FIJI

90% of unexploited production forests and 83% of all Fijian forests are under customary ownership. All negotiations for the use of timber grown in these forests are undertaken by the Native Lands Trust Board. The government works with a number of agencies to run forestry activities aimed at educating communities on the importance of maintaining ecosystems and sustainable forest management.

Approximately 150,000 ha of natural forest have been systematically harvested in Fiji. Logging is usually carried out using a selection system, but there is very little post-harvest management, and a number of heavily logged forests have subsequently been converted to other uses. The government is now encouraging reduced impact logging. To harvest timber on native lands, a Forestry Right License is required and is negotiated through the Native Lands Trust Board. The government has also encouraged the development of plantations which should provide an alternative to native forest harvesting.

The Fijian government has made significant achievements in the drive towards sustainable forest management, using the National Code of Logging Practice, the promotion of reduced impact logging, a ban on circular sawmills, and a series of awareness and education programmes. A number of forests are moving towards certification.

There have been cases of disputes between native land owners and commercial logging companies over ownership of trees and alleged illegal logging of mahogany, and of illegal harvesting of mahogany from plantations. A former government minister was investigated in spring 2008 for illegal logging in collusion with a number of businessmen. However, swift enforcement action appears to have been taken in each case.

Fiji will benefit from a US$13.7 million Australian fund, announced in August 2008, for Asia-Pacific nations. The Asia-Pacific Forestry Skills and Capacity Building Program will help tackle climate change by assisting countries in the region with forest management, combating illegal logging and boosting carbon storage in their forests.

NEWS

DATE	TITLE	AUTHOR
01/10/2012	Pacific Island ministers endorse regional REDD+ policy framework The 3rd Regional Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry, convened by the Secretariat of the ...	Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
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17/09/2012	Lepto links Deforestation has led to an increase in diseases and the destruction of marine life and ecosystems in ...	The Fiji Times Online
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17/02/2012	SPC book on Pacific forests now available online A landmark book on the forests of the Pacific Islands, produced by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community ...	Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
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13/02/2012	Mapping Fiji's forest cover with the help of satellite imagery SPC [Secretariat of the Pacific Community] is working with the Fiji Department of Forestry to build capacity ...	Solomon Times Online, Solomon Islands
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21/10/2010	Forestry Ministry looks into illegal logging complaint in Bua ...	FijiVillage.com
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22/08/2010	Logging crackdown A state crackdown on alleged illegal practices in the logging industry will result in a Labasa company ...	Fiji Times Online
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21/11/2009	Police target illegal loggers The Police Force and Forestry Department are studying by-laws that will help them decide on charges that ...	Fiji Times Online
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17/11/2009	Police uncover timber scam Sandalwood continues to be smuggled out of Lau Province even after controls were introduced to address ...	Fiji Times Online
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30/07/2009	Fighting illegal logging in the Asia-Pacific The Rudd Government will invest more than $12.1 million in new projects to improve forest management ...	Teatro Naturale
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14/05/2008	Former Minister under Investigation A Former Minister, who is alleged to have been involved in $100,000 worth of illegal logging in Seaqaqa, ...	Fijivillage (Fiji)
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12/01/2007	Military to deal with landowners' problem Fiji - The military has assured a landowning unit in Tailevu that they would address their grievances ...	Fiji Times (Fiji)
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04/01/2007	Illegal loggers to face justice Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited is currently processing papers to bring to justice those that had been ...	Fiji Times (Fiji)
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08/10/2006	Illegal logging of mahogany Fiji - Mahogany trees are being logged illegally and sold to private contractors. ...	Fiji Times (Fiji)
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30/09/2005	ALP floats single Pacific market Australia - A Labor proposal for a "Pacific Community" - including a common market and a possible ...	Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
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