Critical Reflective Writing Paper

Student ID: S11183927

Name: Ravikaash Divnesh Rajan

Vaka leader: Poonam Devi-Vaka 2

Number of words: 1308

Using an example of a specific land resource in your community critically discuss current or
future issues related to its development and how these issues are perceived by your local
community and yourself.

Logging of Mahogany in Lautoka

Land resources include all those features and processes of the land, which can be used in many
ways to fulfil certain human needs (Vink, 1975). Forests are considered to be extremely dynamic
land resource that has the potential of sustainable harvesting and is equally important to the
Fijian economy. The most common product harvested from forests is wood. In addition, the
wood is than manufactured into plywood, paper, lumber and other essential products. The
research conducted for the reflective writing is based on Lautoka community, in the western
division of Fiji Islands. Thus, the critical reflective paper aims to describe a specific land
resource at Lautoka community and discuss the current and future impacts related to the
resource’s development and how these issues are perceived by Lautoka community and me.

To begin with, an example of a land resource at Lautoka community is logging of Mahogany.

Mahogany was introduced to Fiji from Central America in 1911 as an ornamental species (FAO,
2021). Mahogany is hard straight grained reddish-brown timber from a tropical tree commonly
used in the production of quality furniture. The Fijian government authorizes large plantation of
Mahogany trees to create employment for people and wealth opportunities in the economy.
Tabua Logging PTE Limited is the leading Mahogany timber company in Fiji (Tradekey, 2021).
Harvesting of mature Mahogany for commercial purpose began in 2003 in Fiji and since then,
the logging operations has expanded with providing quality hardwood timber to both domestic
industries and exporting. Logging and industrial process of Mahogany occurs at Navutu, Lautoka
by Mahogany Industries Fiji. Mahogany is common in Lautoka as geographically Lautoka is
categorized as leeward side because of the presence of sunny and dry weather.

As the Mahogany plantations have been created by the Forestry Department, any effect of
political instability is likely to affect the Mahogany projects through reduced government
spending. However, if the Mahogany plantations had been established through private sector
funds, then the implications of political instability are likely to be more severe in Fiji. The Fijian
government has created positive impacts by intervening in the operations in logging of
Mahogany in Fiji. Close to 90% of land in Fiji is communally owned by the indigenous
landowners (FAO, 2021). The Fijian government manages Mahogany hardwood forests through
rules and regulations to avoid consequences faced by the people of Fiji such as overharvesting,
soil erosions, deforestations and climate change. The Fijian government has set out regulations
regarding logging of Mahogany such as ownership is clear and legal, making all Mahogany
plantations owned by the state for the purpose of making ownership clear and legal, authorizing
only licensed industries with the production of Mahogany and exporting, regular inspections on
the operations of logging and imposing heavy penalties for any breaches concerning logging of
Mahogany in Fiji. The Fijian government signed a grant agreement in 2019 with the total sum of
$250,000 with the Fiji Mahogany Trust to create positive impacts and manage the needs on the
Mahogany landowners (The Fijian Government, 2021) . Permanent Secretary for the Office of
the Prime Minister, Mr Yogesh Karan urged the Fiji Mahogany Trust to use the grant wisely for
the benefit of the landowners. The Fijian government is progressing towards reforming the
Mahogany industry in Fiji. In addition, it is to ensure that every Mahogany landowners is well
resourced with skills and knowledge of using their land resources for the betterment of
livelihood. Another positive impact created by the Fijian government is working together with
relevant stakeholders to educate the landowners. The reason as to why Fijian government
educates Mahogany landowners is to allow them to venture into other revenue generating
activities through which they can contribute towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the
economy.

Furthermore, one of the major potential benefits of the positive impacts on logging of Mahogany
plantation is land security. In Fiji, land in which Mahogany plantation occurs is mostly owned by
the indigenous people known as “Mataqali”. The i-Taukei Land Trust Board(TLTB)
administrates leases on iTaukei land and solves issues regarding native lands brought forward by
landowners (iTaukei Land Trust Board, 2021). The Fijian government and TLTB ensures that
every landowner who owns, rents or leases land on which Mahogany logging takes place is that
their rights on the land will be respected. Workers employed at logging activities of Mahogany in
Lautoka benefits from improved safety measures through the intervention of the Fijian
government. The positive impact on logging of Mahogany plantation results benefitting
landowners with better income redistribution.

Moreover, the landowners or people of Lautoka community who own land on which Mahogany
plantation takes place are consulted by the logging industries and the iTaukei Land Trust
Board(TLTB). The mahogany plantations are land leased by the TLTB with consultations and
approval from landowners. TLTB is considered to be a third party that acts between the
government and landowners to look after the affairs of native lands and to be responsible for
leasing and negotiating leases such as land on which logging activities of Mahogany is carried
out. iTaukei Land Trust Board also ensures that the rights of the lessees are protected. In
addition, all consultations between the landowners and various agency regarding logging must be
conducted by the law of the country.

Mahogany is relatively significant in everything that it is used to make such as boats, furniture’s
and custom made guitars. In an interview at the Holiday Inn in Suva, the director of wood
technology in Fender Guitars, Mike Born, said that the guitar they manufactured was made of
Fiji’s Mahogany and the is considered to be the best to make guitars because the weight is light
on musicians (Vakasukawaqa, 2021). The significance of local Mahogany has attracted US
investors considered to be the largest manufacturer for guitars in the world. Mahogany is
resistant to rot both with the soil and atmosphere. In addition, Mahogany is highly strong from
the attack of termites. Logging of Mahogany in Fiji creates an excellent timber to work with.
Mahogany can be cut with both hand and power tools easily. In Fiji, Mahogany is expensive due
to its appearance and quality and is also considered the most beautiful of the hardwoods.

Logging of Mahogany in Lautoka generates impacts that could prove harmful to the people and
to the environment in the near future. The current impacts experienced in my community due to
logging includes loss of biodiversity and contamination of soil. Excess logging, deforestation and
illegal loggings of Mahogany are some of the factors that contributes towards the biodiversity
loss. Deforestation can cause serious danger on Mahogany plantation as it can lead to tree
species such as Mahogany disappear from an area. Changes in the pattern of rainfall, climate
change and sedimentation are considered to be future impacts of logging of Mahogany in
Lautoka. The people of Lautoka with the assistance of various organisations and Fijian
government initiatives are taking immediate measures that can reduce future exploitation of
Mahogany environment. In addition, some measures include planting trees to prevent soil
erosion, reduce inputs in the logging industries as it uses a large amount of land and water in
their operations, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and change industrial process which harms
the natural environment.

To conclude, logging of Mahogany in Fiji has positive and also negative impacts on the
environment and people. Operations of logging industries and the intervention of the Fijian
government are progressing towards sustainability of Mahogany in Fiji. Sustainability of
Mahogany is important as it reduces the possibility of landslides and land erosions that is
harmful to the environment. The response of people and myself is necessary because land
resources helps achieve food security and improve livelihoods in the economy. The Fijian
government, communities and relevant organizations should work together and preserve the
nature for sustainability of today and for the future.

Bibliography
FAO. (2021, October 30). FAO. Retrieved from 2 Fiji: https://www.fao.org

iTaukei Land Trust Board. (2021, October 30). About Us:TLTB. Retrieved from iTaukei Land
Trust Board: https://www.tltb.com.fj/About-Us/Back-In-Time

The Fijian Government. (2021, October 30). Google. Retrieved from The Fijian Government:
https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/News/FIJI-MAHOGANY-TRUST-RECEIVES-
GRANT

Tradekey. (2021, October 30). Google. Retrieved from Tradekey:

https://www.tradekey.com/company/Tabua-Logging-PTE-Limited-11777575.html
Vakasukawaqa, A. (2021, October 30). Google. Retrieved from The Fiji Times:
https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times

Vink, A. (1975). Land Use in Advancing Agriculture. Land Resources, 70-86.