Fiji Pine Ltd is buying back all pine logs planted outside its leased areas in Vanua Levu.
Company executive chairman Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure said they had started with the North after the landowners agreed to sell back to the company their pine planted in overplanted areas.
“We visited the landowners with the iTaukei Land Trust Board team in September to get their support and their permission to sell back to the company,” Ratu Rakuita said.
“These are pine logs sitting outside Fiji Pine leased areas but are part of the harvesting program.
“There was skepticism among the landowners because of past experiences but we’ve come to the understanding that it’s a new way forward.”
Ratu Rakuita said it was good that the landowners had agreed because they would work together on a long-term basis.
“They will benefit from the bonus and payments paid out by Fiji Pine.
“We have started with the landowners in Vanua Levu although we have yet to start with those in Viti Levu.”
Ratu Rakuita said the word-of-mouth process about the company initiative to buy back from the landowners had helped as well.
“Other landowners heard about it and they got interested. We want them to go through Fiji Pine because of the financial benefits.”
Vanua Levu Landowners Association president Tevita Raiova and head of mataqali Naita, the biggest pine landowning area in the North, welcomed the Fiji Pine move.
“We are all happy because we have been working together, these many years and we understand each other, so it’s best for the landowners,” he said.
