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Illegal logging has a devastating effect on communities and biodiversity. It causes vast carbon emissions and can keep poor countries in a dangerous and damaging cycle of poverty and corruption. Despite this, illegal timber and wood-based products are unwittingly bought by consumers and companies, undermining efforts to deal with the issue by making illegal logging financially viable. Illegal logging is however also often an integral part of the economy, providing support for political parties and local communities. The challenge is therefore to tackle the root causes of illegality, which include corruption, lack of clarity about land rights and the excessive influence of the timber industry over forestry policies and legislation.

 

Legal forest use, when based on laws that are environmentally sound and socially just, can ensure environmental protection whilst providing livelihoods to some of the world’s poorest peoples. The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, and especially the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA) between wood producing countries and the EU, aim to ensure that wood being sold in the EU can be shown to be legal.

 

VPAs are based on the national laws of each producing country, and to date all VPAs are endorsed by the government, civil society and companies. The law that needs to be enforced is agreed after an in-depth assessment of its relevance, and reforms to address weaknesses are made when they are deemed necessary. They ensure that wood can be traced from tree to the point of export. The result is that people in forest rich (but often poor) countries won’t have their precious resources stolen, and consumers can be more sure that they are not harming people and forests with their purchases.

 

For more detail about the FLEGT Action Plan please see our presentation below: What is EU FLEGT?

 

 

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The intention is for this section to become an area of the site where contributors are able to post their organisation's relevant publications.

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Vers La reconsidération de la participation de la Société civile de la RD Congo dans la négociation de l'APV FLEGT.
24/05/2013 French Civil society publications, DR Congo, About Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)

Au lendemain de la libération par l'administration belge de la cargaison d'afromosia saisie au port d'Anvers en Belgique le 25 Mars dernier pour cause d'irrégularité, la Société Civile Environnementale de la RDC menace de reconsidérer sa participation dans la négociation du processus APV-FLEGT.

 

application/pdf iconLettre ouverte de dénonciation des OSC de la RDC sur la décision de libération de la cargaison d'afromosia saisie au port d'Anvers par l'Administration belge..pdf2.19 MB bytes

The Impact of Multinational Corporation on Community Rights to Land and Natural Resources a Case Study of Sime Darby
22/05/2013 English Civil society publications, Liberia

Newly published Report on the impact of Multinational Corporation on Community Rights to Land and Natural Resources; A Case study on Sime Darby

Améliorer la gouvernance forestière
22/05/2013 French Cameroon, Central African Republic, Civil society publications, Congo Brazzaville, Consultation / Participation, FLEGT, Forest Governance, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Independent monitoring, Legality Assurance System (LAS), About Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)

Les Accords de partenariat volontaire sont des outils innovants destinés à l’amélioration de la gouvernance des forêts. Ce rapport examine le contenu des six APV actuels et permet d’identifier les différences et les similarités existant entre ces accords. L’analyse porte sur six questions clés que les ONG européennes et les pays APV ont identifiées comme étant essentielles pour l’amélioration de la gouvernance dans le secteur forestier.

application/pdf iconfern_vpa_french_internet.pdf1016.97 KB bytes

Comment les informations peuvent être utilisées pour influencer l'application du Règlement Bois de l'UE
13/05/2013 French Cameroon, Civil society publications, Consultation / Participation, Ecuador, FLEGT, Ghana, Guyana, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Malaysia, Vietnam

In a short briefing note Client Earth explains that information about specific timber practices and illegal harvesting is important to be brought to the attention of relevant organisations. It is a fundamental component of the operation of the Timber Regulation.

application/pdf iconComment les informations peuvent être utilisées pour influencer l'application du Règlement Bois de l'UE.pdf80.04 KB bytes

Le recours à la certification dans le contexte du Règlement Bois de l'UE
13/05/2013 French Cameroon, Civil society publications, Ecuador, FLEGT, Forest Governance, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Indonesia, Laos, Liberia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Due diligence legislation, About Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)

Dans ce court note d'information, Client Earth explique les éléments clés du Règlement Bois de l'UE qui est entré en vigueur le 3 Mars 2013 et rend illégal le fait de placer du bois sur le marché de l'UE, si connecté en violation des lois du pays d'origin. The RBUE est une composante de l'EU FLEGT plan d'action et il est de la responsabilité de chacun des 27 États membres à appliquer.

application/pdf iconLe recours à la certification dans le contexte du Règlement Bois de l'UE.pdf57.67 KB bytes

Forest Trends information brief - Honduras VPA
13/05/2013 English Civil society publications, Consultation / Participation, FLEGT, Honduras, Legality Assurance System (LAS), About Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)

 

Forest Trends is pleased to release its latest Information Brief on the Honduras FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) process.

 

In English: In January 2013 Honduras and the European Union started formal negotiations of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). This Forest Trends’ Information Brief, written by Fillipo del Gato, discusses some background information on Honduras’ forest sector that could have important bearing during the VPA negotiations. The document also highlights some of the choices that the stakeholders involved in the VPA negotiations may need to make. The analysis is structured around the five main elements of a VPA timber legality assurance system. This document is the first of a series of Information Briefs that Forest Trends will produce on the VPA process in Honduras, which will focus in particular on its links with the country’s important community forestry sector.  

 

En español: En enero de 2013 Honduras y la Unión Europea iniciaron el proceso de negociación de un Acuerdo Voluntario de Asociación (AVA). El presente Boletín Informativo discute algunos aspectos del sector forestal hondureño que podrían tener relevancia durante las negociaciones del AVA. El documento también destaca algunas de las opciones que los actores involucrados en la negociación del AVA podrían tener que considerar. El análisis se estructura en torno a los cinco elementos principales de un sistema AVA para asegurar la legalidad de la madera. Este documento es el primero de una serie de Boletines Informativos que Forest Trends tiene previsto elaborar sobre el proceso AVA en Honduras, que se enfocarán en particular sobre los vínculos de este proceso con el amplio sector forestal comunitario del país.

application/pdf iconVPA Honduras_Feb. 8 2013_English_Letter-Size.pdf238.53 KB bytes
application/pdf iconVPA Honduras_Feb. 1 2013_Spanish_Letter-Size.pdf215.88 KB bytes

Plateforme de gestion durable des forêts sur l'état d'avancement de l'implémentation de l'APV au Congo

03/05/2013 French Civil society publications, Congo Brazzaville, Consultation / Participation, FLEGT

Dans une présentation power point la Plateforme de gestion durable des forêts au Congo (PGDF) évalue l'avancement de l'implémentation de l'AVP. Elle observe notmment une faible implication de la Société civile dans l'élaboration du projet du nouveau code forestie. La présentation a été partagée avec le Secretariat Technique (réunion du 22.04) et le Comité de Mise en Oeuvre de l'APV (réunions du 29 et 30.04). 

application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconRole de la SC APV-CCM (3).ppt1.26 MB bytes