The Fiji Hardwood Corporation Ltd (FHCL) has taken a crucial step towards certifying its mahogany. In July 2022, they launched the Forest Certification Gap Analysis and Roadmap Report. Fiji Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum commended FHCL’s efforts to target the Forest Stewardship Council Certification Scheme, enabling Fiji’s mahogany products to access high-value international markets and achieve premium positioning.
The ‘Say No to Illegal Logging’ pledge by the Ministry of Forestry is aimed at creating greater public awareness and to gather support from as many stakeholders, says Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum responded to a question from Opposition MP Mitieli Bulanauca on the status of the initiative in Parliament last week.
29 cases of illegal logging were recorded in Vanua Levu from January 2017 to January this year. Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed this in parliament today while speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minuster for Forestry, Voreqe Bainimarama. Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji is not immune to illegal logging.
The Ministry of Forestry will work with saw millers and loggers in the hope of shifting away from contributing towards the black economy and focussing on the legal economy. In launching the pledge program to stop illegal logging the ministry’s permanent secretary, Pene Baleinabuli, told stakeholders in Labasa yesterday that a lot of our industries have been contributing to the black economy.
Click here to access the Global Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (ILAT) Risk assessment tool and to download the Forest Trends User Guide describing the functionality of the ILAT Risk Data Tool.
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