishment of two commercial forest plantation companies, which are jointly owned by the government and landowners.
The strategy aimed to support a sustainable timber industry while reducing reliance on natural forests. Currently, production from natural forests has been on the decline, representing only 3 percent of total national production. By contrast, forest plantations account for 91 percent of production from pine and 6 percent from mahogany.
She mentioned that the mahogany plantation is expected to double its output within the next 18 to 24 months, potentially raising the total wood production to nearly 600,000 cubic meters per year. With the majority of remaining natural forests likely to be conserved for non-wood uses and services, an overwhelming amount of future wood supply is projected to come from these plantations.
However, Bainivalu highlighted climate change as a significant challenge for the sector. She noted the increasing difficulty in planning and executing plantation establishment and harvesting due to a lack of clear distinctions between wet and dry seasons. Prolonged dry periods and rising temperatures elevate the risk of forest fires, particularly affecting pine plantations. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the main plantation species’ ability to adapt to changing weather patterns, given that all commercial plantations consist of a single species, which increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.