Assessments of forestry development projects in Ra Province, Fiji

The report assesses the technical, social and financial aspects of two reforestation projects in Fiji - one commercial and one community-based project.

There is great potential in Ra province in Fiji to restore degraded grasslands and abandoned sugar cane fields in remote upland areas and establish sustainable timber production that is profitable for investors and environmentally and socially beneficial to local communities.

To achieve this Future Forests Fiji (FFF) and Conservation International (CI) have to work in close partnership with mataqali (landowning  units) and the villages in which the mataqali members reside. Access to leasehold land is critical to the success of forestry investment projects.

The first project is pioneering the establishment of sustainable teak plantations in association with several indigenous communities in Ra and Nadroga-Navosa provinces delivering economic, social and environmental benefits to investors and local communities.

The second project is a community based reforestation project planting native and exotic tree species on deforested land to restore degraded land, improve food security and boost household income.