The handover was held this morning at the Grand Pacific Hotel to mark World Bamboo Day 2026, bringing together two years of research, field assessments, technical studies and capacity building involving government, academia, engineers, industry, communities and development partners.
The project was implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the Government of Fiji, with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland through the second phase of the Low Emissions and Climate Resilient Development Programme.
Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry, Simione Tauvoli, says the project marks an important step towards a more resilient, self-reliant and climate-smart construction sector.
Tauvoli says the research has helped answer key questions about Fiji's bamboo resources, including where bamboo is found, its suitability for construction, how it can be sustainably harvested and how benefits can be shared across communities and the value chain.
He says the research provides the Ministry with an evidence base to guide the future development of the sector.
The six reports cover the mechanical properties of Bambusa vulgaris in Fiji, a rapid inventory assessment of the species in Naitasiri, sustainable bamboo cultivation, harvesting, treatment and processing, the bamboo construction and value chain, construction technologies and the feasibility of Cement Bamboo Frame Technology, as well as women in forestry and construction.
The project has also produced the draft Fiji Bamboo Management and Harvesting Guidelines.
The Draft Fiji Bamboo Construction Guidelines are being finalised in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Base Bahay Foundation and Erasito Consultants.
Tauvoli says the next phase will focus on turning the research into practical action, including strengthening institutional capacity, investing in nurseries and finalising the guidelines for implementation.
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Senior Development Advisor Deborah Begbie says climate resilience and sustainable development require more than financial support, with evidence, institutions and partnerships needed to ensure long-term impact.
The project has also provided an initial Fiji-specific economic benchmark, with one assessment estimating bamboo-based construction could cost approximately FJD 1,300 per square metre.
Meanwhile, GGGI Pacific Regional Director Saki Tuisolia says while bamboo is widely available in Fiji, the project has focused on building confidence in its use as a potential construction material.
Over the past two years, the project has supported field assessments in Naitasiri, technical research, training for engineers and community members, knowledge exchanges and a study tour to the Philippines to examine Cement Bamboo Frame Technology.
The project does not position bamboo as a replacement for conventional construction materials, but as an additional locally available and renewable resource that could contribute to climate-resilient construction, livelihoods and green economic opportunities when properly grown, harvested, treated, tested and engineered.
The handover now marks a transition from research and capacity building towards implementation, with the focus shifting to strengthening national systems and creating opportunities for bamboo to contribute to Fiji's climate-resilient and green growth ambitions.
