The forestry sector plays a crucial role in driving Fiji’s economy, being one of the 21 key industries identified. In 2022, the forestry and logging industry contributed around $31.1 million, accounting for approximately 0.3 percent of Fiji’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as highlighted by Minister for Forestry, Alitia Bainivalu, during her address at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Conference in Macao, China.
Bainivalu noted that although Fiji does not export logs, the country processes its entire round wood production into sawn wood and woodchips, the two primary products. She explained that woodchips are exported, while sawn wood targets both domestic and international markets. In 2022, total domestic export earnings were projected at $1.1 billion, with the forestry sector contributing roughly 6.8 percent, equivalent to $93.0 million.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the foresight of the government, which, even before Fiji’s independence in 1970, began investing in forestry plantations, utilizing two rapidly growing exotic species: pine and mahogany. These plantation efforts have been successful, leading to the establishment of two commercial forest plantation companies jointly owned by the government and landowners, with one focusing on pine and the other on mahogany.
The primary aim was to develop and maintain a sustainable timber industry that serves both domestic and export markets while reducing reliance on natural forests. However, production from natural forests has been on a decline and currently constitutes only 3 percent of total national production, with 6 percent coming from mahogany plantations and a significant 91 percent from pine plantations.
Bainivalu anticipates that mahogany plantations will double their production in the next 18 to 24 months, raising the total wood production to nearly 600,000 cubic meters annually. As most remaining natural forests are likely to be conserved for non-wood uses and services, nearly all wood production is expected to originate from plantations.
Addressing challenges, Bainivalu highlighted climate change as a significant concern for the sector. She pointed out that the clear distinction between wet and dry seasons is diminishing, complicating the planning and execution of plantation establishment and harvesting. Increasing temperatures and prolonged dry periods elevate the risk of forest fires, particularly affecting pine plantations. Furthermore, the reliance on a single species for commercial plantations heightens vulnerability to pests, diseases, and varying climate conditions.