MINISTRY LAUNCH STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2024 - 2030
The Ministry of Forestry has made great strides in the first
seven years of its Strategic Development Plan (SDP) implementation, especially
in delivering sustainable forest management in Fiji.
The Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Hon. Alitia
Bainivalu highlighted this, while delivering her address at the launch of the
Ministry of Forestry Strategic Development Plan 2024-2030 in Suva on Wednesday,
December 18, 2024.
The Hon. Minister said forests play an integral part in
climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“But forests need to be sustainably managed to effectively
deliver this role, including bolstering our communities’ resilience and to
better cope with environmental disasters and other impacts of climate change,”
the Hon. Minister said.
“With our timber
industry, mostly relying on wood from plantations, we closely collaborate with
our two plantation companies, Fiji Pine Limited (FPL) and Fiji Hardwood
Corporation Limited (FHCL) to help boost the economic contribution of the
forestry sector to our economy,” Hon. Bainivalu said.
“On a smaller scale, we have also worked with selected
landowner groups to establish cottage industries to produce furniture items for
the local market. Through our support for cottage industries we are helping
women and youth groups in developing and enhancing their businesses,” she
added.
“In revising the Strategic Development Plan, the Ministry
continues to seek a balanced and holistic approach to Forestry management in
Fiji that continues to strengthen the ability of our Forestry sector to deliver
for Fiji’s communities, especially our landowners.”
The Hon Minister clarified that the Strategic Development
Plan revision also offers an excellent opportunity to refresh the Ministry’s
strategy going forward to 2030, recognizing both the achievements of the
Ministry since the initial inauguration of the SDP in 2017 and the new
commitments and the priorities of the current Government as expressed by the
new National Development Plan.
Present at the launch were representatives of the forestry
sector, stakeholders and members of the Diplomatic Corp.