Sandalwood traders have been assured of continuous efforts to strengthen capacity in supporting community-based sandalwood nurseries and plantations.
The assurance by Ministry of Forestry’s executive director Research and Development Tevita Bulai during a national consultation is aimed at ensuring that the sandalwood industry, have consistent and abundant resources.
Mr Bulai said they were working to improve the sandalwood market system to ensure equitable benefits for local sandalwood growers.
“We have begun consultations with sandalwood growers in the West, Central, North and Eastern divisions finalising the Association Cooperative by-laws and the formalisation of the Sandalwood Growers Association in the 2023/2024 financial year in consultation with appropriate agencies,” he said.
“Sandalwood remains a highly valuable commercial tree species in Fiji, although wild sandalwood resources have been largely exhausted through overharvesting, fire and theft. While our staff gathered more data for the proposed association guideline’s finalisation, the growers and stakeholders were given the chance to express their views and offer ideas for improving sandalwood development in Fiji.”
The ministry, Mr Bulai said, through the sandalwood development program would establish a sandalwood brand recognition and development in the international marketplace based on its natural properties and competitiveness.
“We will be reaching out to key agencies within the Government to develop this brand,” he said.
Kolinio Batiliku, the headman of Nawailevu Village in Bua, who attended the consultation, stressed the importance of engaging young people in climate-smart agroforestry.
Mr Batiliku thanked the ministry for communicating with the growers and educating them on the pertinent policies and regulations in order to make the trade of sandalwood an equitable commodity for all.
He firmly supports the formation of an association.
He said the villagers of Nawailevu had embarked on a journey to help restore their land that had been used for bauxite mining over the past decade.
