The Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forests Commander Viliame Naupoto launched the Forestry Business Guide and the Fiji National Forest Programme – a first for the region at Studio 6 today .
Centered on the theme Stewardship of Forest and Forest Resources into the new Century where various stakeholders gathered to identify the National Forest Programme (NFP) outcome categories and strengthening synergies for sustainable forest management.
During the budget consultation with the private sector in September, the Reserve Bank of Fiji stated the need for a five per cent economic growth –
today at the National Forestry Council Meeting;Commander Naupoto hoped the meeting would facilitate such growth and challenged his Ministry to reach the target.
“The NFP is a programme of work hosted by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) but funded by European Development Agencies and the European
Commission.
“The purpose is for countries to identify key national processes that are needed in order to target and coordinate forest activities at national
level,” Mr Naupoto said.
He said the NFP is the by-product of the Fiji National Policy Statement 2007 and Government’s priority is to target higher export growth for the forestry sector.
The Acting Conservator of Forests, Mr Inoke Wainiqolo said Fiji is fulfilling its international obligations through its National Policy Statement 2007,
reviewing of legislation and implementation of National Forest Program 2010-2012.
The NFP document states that the forest sector in Fiji ranks 5th of the main supports of the economy and 3rd of foreign exchange earning.
One of the priorities stated is the revision of forest legislation and regulations to support policy guidelines advocated in the National Forest Policy 2007.
The workshop ends tomorrow where the emphasis will focus on Fiji’s fisheries sector .