The Fijian government is set to expand its economic avenues by formally recognizing non-timber forest products as a crucial economic contributor. Alitia Bainivalu, the Forestry Minister, announced in Parliament that the forthcoming Forest Bill 2025 would debut this acknowledgment, focusing on products like sandalwood, bamboo, and agarwood. These efforts aim to empower communities, spur new industry creation, and ensure sustainable forest management.
A significant development is the establishment of Fiji’s first agarwood processing facility in Nasavusavu, facilitated by a public-private partnership. This project is projected to generate over $167 million from producing high-grade oil. Additionally, an agreement with Indonesia aims to uplift the local bamboo industry, including training for sixteen Fijians and technical support from Indonesian experts.
Forested regions in Tailevu and Bua are set to host 60 hectares of new sandalwood plantations, while a bamboo inventory trial is initiated with support from New Zealand and the Global Green Growth Initiative. These initiatives reflect a strategic move to empower rural communities and establish Fiji as a leader in sustainable forest-based products.
The move to diversify the forest sector is timely, considering previous initiatives. The government has heavily invested in sandalwood cultivation, driven by rising demand from Asian markets. This sustained interest underscores an anticipated harvest of 106 tonnes of sandalwood projected to yield about $10 million in exports over the next five years.
Such initiatives are pivotal in fostering economic growth, ensuring sustainability, and integrating communities into the forestry sector. Bainivalu’s outlines place Fiji on a promising trajectory towards a sustainable and economically robust future by adopting innovative forest management and cultivation techniques.