Bamboo is being recognised as a promising sustainable resource for Fiji following the completion of the country’s first Bamboo Training of Trainers programme.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Tevita Bulai told partners, Fiji National University students, CATD representatives and industry stakeholders that bamboo could play a key role in supporting the construction and furniture industries as timber supplies from natural forests continue to decline.

He said bamboo’s rapid growth and durable structural properties make it a practical alternative for future development.

The initiative, supported by Global Green Growth Institute and development partners from New Zealand, Ireland and Indonesia, has already completed Fiji’s first rapid bamboo inventory assessment in 2025.

The programme is also introducing Cement Bamboo Frame Technology, a cyclone-resilient construction method aimed at strengthening climate adaptation efforts.

Participants received hands-on training in sustainable harvesting practices, clump management and bamboo treatment techniques as part of Fiji’s broader push towards environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development.