Fiji Enacts Landmark Forestry Act 2025

On 1 December 2025, Fiji’s Parliament enacted the new Forestry Act 2025, a transformative reform that replaces the 1992 Forest Decree and shifts the focus of Fijian forestry legislation from timber extraction to sustainable forest management. The act introduces an innovative operating model that modernizes the management of forest resources and supports economic growth. At the same time, its more efficient enforcement mechanisms will safeguard forest ecosystems and the rights of communities living in them.

Through its Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program, ADB provided technical assistance throughout the drafting process to ensure that the act aligned with existing laws and international commitments, such as Fiji’s own Climate Change Act 2021 and the Paris Agreement. ADB also supported Fiji’s commitment to inclusivity by facilitating the official consultation sessions in May 2025 that gathered the views and experiences of forest communities and traditional landowners, government agencies, industry leaders, and NGOs across the country.