From 2010 to 2022, Fiji exported over 150,000 kilograms of sandalwood earning around $F12million.
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Alitia Bainivalu told the Parliament sandalwood or yasi remained Fiji’s flagship non-timber forest product.
“Based on our records, over 2000 hectares of land have been planted with sandalwood by the local communities and private landowners in the past,” Ms Bainivalu said.
“This number continues to grow every year with the growing interest from members of the public.”
“Additionally, bamboo, with its multiple uses and fast-growing traits, is also gaining popularity with support from the Fiji Bamboo Association and local bamboo enthusiasts.
“Candlenut or locally known as sikeci, agarwood and dilo are also emerging as popular non-timber forest products with growing interest from the public and also with growing lucrative markets.”
She said despite the progress, non-timber forest products continued to face challenges.
“Some of the issues that we need to address include inadequate policy and legislative framework to ensure proper focus on Non-Timber Forest Products.
“As such, Fiji does not have a national inventory of Non-Timber Forest Products, and this makes planning and investment difficult.”
She said there was a lack of proper processing facilities for oil extraction, treatment, and product development which resulted in reduced or low value of products.
“There is lack of quality standards and traceability systems in place to help us meet the export market demand.
“As most of the Non-Timber Forest Products are from customary lands, a strong public community engagement with benefit sharing arrangements are needed to drive this forward.”
Ms Bainivalu said despite all these challenges, opportunities for Fiji looked promising, and that there was “need to take the following into urgent consideration”:
n Sandalwood oil now can fetch up to $US2000 per kilogram in the international market.
n Agarwood resin, if properly developed and refined is probably one of the world’s expensive natural product which can fetch up to $US10,000 per kilogram.
n Bamboo, with its short rotation of three to five years to reach maturity, is a solution to low cost, sustainable materials for housing, furniture and handicrafts. Because of its fast-growing nature, bamboo is a significant sequester or user of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere making it an important tool in the fight against climate change.
n The natural oils from sikeci or candlenut and dilo are used in the cosmetic industry and these are two tree species which grow naturally in Fiji. The growing demand for wellness and cosmetic products both in Fiji and overseas opens up an opportunity for these products that can help elevate the livelihood of our rural communities.
She said the ministry was committed to expanding its focus on Non-Timber Forest Products in addition to timber or wood products.
“In the current Forest Decree 1992, Non-Timber Forest Products is not specifically mentioned, although vaguely covered under the term “other forest produce”.
“This Act is currently being reviewed, and the Ministry of Forestry is working hard to table the Forest Bill 2025 by November of this year.”
