FAO Forestry country profiles - legislation

Fiji Islands

Forestry legislation

The principal piece of forestry legislation in Fiji is the Forest Decree of 1992, which replaced the Forest Act of 1953 (later amended in 1990). The Forestry Decree of 1992 largely legislates to support the objectives specified in the 1988 Fiji Forestry Sector Review, namely: To maximise the sustainable contribution of the Sector to the development and diversification of the economy whilst bringing the Fijian people into fuller and more active participation in sectoral development of all levels and stages and at the same time, protecting and enhancing the effectiveness of the country's forest in environmental conservation. A number of other forestry specific regulations also guide forestry development, including: the 1968 Forest Sawmill Regulations (later amended in 1997), the 1955 Forest Guard Regulations, and the 1972 Forest (Fire Prevention) Regulations. Legislation and regulations creating specific forestry institutions consist of the 1976 Fiji Pine Commission Act, 1987 Commission Forests (Maintenance and Protection) Regulations and the 1990 Fiji Pine Decree. A variety of legislation relating to land, environment and conservation has been enacted, with implications for forests. Relevant pieces of legislation include: the 1940 Native Land Trust Act, the 1953 Land Conservation and Improvement Act and the Nature Reserves Act of 1956.