THE Mahogany Bill 2025 passed last night will transform Fiji’s mahogany industry by giving landowners a stronger voice, direct ownership and fairer access to industry profits, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Alitia Bainivalu told Parliament yesterday.
Ms Bainivalu said the legislation would repeal the Mahogany Industry Development Act 2010 and replace it with “a completely modernised governance framework built upon accountability, transparency, participation, equitable benefit sharing and long-term sustainability”.
The Bill establishes the Mahogany Forum, which Ms Bainivalu said brings landowners, government, the Fiji Hardwood Corporation, forestry authorities, investors, and industry stakeholders together under one national platform.
She said the forum would ensure landowners were no longer excluded from decisions involving their resources.
“No industry can prosper when landowners feel excluded from discussions concerning their own resources.”
The Bill also proposes the creation of a Mahogany Tribunal to resolve disputes over harvesting, royalties, leases and benefit distribution.
“It is about restoring confidence, restoring justice, and ensuring that every stakeholder, especially the landowners, know that their concerns will now be heard.”
She said the most historic reform was the transfer of 20 per cent shareholding in Fiji Hardwood Corporation Ltd to the Fiji Mahogany Trust for landowners.
“Landowners are no longer simply passive participants – they now become shareholders, partners in the future growth of the industry.”
Ms Bainivalu added the Bill would also expand opportunities in timber processing, manufacturing and exports, creating jobs and increasing economic returns for Fiji.
