Minister for Forestry Alitia Bainivalu yesterday tabled the Mahogany Bill 2025 for its first reading, describing it as the most significant reform to Fiji’s mahogany laws in more than ten years.
Bainivalu told Parliament that the proposed legislation reflects “the collective insights and aspirations of landowners, industry operators, statutory bodies and government stakeholders.”
She said the mahogany industry remains one of Fiji’s most valuable natural resource sectors, contributing to rural livelihoods, export revenue and sustainable economic growth. But she warned that the current laws no longer support the industry’s modern needs.
“Today, I present a bill that provides the foundation for a fairer, more efficient and more sustainable mahogany sector—one that honours the interests of resource owners while unlocking broader economic opportunities for Fiji,” she said.
Bainivalu traced the evolution of mahogany legislation, beginning with the Fiji Mahogany Act 2003, which established the Fiji Mahogany Trust and provided early commercial oversight.
This was followed by the Mahogany Industry Development Act 2010 (MIDA), which created the Mahogany Industry Council and set out the roles of Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited (FHCL) and the Fiji Mahogany Trust.
In 2011, Parliament introduced the Mahogany Industry Licensing and Branding Act, which continues to govern licensing and branding frameworks.
However, Bainivalu said these laws have become “restrictive and outdated,” and no longer serve the needs of landowners or operators.
She highlighted concerns consistently raised by stakeholders, including limited landowner representation in decision-making, rigid and narrow licensing structures, difficulty adjusting log prices, confusion over landowner revenue distribution, restrictions affecting the mandate of Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited and overlapping authority between FHCL and the iTaukei Land Trust Board
“These issues collectively demonstrate that comprehensive reform is urgently needed to bring clarity, justice and sustainability to the sector,” Bainivalu said.
The Minister said the Mahogany Bill 2025 aims to modernise the industry by strengthening governance, improving equity for landowners, and establishing a more transparent and efficient licensing and oversight system.
