BY SAKIASI ROKOVUCAGO, Chairman Fiji Mahogany Trust.
Over the past two decades, the Fiji Mahogany Trust (FMT) has emerged as a key institution in protecting the rights of landowners and promoting sustainable development in Fiji’s mahogany industry. FMT’s model of landowner inclusion is being translated into practical change. As the trust enters a new phase guided by its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and Annual Corporate Plan (ACP) 2025–2026, FMT is focused on deepening partnerships, particularly with its line ministry, the Ministry of Forests, to strengthen governance, boost landowner participation, and unlock new economic opportunities in line with Fiji’s National Development Plan (NDP).
Empowering landowners at the heart of the industry
FMT’s vision is rooted in the principle that landowners should not only receive fair benefits from the use of their land, but must also have the capacity and an agency for shaping the industry’s future. FHCL leases a total area of 725,223 hectares of which landowners receive around $1.9 million annually, this excludes other financial benefits derived from the sales of mahogany logs. However, the focus has now shifted to ensuring landowners move beyond financial dependence into meaningful participation along the entire mahogany value chain.
This transformation will be led by the 13 soon-to-be-registered Forest-Based Cooperatives, which will serve as landowner business entities representing the 230 landowning units whose land is currently leased by FHCL. These cooperatives will be established with support from the Department of Cooperatives and FMT, and forming the foundation for increasing landowner participation in mahogany harvesting, processing, and marketing. FMT will be complementing these efforts by delivering targeted capacity-building programs in specialised areas in order to improve landowner participation.
Strengthening alignment with the ministry of forests
FMT’s operational effectiveness has been significantly strengthened through its alignment with the Ministry of Forests. This formal relationship ensures that the trust’s programs are integrated into the broader government forestry sector reforms, the implementation of the forest policy, the review of the Mahogany Industry Development Act 2010 (MIDA), and carbon trading under the Climate Change Act 2021.
Additionally, the FMT’s budgetary stability has improved through enhanced cooperation with the Ministry of Forestry. A more predictable and transparent budget release system has been adopted, ensuring that FMT’s programs are delivered without interruption and remain aligned with national forestry priorities. This collaborative approach has also enabled stronger alignment with the FMT initiative on strenthening landowner participation in the forestry sector.
A results-oriented
plan for 2025–2026
FMT’s Annual Corporate Plan for 2025–2026 outlines a comprehensive work program anchored on five key areas of transformation. A major priority is strengthening governance and legal frameworks. FMT will initiate consultations with relevant stakeholders to confirm and formalise lease boundaries and engage landowners in the review of the FMT 2005 Trust Rules. These legal reforms will enhance transparency, define landowner rights, and ensure that institutional processes are modernised.
To strengthen its long-term financial sustainability, FMT is reviewing its organisational structure to ensure it remains fit for purpose as its responsibilities grow. This includes modest enhancements to its internal capacity, such as expanding legal and administrative support. In parallel, a focused budget advocacy strategy will be introduced to improve access to funding for cooperative development and explore opportunities for donor collaboration. These efforts are intended to support FMT’s ability to deliver consistent services while gradually building financial stability.
To strengthen landowner-driven business development, FMT intends to establish a dedicated Mahogany Extension Section —drawing inspiration from the Fiji Pine Trust, which has successfully developed a pine extension arm focused on expanding community pine plantations. While the needs in mahogany differ, FMT sees the greatest opportunity in supporting landowners through value addition and enterprise development across the mahogany value chain. The proposed extension arm will focus on providing technical support, training, and business development services —helping landowners move beyond raw log sales into higher-value markets, both locally and internationally.
FMT will also modernise its information systems by developing a dedicated Management Information System (MIS) to connect Forest-Based Trusts (FBTs) and landowners to real-time data on cooperative performance, finances, and opportunities. Training needs assessments will guide future education programs, while landowner scholarships will provide long-term capacity for governance, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
Finally, to support landowners in entering the mahogany timber markets, FMT will facilitate forest certification awareness in collaboration with FHCL in order to support compliance with international standards. Through its partnership with FHCL and guidance from certification bodies, FMT will assist landowners who are participating in the mahogany business in understanding the certification processes, market expectations, and export requirements, particularly in certified timber and value-added products.
Driving national priorities through local ownership
FMT’s activities are broadly aligned with the objectives of Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025–2029, particularly in promoting inclusive economic growth, sustainable land management, and climate resilience. Its programs contribute to key NDP goals such as enhancing landowner participation, advancing sustainable forestry, supporting institutional reforms, and fostering green growth, although further alignment may be needed in other areas.
A major milestone in 2025 has been the commencement of mahogany harvesting operations in Vanua Levu. This development marks a turning point for landowners and communities in the Northern Division. For the first time, mahogany landowners in Vanua Levu are directly participating in harvesting, processing, and commercial timber operations through their Forest-Based Companies. This not only strengthens landowner inclusion in the sector, but also opens up significant economic opportunities for the Northern Division —boosting employment, stimulating enterprise development, and generating revenue that supports community growth. These harvesting operations have further widened opportunities for landowners, accompanied by practical support such as field-based training, advisory services, and capacity strengthening to ensure landowners are well prepared to engage meaningfully in the expanding mahogany industry.
Building on this progress, the expansion into Vanua Levu also reflects alignment with Fiji’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 1 on poverty alleviation and SDG 10 on reducing inequality through social inclusion. FMT is deliberately targeting youth, women, and underserved communities to ensure that the benefits of mahogany operations are more equitably shared and that marginalised voices are included in decision-making processes.
However, while these efforts represent an important step forward, challenges remain in ensuring consistent implementation and deeper structural alignment with the SDGs across all areas of the mahogany industry. Continued support, monitoring, and targeted interventions will be necessary to fully realise these development goals.
The trust’s strategy is backed by a total budget of $635,300 for 2025–2026, comprising $440,300 in operational costs and $195,000 for mahogany development.
This represents a 27 percent increase from the previous year’s allocation of $500,000. The substantial budget increase demonstrates the Government’s increasing commitment to improving economic opportunities and institutional support for mahogany landowners.
Each program area is tied to clear performance indicators, timelines, and responsible teams, all monitored through a robust results-based framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustained impact.
Conclusion: A stronger,
fairer, future for all
The Fiji Mahogany Trust’s future is grounded in a clear and coordinated vision: empowered landowners, resilient forests, and a thriving national mahogany sector. Its partnership with the Ministry of Forests has unlocked new levels of alignment and effectiveness — ensuring that FMT remains not just a trustee of funds, but a builder of futures.
With a clear strategy, active cooperatives, and key policy reforms underway, FMT is driving a major shift in the mahogany sector — from a history of conflict to a future of cooperation. This transformation marks a new chapter where mahogany becomes a symbol of shared progress and national unity. The trust calls on all stakeholders, including government agencies such as the Ministry of Forests, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Trade, to remain actively engaged in providing policy support, coordination, and resources.
Alongside landowners, FHCL, and development partners, these agencies play a critical role in building an inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous mahogany industry that reflects our collective values.
Together, we have a unique opportunity to reshape the future of Fiji’s mahogany industry. By strengthening partnerships, aligning efforts, and placing landowners at the center of development, we can build a resilient and inclusive sector that delivers lasting value for all Fijians.
n SAKIASI ROKOVUCAGO is the chairman Fiji Mahogany Trust. The views expressed herein are his and not of this newspaper.