The Government of Fiji, through the Ministry of Forestry, has undertaken a comprehensive review of the legal framework governing the nation’s forest sector. Supported by a technical expert team from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this intention was to align Fiji’s legislation with its evolving national policies, such as the Climate Change Act 2021, the National Development Plan, and importantly, the Fiji Forest Policy 2007. The result is the Forestry Bill 2025, which will replace the Forest Decree 1992 with legislation that addresses contemporary resource management challenges.

The Forestry Bill 2025 when compared to the legislation it will replace represents a fundamental shift from a regulatory model that focused primarily on timber extraction to one of integrated sustainable management. While the 1992 Decree was instrumental in regulating licensing and royalties, it predated significant developments in ecosystem services, carbon rights, and modern biosecurity. The new Bill addresses these gaps while incorporating the extensive stakeholder consultations regarding the importance of better governance and economic development in the forestry sector.

While the enactment of the Bill is an encouraging first step it is only the initial phase of reform. The successful operationalisation of the new regulatory framework will require a structured implementation strategy to address technical requirements, from the establishment of new governance councils to the training of officers in updated enforcement protocols. This article outlines the technical advancements within the Bill, and evaluates what this shift ultimately means for Fiji.

Operationalising the Fiji Forest Policy 2007

For some time, Fiji’s forestry sector has operated without regard to updated policy. The Fiji Forest Policy 2007 set out a progressive vision for sustainable forest management (SFM), conservation, and landowner empowerment. However, the Forest Decree 1992 remained the governing law that focused narrowly on timber extraction and state control. For some time it has been apparent that the Forest Decree lacked the legal mechanisms to support the Policy’s broader goals and ambition for the forestry sector.

The primary purpose of the Forestry Bill 2025 is to close the gap between the policy and the law. By legally mandating ecosystem-based management and integrating forest protection with production, the Bill finally transforms the 2007 Policy from an aspirational document into an enforceable legal reality.

Technical Reform: Conservator, Licensing, and Enforcement

The Bill introduces specific technical reforms to modernise operations. This includes the Bill elevating the Conservator of Forests from an administrator to a strategic regulator. The Bill empowers the Conservator to delegate powers and accredit Forest Practices Officers (FPOs), shifting the Ministry's focus from day-to-day policing to high-level auditing and standard-setting.

The Bill also includes a more modern approach to licensing, and includes a diversified framework that introduces Forest Management Licences for long-term security, specific Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Licences for commodities like sandalwood (yasi), and Wood Processing Licences to ensure mill standards.

Further enforcement is updated and made “smarter”. This includes the introduction of a co-regulatory model  that empowers accredited FPOs (potentially industry-based) to certify plans, while providing the State with tools like Fixed Penalty Notices for minor breaches and Absolute Liability for environmental damage with power to provide alternatives to prosecution, which should, if carefully implemented simplify enforcement to meet higher regulatory standards. 

Understanding the impacts of the new Bill for the forestry sector in Fiji

To understand the impact of the Bill, it is necessary to weigh its strategic advantages against the operational risks.

What Fiji’s forestry sector will gain:

1. Increased Market Access and Economic Value: By introducing mandatory traceability and Log Scaling standards, the Bill aligns Fiji with strict global standards like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This protects market access for Fijian timber. Furthermore, clarity on carbon rights opens the door to climate finance revenue for landowners.
2. Legal Certainty for Landowners: The Bill explicitly incorporates traditional governance into its objectives and mandates Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for licences on iTaukei land. This secures indigenous rights within the statutory framework.
3. Efficiency: The move to "co-regulation" and Fixed Penalty Notices addresses the current enforcement challenges where offences can languish within the busy court system, allowing for swifter, more proportionate justice.

Operational Challenges

1. Implementation Burden: The reform required by the new legislative framework that the Bill will introduce is resource-intensive. A Draft Implementation Plan is being drawn up but it will require a commitment of at least 2 years while the new systems are set up by the Ministry of Forests - meaning that significant support or donor assistance may be required to providet the necessary training and resources to set up the new systems.
2. Training will be required: The new system relies on highly skilled staff. Forestry officers must transition into roles requiring prosecutorial knowledge to issue fines correctly. Without rigorous training, enforcement could falter or face legal challenges.
3. Industry Adaptation: The shift puts more responsibility on the private sector to employ or contract accredited Forest Practices Officers. Smaller operators may find this transition technically or financially challenging without support.

What This Means for Fiji

The Forestry Bill 2025 represents a significant opportunity for Fiji’s forest sector. It moves the away from a model of simple resource extraction toward a sophisticated, multi-use framework that aims to adopt an ecosystem based approach. By balancing the "protection" of carbon and biodiversity with the "production" of high-value timber and sandalwood, the Bill positions Fiji as a leader in the Pacific bioeconomy.

However, legislation is only as good as its execution. The immediate future will require a significant investment in human capital—training officers, certifying industry professionals, and including landowners with sufficient information to be meaningfully part of the transformation. If the implementation challenge is met, this Bill has the potential to secure the economic and environmental future of Fiji’s forests for generations.