More than 4,200 mahogany and vesi seedlings are expected to be planted across 12 hectares of harvested forest land in Nameka Village, Tailevu, as part of efforts to restore forest resources and protect biodiversity.

The reforestation project follows harvesting activities in Coupe 1, where Mataqali Tuimatanitai has requested 2,142 mahogany and 2,142 vesi seedlings under Condition 4 of its Native Licence.

The mahogany trees are expected to provide a future source of timber for community housing projects, while the vesi seedlings will support the recovery of native biodiversity and help increase carbon stocks in the area.

Planting is scheduled to begin once resources are made available under the new National Budget. The seedlings will be planted at a spacing of seven metres by four metres, resulting in about 357 trees per hectare.

The initiative is being carried out with the involvement of Mataqali Tuimatanitai, forestry officers and Pride Mahogany.

The project highlights the role of landowning communities in ensuring harvested forest areas are replanted and managed sustainably, while balancing economic use of forest resources with long-term environmental conservation.