Fiji’s timber industry can produce new innovative products that can be used locally in speciality joinery and furniture manufacture, along with pursuing high value export opportunities.

Minister for Forests Alitia Bainivalu made the comment in her statement on the progress of the ministry’s research work on the use of senile coconut stems under the ‘Coconut and other non-traditional forest resources for the manufacture of engineered wood products’ project.

The five-year project works to deliver and validate wood processing technologies to transform coconut and other low-value forest resources into high-value engineered wood products suitable for local and international markets.

Ms Bainivalu said the challenge for the project was in how the forest industry could quickly take up this opportunity and make necessary investments and adopt the technology.

She said the industry was used to processing conventional timber species and would, therefore, need a lot of convincing to adopt new technology and process senile coconut logs.

She said the project was pursuing some strategies to yield necessary outcomes, and includes the direct participation of the private sector in Vanua Levu – through Hyoulin Sawmill Fiji ltd, a subsidiary of Long Investment Ltd willing to work with the project to achieve its goals.

Hyoulin Sawmill has built a steam box, commissioned last month, and enables the heat conditioning of coconut and other non-traditional forest resources in preparation for veneer processing before being manufactured into engineered wood products.

“Preliminary testing was successfully completed, paving the way for the project team to further investigate the integration of senile coconut stem processing into commercial production,” Ms Bainivalu said.

“The project is also undertaking research on utilising the mahogany grades 4 and 5 from Fiji Hardwood Corporation as core specie.

“The project team has also completed the development of a financial modelling tool that will provide valuable guidance to those interested in participating in the value chain and will have immediate benefits to the plywood producers, especially in defining profitability pathways.”

Ms Bainivalu said Labasa-based plywood processor Valebasoga Tropikboards had also expressed interest to participate and ensure the success of the project.

“Overall, this project will have positive social, economic and environmental impacts including a source of income for farmers as well as ticking the boxes for sustainable forestry by using senile coconut trees.”