Timber treatment is now a topic of national interest across Fiji, with the government concerned with the volume of substandard timbers flooding the domestic market—either not treated correctly or not at all.
That is according to Alitia Banivalu, the Fijian Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, who raised concerns in the parliament late last week, noting that “the main purpose of treating timber with chemicals is so that they can last longer in service and to avoid termites.”
Minister Bainivalu said that without treatment, many timber species, including pine, will not be suitable for use in exposed and ground-contact situations. Adding chemicals, which is only part of the solution, requires more care to ensure the proper specification of timbers used in designing buildings—especially against termites.
In response, Semi Koroilavesau—a member of the FijiFirst opposition and the long-time Minister for Fisheries—argued that people who live in rural areas should not always rely on chemicals and should instead “utilise traditional knowledge of conserving timber to last longer.”
The concerns came after Minister Bainivalu last month warned that a number of hardware stores were misleading customers with labelling on timber products.
Termite infestation is now spreading across Fiji, beginning in Lautoka and extending to Vanua Levu, including Vunivau and Valebasoga – with the Sitiveni Rabuka government now looking to contain the spread and minimise damage.
- To learn more about the Fijian forest industry, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.
