The Cabinet has endorsed the support for the development of a new planted forest policy under the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in its technical cooperation programme to finalise the Forest Plantation Policy.
The Cabinet says Fiji’s planted forest sector has two significant plantation resources that form the foundation of the existing plantation forest industry.
The Cabinet has decided that the key industries in this sector are the pine and mahogany industries and within this sector, planted forests encompass a range of initiatives which includes commercial forestry plantations, privately-owned woodlots, agro-forestry practices, and community-driven tree-planting endeavours.
The Cabinet says Fiji has developed several policies and legislative frameworks to promote and enhance the growth of planted forests within its territories.
They say a thorough review of the draft Policy is, therefore, necessary to align it to recent policy and legislative amendments, to rectify and address identified shortcomings in related guidelines and procedures, and to ensure alignment with Fiji’s global commitments, sustainable development goals, and national and international best practices.
The finalised Policy will become a strategic guide for the sustainable management and utilisation of planted forests and form a comprehensive framework setting up adaptive implementation mechanisms for various situations and changing economic, climate and geographical conditions.
The Project is expected to be for 12 months from the date of signing.
The total cost to complete the Project is projected to be US $155,000.
