Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
UK Federation for the Peoples of the South Pacific (UKFSP)

Contractor:
Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific - Fiji

Project Code: 208-680-003	Start Date: 01-Apr-93	End Date: 01-Mar-96
Commitment: £102,960	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
In the 1960's the Fijian Department of Forestry carried out experimental plantings of Caribbean Pine and other pine species in Drasa and Nadarivatu on the island of Viti Levu. The objectives of the project were to reduce heavy logging in the indigenous forests, conserve soil, utilise previously unproductive talasiga grasslands and determine if a suitable species existed for commercial large-scale planting. As a result, Caribbean Pine was selected for large-scale planting at Seqaqa on Vanua Levu and a separate entity, the Fiji Pine Commission was formed. During the 1970's, Fiji Pine carried out plantings in the Drasa, Nadi, Nabou and Ra forests on the two main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The long-term objective of this programme was to supply a timber-processing plant in Fiji to supply domestic and export markets. Simultaneously, small-scale plantings were being encouraged at village level, in remote areas of the two main islands and the smaller more distant islands. These plantings were supported by the extension services of Fiji Pine Ltd., aiming to promote planting of pine on unproductive land and to maximise the returns from these plantations for the landowners. In the early 1980's Fiji Pine set up Forest Development Service Ltd., (FDSL) to administer the timber-processing plant at Drasa, western Viti Levu, which would be responsible for processing timber from all large-scale plantations within a 100-mile radius. FDSL subsequently became known as Tropik Wood Ltd. The Fiji/German Forestry Project (GTZ) was established in 1985 to determine effective management regimes for the small-scale plantations. In the course of this project, management plans were devised for the largest of the small plantations. The small-scale plantings have now reached maturity and are ready for harvesting. Unfortunately, they tend to be outside the 100 mile radius of the Drasa plant and, with the small volumes available, harvesting and processing are difficult and expensive.

Project Objectives:
To enable villagers to harvest and utilise pine trees which were planted on village land in the 1960s in the expectation of receiving government support for harvesting and processing.

Intended Outputs:
To establish a pilot project for the utilisation of pine plantations in Nausori Highlands and Mataso Village.

Co-ordinate training by the Fiji Government Forestry Training School of selected people within these communities to operate harvesting equipment.

Provide participatory management training to communities in both pilot projects in resource management and decision making processes.

Provide training to communities in business management skills for value-added products.

Co-ordinate the provision of training by the Fiji National Trainng Council and the Fiji Institute of Technology in spin-off industries such as furniture making.