ADDRESS

MINISTER FOR FISHERIES AND FORESTRY, HONOURABLE KALAVETI RAVU

Hon. Ravu spoke at the launching of the British American Tobacco Fiji (BAT) Fiji and Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) Reforestation Partnership Programme at Nausori Highlands on April 28, 2023

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Management and staff of British American Tobacco Fiji and the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited,

Village Heads and Members of the Nausori Highland Forest Based Trust,

Forestry Industry Stakeholders Invited Guests, and

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and a Bula Vinaka to you all.

On the drive up here, I could not help but to watch and admire the beautiful forests that we have. The majesty of the morning sun breaking through the trees is truly a sight to behold. It is a treasure that we need to manage such that our future generations are also able to enjoy and to benefit from.

Partnership

I thank the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) and British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji for championing forest landscape reforestation through a win-win partnership that, I understand, will soon be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The idea of the partnership was first initiated in 2022 when BAT Fiji approached FHCL for mahogany fuelwood materials to test their newly installed steam boilers at their Leaf Division at Votualevu in Nadi.

Replacing the diesel-powered steam boilers will require BAT Fiji to source approximately 300 cubic metres of mahogany fuelwood for the new boilers to generate sufficient steam to process and dry the tobacco leaves. This is indeed a win-win partnership because while BAT Fiji was looking for a reliable fuelwood source, FHCL was looking at ways to maximise   its rate of utilisation and reduce wastage during their plantation harvesting operations.

Furthermore, under the partnership, BAT Fiji will also assist in the replanting of mahogany seedlings, contributing to the long-term sustainability of FHCL plantations. I once again applaud the foresight of BAT Fiji and FHCL in pursuing the partnership approach that we are here to witness. 

Forest Landscape Restoration

Ladies and gentlemen, forest loss and degradation intensify local and global problems related to food and livelihoods, clean water, fresh air and the climate. Degraded landscapes are also more vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, floods and landslides.

Forest restoration has great potential to address these issues by enhancing landscapes in ways that ensure lasting benefits. Benefits include better local climate regulation, improved flood and erosion control, an increased variety and availability of food and non-food products, and economic opportunities for local people. It further supports climate change mitigation and adaptation, while enhancing ecological and livelihood values for the landscape and its people. I am of the firm belief that, over time, this can translate into improved quality of life and increased resilience for people who depend on forests.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to learn that the Reforestation Partnership will involve nine ‘Mataqalis within the Nausori Highland Forest Based Trust. The Ministry of Forestry stands ready to provide the necessary support and assistance that will enable the participating mataqalis to secure fair and equitable returns from their fuelwood harvesting and replanting contracts. This would be an additional source of income, over and above what FHCL is already paying, including land rentals, stumpage and land management fees.

Forest Restoration Benefits 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been advised that by sourcing fuelwood from the Nausori Highlands, BAT Fiji will reduce its importation of fossil fuel by 60%, thus establishing a greener footprint by using this renewable fuel substitute.

For FHCL, the removal and purchase of forest residues for fuelwood has created an opportunity for the company to increase its product range and also assists in clearing the land for replanting. All seedlings planted under the Reforestation Partnership will be added to the Ministry of Forestry’s 30 Million Trees in 15 Years initiative. 

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude, the reforestation programme is an excellent example of Private Public Partnership in the forestry and agriculture sub-sectors. With its state-of-the-art nursery and one million seed capacity, I am very confident in BAT Fiji’s ability and commitment to supply quality seedlings in a timely manner to support the reforestation programme. The biggest challenge, though, is for us, especially the Ministry, to ensure that we are also building and enhancing our ability to raise quality seedlings of our native species because our forest landscape restoration cannot totally rely on the planting of mahogany and pine.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to launch the British American Tobacco and Fiji Hardwood Corporation Forest Restoration Programme. I thank you all for your commitment to this programme and wish all partners every success in its implementation.

Vinaka Vakalevu and thank You.

Additional information

Reforestation Partnership Benefits

As a result of this reforestation partnership, multiple benefits would be realised which includes:
- BAT Fiji will reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuel and substitute with renewable fuel resource like mahogany where we harvest and replant for future sustainability;
- BAT Fiji will also fund some reforestation activities done at the harvested area and contribute to the overall annual replanting targets for FHCL;
- FHCL will increase utilisation of its forest residues through fuelwood and reduce unnecessary waste in the forest. - It will also clear up the forests for replanting operations;
- The reforestation partnership will also contribute towards the Ministry of Forestry National replanting initiative of ‘ Planting 30 Million Trees in 15 Years’;
- It will benefit the nine (9) landowning units under the Nausori Highland Forest Based Trust including (Nawaqea, Nakabecake, Vunimarasa, Nabouvuga, Toko, Koronisigalevu, Korolevu No.1, Korolevu No.2 and Natogo) through the awarding of harvesting fuelwood contracts and replanting contracts directly to them to manage and participate;
- As fuelwood is an additional product, this will increase existing returns to landowners through stumpage and land management fees paid to the nine landowning units.