The forestry sector is one of the key industries bolstering 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). Bainivalu shared this information at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Conference in Macao, China, earlier this week.
Fiji does not export logs; instead, the country processes its entire round wood production into sawn wood and woodchips—its two primary products. Bainivalu noted that woodchips are primarily for export, while sawn wood caters to both domestic and international markets. In 2022, the total domestic export earnings were projected at $1.1 billion, with the forestry sector contributing around 6.8 percent, equating to $93.0 million.
She pointed out that the Fijian government had wisely invested in forestry plantations using fast-growing exotic species like pine and mahogany even before the country gained independence in 1970. The initiative has led to the establishment of two commercial forest plantation companies, co-owned by the government and landowners, managing pine and mahogany plantations.
The strategy aims to develop a sustainable timber industry that supports both domestic and export markets while minimizing reliance on natural forests. As natural forest production has been declining and now contributes only 3 percent of national output, the majority of wood production comes from plantations—91 percent from pine and 6 percent from mahogany. Furthermore, the mahogany plantation is anticipated to double its production in the next 18 to 24 months, pushing total wood production close to 600,000 cubic meters annually.
Bainivalu addressed the challenges facing the sector, particularly climate change, which has disrupted the traditional seasonal patterns critical for plantation establishment and harvesting. Increased dryness and rising temperatures are heightening the risks of forest fires, especially in pine plantations, alongside concerns over the adaptability of predominant plantation species to changing weather patterns. The reliance on single species in commercial plantations amplifies these risks, including vulnerability to pests and diseases.