History

Fiji’s Mahogany Timber (Swietenio Macrophyla) is a renewable resource from plantation forests.

Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany) was first introduced to Fiji from Central America as an ornamental in 1911 and showed such promise that small trial plantations were established at Colo-i-Suva, Nadarivatu, and several other sites from 1952 onwards.

Looking to the future and the generation of income and employment, diversification of the country’s trade commodities and at the same time maintaining the multiple benefits and services of an intact forest cover, the Fiji Government and landowning communities began an extensive planting program of the non indigenous tree species, Mahogany in the early 1950’s. It takes about 30 to 40 years for a tree to mature and ready for harvest.
Seeing the potential to create employment and wealth opportunity for its peoples, the Fijian government authorised large plantations of genuine mahogany. Capitalising on the demand of a luxurious wood that was running in short supply, they cultivated a business model that ensured that the mahogany would be sustainable. They provided the watchful eye and enforced regulations to ensure the longevity of the mahogany forests for generations to come.

Commercial harvesting of mature Mahogany began in 2003 and has expanded since then, providing high quality hardwood timber on a sustainable manner to both the export and domestic processing industries. Today, Fiji’s Mahogany plantation’s cover close to 50,000 hectares generating a sustainable yield of approximately 150,000 tonnes of log annually.

Close to 90% of land in Fiji is communally owned by the indigenous landowners. The effective participation of landowners in the development of their own forests has become vital to develop the sustainable management of Fiji’s Forests and to ensure the resource remains intact in perpetuity. The people of Fiji who own the local lands are mainly Tribal groups, for which the government acts as a buffer between international hardwood distributors to ensure that employment benefits Fiji.

The Fijian government manages Swietenia Macrophylla hardwood forests through regulations crafted to prevent over-harvesting and establish the framework for growth cycle with minimal biological impact. This economic due diligence ensures long-term availability of Green World Fijian Mahogany decking. They have strict rules on the number of trees that can be felled and sold. They limit the amount of worldwide supply to ensure that there cannot be any abuse of their precious resource.

Close to 90% of land in Fiji is communally owned by the indigenous landowners. The effective participation of landowners in the development of their own forests has become vital to develop the sustainable management of Fiji’s Forests and to ensure the resource remains intact in perpetuity. The people of Fiji who own the local lands are mainly Tribal groups, for which the government acts as a buffer between international hardwood distributors to ensure that employment benefits Fiji.

They have strict rules on the number of trees that can be felled and sold. They limit the amount of worldwide supply to ensure that there cannot be any abuse of their precious resource.

This has enabled Fiji to breathe new life into mahogany while giving its people a new source of income and employment.

Here’s a recap about the Swietenia Macrophylla Industry and the way it is being managed by the Government:
– Ownership is clear and legal. All the plantations are owned by the state.
– Only licensed processors are involved with its production and export.
– Chain of Custody Protocols
– Minimum Production and Packaging Standards Safety of Workers
– Inspections and Audits. Heavy penalties for any breaches
– A harvesting code of Practice. Reforestation is a requirement
– A levy is charged on every tree that is felled, and these levies are invested fully in reforestation
– Issuance of certificates of Legality. Swietenia Macrophylla grown in Fiji is Lacey Act compliant, and CITES exempt.

The quality and sustainability control exhibited throughout the natural chain of custody managed by the Fijian government give Fijian Mahogany decking an advantage over any other sources hardwood. Being an island in the Pacific Ocean, it is next to impossible for smugglers and the like to transport illegally harvested wood offshore. This is coupled with the fact that all of the Swietenia Macrophylla trees are Plantation grown. Total Assurance is given to the buyer that all containers sealed at the port in Fiji will be received with the Seal intact, indicating that Fijian Mahogany decking can only have come from Fiji’s Swietenia Macrophylla Plantations.