Fiji Hardwood expansion faces sustainability questions

Fiji Hardwood Corporation's growing profits are under scrutiny by the standing committee on Public Accounts, which is questioning the long-term sustainability of its mahogany plantations. The committee is concerned that increased production could strain the nation's timber reserves if reforestation efforts do not keep pace with harvesting.

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If I may, if we actually increase our production by 150,000 to 200,000 tons, cubes, sorry. How many years it will take for Fiji hardwood to run out of plants, if we are not doing any reforestation? How many years of production do we have in reserve?

"If we actually increase our production by 150,000 to 200,000 tons, cubes, sorry. How many years it will take for Fiji hardwood to run out of plants, if we are not doing any reforestation? How many years of production do we have in reserve?" asked Standing Committee member Alvick Maharaj.

Fiji Hardwood Corporation Chief Executive Semi Dranibaka assured the committee that the country's 41,000 hectares of mature mahogany represent a substantial reserve. "If you look at the 41,000 hectares, it contains around 5.2 million cubes of standing logs. If we continue to harvest around 40,000 per year, it will take us 130 years to complete the harvesting," he explained.

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If you look at the 41,000 hectares, it contains around 5.2 million cubes of standing logs. If we continue to harvest around 40,000 per year, it will take us 130 years to complete the harvesting.

Maharaj stressed the importance of maintaining a consistent supply for both the company and local landowners. "Now that we start making profit, we need to ensure that the reforestation takes place so that the consistent supply of the raw material is there, which is beneficial both for the company and for the landowners as well," he stated.

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Now that we start making profit, we need to ensure that the reforestation takes place so that the consistent supply of the raw material is there, which is beneficial both for the company and for the landowners as well.

Dranibaka noted that harvesting levels are dictated by buyer demand. "We would like to increase our production, but because we depend on our buyers, we only harvest what the buyers buy, because if we overharvest it will be there and it will deteriorate and decay," he said. He added that increasing production to 200,000 cubic meters is feasible but requires enhanced processing and export capabilities to sustain market demand and value.

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We would like to increase our production, but because we depend on our buyers, we only harvest what the buyers buy, because if we overharvest it will be there and it will deteriorate and decay