Government Initiates Harvesting of Mature Pine Trees in Muani Pine Scheme
As we approach the final stages of the Muani Port construction, the harvesting of mature pine trees at the Muani Pine Scheme in Kadavu is set to commence next week. All logging crews are scheduled to cross over to Kadavu this Friday, with the machines being transported via barge on Saturday night to Muani.
Muani Pine Scheme is registered under the Fiji Pine Trust under Fiji Trust rules 2008, the Muani Pine Scheme belongs to the Mataqali Muaicakau in the Village District of Ravitaki. The pine harvesting operation is conducted by Fiji Pine Trust with support from government on barge subsidy through Maritime Pine Commercial project.
Mr. Moape Lotawa, Director Operations Central Eastern at the Ministry of Forestry, stated that the Government plans to harvest all mature pine trees in Muani as well as in other pine schemes in the maritime islands.
“We are very thankful to the Government for approving a total budget of $1.2 million in the 2023-24 financial year to support the pine subsidy. Muani has been allocated $750,000 from that $1.2 million to assist them in harvesting their pine,” said Mr. Lotawa.
He mentioned that the Muani Pine Scheme covers a total area of more than 10,000 volumes of pine in trees, more than 60 hectares of matured pine. Owners of the Muani Pine Scheme are expected to receive an estimated payout of more than $800,000 from the harvesting.
“As we speak, we are just waiting for the completion of the port construction, the port in Muani is specifically designed for the loading of pine and the transportation of pine logs from Muani to Lautoka Port, then to Tropik Wood in Drasa,” Mr. Lotawa added.
He further stated that the felling operation began in late April 2024 but was put on hold in early May due to unfavourable weather conditions, emphasizing the adherence to the requirements of the Fiji Code of Harvesting Practice 2013.
Mr. Lotawa explained that contractors will be responsible for the tree felling operations, skidding, stacking in the landing, transportation to the log yard in Muani and shipping of pine logs to Lautoka port. The Ministry of Forestry has signed an agreement with Tropik Wood Industries as buyers and with Fiji Pine Trust for overseeing the operations and also as the custodian of pine schemes in the country.
“For Muani, we are looking at a little bit more than five (5) loads for this year, and we will move onto other areas close to this port if we manage to secure a new budget in the new financial year, allowing us to harvest all mature pine trees in Kadavu as well as in Lakeba, Lau and Narocake Pine Scheme in Lomaiviti,” Mr. Lotawa continued.
He mentioned that all these pine plantations were established by Fiji Pine Trust with the assistance of the Government of Fiji through the annual Fiji Pine Trust grant.
“We are very pleased to be here, realizing the return on Government investment for over 20 years, and the communities are also very excited about it,” Mr. Lotawa remarked.
Meanwhile, Turaga ni Yavusa Vakatawa for the Yavusa Waikatakata, Mr. Taniela Area, stated that in 2000, a portion of the pine plantation was harvested with the assistance of Tropik Wood, which financially contributed to the construction of the village church.
“Following that harvest, we planted some more pine which will be harvested this year,” Mr. Area said.
He expressed gratitude on behalf of the villagers of Muani for the Government funding the pine harvesting operation.
“One of the immediate plans that our committee has discussed is to build houses for all the married men in the village who don’t have houses of their own yet and also to invest money into a savings account,” Mr. Area mentioned.
He also encouraged landowning units in the country to invest in pine planting in idle lands for their future generation.
“Don’t think about immediate benefits, think of your future and your future generation. In time, you will reap the benefits of your hard labor,” Mr. Area concluded.
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