Press Release Detail

Government, through the Ministry of Forestry is mandated to conserve, manage and develop Fiji’s forestry resources to ensure long term sustainable use for the benefit of all Fijians. Included in this mandate is the responsibility to act in the best interest of the nation to ensure fair and equitable returns from the forest sector.

In this regard, the Ministry launched a “Say No to Illegal logging” Pledge on Friday 11^th February in Labasa. Speaking at the launch Permanent Secretary for Forestry, Pene Baleinabuli said that there is a disparity between what is happening on the ground in the forestry sector and actual data that is reflected on the national scale. The forestry sector’s contribution to the national economy before COVID-19 hit was 0.1 percent, which was the lowest out of all sectors.

Illegal Logging Defined

Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in contravention or  violation of national laws such as the Forest Act 1992, Environmental Management Act 2005 and iTaukei Lands Trust Act. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests and planted trees, removing them without valuing and avoiding payment of forestry charges and landowner royalties, processing these illegally sourced logs in a licensed facility which prohibits processing of “stolen” logs.

Illegal Logging  also includes extraction of CITES listed species,  contracting with local forest owners to harvest in their lands, but then cutting from neighbouring  lands instead, logging in protected areas such as forest reserves,  logging in prohibited areas such as steep slopes, riverbanks, and catchment areas including buffers, removing under-sized trees or more timber than authorized. 

Issues related to and could be facilitating illegal  logging include corruption such as  bribing  of government officials falsifying  declarations of volume or species harvested as well as export documentations and ignoring irregularities in documentation, transporting logs without truck passes or out-dated truck passes and ignoring waste disposal and environment impact assessment screening processes and valid sawmill licences. 

Crimes can occur at every point in the supply chain – from harvest and transportation, to processing and selling. They are often linked to other illegal activities such as document fraud, corruption and money laundering. Similarly, consent may be obtained communally but benefit a few either through cash or vehicles, boats and other resources which may not be shared equally by all communities owning that forest land.

Illegal logging is a cause for widespread concern. It has negative environmental impacts, results in the loss of forest products used by rural communities, creates conflicts, and causes significant losses of tax revenues that could be used for development activities.

Additionally, it can depress the market value of timber, while disadvantaging those companies  that engage in legal and sustainable logging and trade with  fair share to all.

Closing the gap on illegal activities and ensuring that other national laws and regulations are not breached has seen the Ministry formalise partnerships with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS), Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations and with the Fiji Police Force (FPF).  This is to ensure industry players are easily identified to operate in the sector, that the total contribution of the forestry sector is accurately measured and reflected in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), have forestry based companies pay their share of taxes and customs duties and assure the provision of fair compensation to resource owners with the ultimate aim to close the gap on illegal activities.

According to Mr.  Baleinabuli “illegal activities fuels the black economy and deprive the country from equitably sharing the returns from the forestry sector. It is imperative that we address the leakages which contribute to losses in the sector”.

“Importantly, we also want to form synergies with landowners, contractors, sawmillers, and their staff, communities and the public to curb illegal logging in the forest sector and we hope that they will take this pledge”.  

Environmental Impacts

The environmental consequence of illegal logging is that it destroys trees that act as carbon sinks and climate regulators which play a significant role in global warming and climate change. Aside from increasing the global temperatures, the practice also accounts for the reduction of the total forest cover area exposing most of the lands to high temperatures and extreme weather conditions.

Sustainably managing forests for all people and values in a changing world is a huge task and is such a rewarding sector to work in when you can make a difference.  This pledge provides the opportunity for each one of us to make that difference.

Curbing illegal logging is a major thrust of renewed efforts to grow the economy whilst minimising environmental impact. The "Say No to Illegal Logging" pledge encourages stakeholders to uphold the law.