The forestry sector is one of the 21 key industries supporting Fiji’s economy. According to Minister for Forestry Alitia Bainivalu, this industry contributed approximately $31.1 million in 2022, representing 0.3 percent of the nation’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Bainivalu made this announcement at the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Conference in Macao, China, this week. She noted that while Fiji does not export logs, the country processes all its round wood production into sawn wood and woodchips, which are the primary products. “Woodchips are for exports, while sawn wood is aimed at both domestic and export markets,” she stated.
In 2022, the total domestic export earnings were estimated at $1.1 billion, with the forestry sector contributing around 6.8 percent, equivalent to $93 million. Bainivalu highlighted that Fiji has benefitted from government investments in forestry plantations since before independence in 1970, utilizing two fast-growing exotic species: pine and mahogany.
The success of these plantation efforts has led to the establishment of two commercial plantation companies, jointly owned by the government and landowners, one managing pine and the other mahogany. This initiative aimed to foster a sustainable timber industry, catering to both domestic and export needs while reducing reliance on natural forests.
Currently, production from natural forests has been declining for years, accounting for only three percent of the national total. Conversely, forest plantations contribute significantly, with mahogany and pine making up six percent and 91 percent of production, respectively. Bainivalu projected that production from mahogany plantations is expected to double in the next 18 to 24 months, pushing total wood production to nearly 600,000 cubic meters annually. Most remaining natural forests are anticipated to be preserved for non-wood purposes, making plantation sources the primary avenue for wood production.
However, Bainivalu pointed out that one major challenge facing the sector is climate change. She explained that the clear distinction between wet and dry seasons is disappearing, complicating the planning and execution of plantation establishment and harvesting. Increasing temperatures and longer dry spells heighten the risk of forest fires, especially in pine plantations, and create uncertainty about the resilience of main plantation species against the changing climate.
With all commercial plantations consisting of a single species, the threats of pests and diseases also become significantly heightened.