Private Public Partnership To Grow Ministry’s 30 Million Trees Campaign

Management and staff of British American Tobacco Fiji and the Fiji Hardwood Corporation Limited,

Village Heads and Members of the Nausori Highland Forest Based Trust,

Forestry Industry Stakeholders Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and a Bula Vinaka to you all.

On the drive up here, I could not help but to watch and admire the beautiful forests that we have. The majesty of the morning sun break­ing through the trees is truly a sight to behold. It is a treasure that we need to manage such that our future generations are also able to enjoy and to benefit from.

Partnership

I thank the Fiji Hardwood Corpo­ration Limited (FHCL) and British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji for championing forest landscape re­forestation through a win-win part­nership that, I understand, will soon be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The idea of the partnership was first initiated in 2022 when BAT Fiji approached FHCL for mahogany fuel­wood materials to test their newly installed steam boil­ers at their Leaf Division at Votualevu in Nadi.

Replacing the diesel-pow­ered steam boilers will re­quire BAT Fiji to source approximately 300 cubic metres of mahogany fuel­wood for the new boilers to generate sufficient steam to process and dry the tobacco leaves. This is indeed a win-win partnership because while BAT Fiji was look­ing for a reliable fuelwood source, FHCL was looking at ways to maximise its rate of utilisation and reduce wastage during their planta­tion harvesting operations.

Furthermore, under the partnership, BAT Fiji will also assist in the replanting of mahogany seedlings, con­tributing to the long-term sustainability of FHCL plan­tations. I once again applaud the foresight of BAT Fiji and FHCL in pursuing the partnership approach that we are here to witness.

Forest Landscape Restoration

Ladies and gentlemen, forest loss and degradation intensify local and global problems related to food and livelihoods, clean water, fresh air and the cli­mate. Degraded landscapes are also more vulnerable to natural disasters and ex­treme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall, floods and landslides.

Forest restoration has great potential to address these issues by enhancing land­scapes in ways that ensure lasting benefits. Benefits in­clude better local climate reg­ulation, improved flood and erosion control, an increased variety and availability of food and non-food products, and economic opportunities for local people. It further supports climate change mitigation and adaptation, while enhancing ecological and livelihood values for the landscape and its people. I am of the firm belief that, over time, this can translate into improved quality of life and increased resilience for peo­ple who depend on forests.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to learn that the Re­forestation Partnership will involve nine ‘Mataqalis with­in the Nausori Highland Forest Based Trust. The Ministry of For­estry stands ready to provide the necessary support and assistance that will enable the participating mataqalis to secure fair and equi­table returns from their fuelwood harvesting and replanting con­tracts. This would be an additional source of income, over and above what FHCL is already paying, in­cluding land rentals, stumpage and land management fees.

Forest Restoration Benefits

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been advised that by sourcing fuelwood from the Nausori Highlands, BAT Fiji will reduce its importation of fossil fuel by 60%, thus establishing a greener footprint by using this re­newable fuel substitute.

For FHCL, the removal and pur­chase of forest residues for fuel­wood has created an opportunity for the company to increase its product range and also assists in clearing the land for replanting. All seedlings planted under the Refor­estation Partnership will be added to the Ministry of Forestry’s 30 Mil­lion Trees in 15 Years initiative.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, to con­clude, the reforestation programme is an excellent example of Private Public Partnership in the forestry and agriculture sub-sectors. With its state-of-the-art nursery and one million seed capacity, I am very confident in BAT Fiji’s ability and commitment to supply quality seed­lings in a timely manner to support the reforestation programme. The biggest challenge, though, is for us, especially the Ministry, to en­sure that we are also building and enhancing our ability to raise qual­ity seedlings of our native species because our forest landscape res­toration cannot totally rely on the planting of mahogany and pine.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to launch the Brit­ish American Tobacco and Fiji Hardwood Corporation Forest Res­toration Programme. I thank you all for your commitment to this programme and wish all partners every success in its implementa­tion.

Vinaka Vakalevu and thank you.