EU FLEGT VPAs Update Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation Meeting 19-20 June 2017, Chatham House Luca Perez, European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment
VPA Implementation Liberia Indonesia Ghana Central African Republic Congo Cameroon
VPA Negotiation Laos Vietnam Honduras Thailand Guyana Malaysia Cote d'ivoire Gabon DRC
Indonesia: Started FLEGT Licensing on 15 November 2016 Governance structure and M&E systems in place (e.g. Periodic evaluation, independent forest monitoring, impact monitoring) Continued multi-stakeholder participation + strong support by majority of NGOs Independent Monitoring & continuous improvement
Vietnam: Negotiations concluded in November 2016, in the process of ratification National TLAS will cover all export markets, as well as domestic market Future import legislation (due diligence) Joint implementation framework under development
Thailand VPA neg. started Sept 2013 1 st Negotiations on 26-30 June 2017 (process heavily affected by political turmoil) National consultation process and work at the technical level ongoing through a multi-stakeholder ad-hoc Working Group draft Legality Definition developed and consultations ongoing Major challenges are imports, as well as rubber-wood, smallholders and community forestry
Laos 1 st negotiation session in April 2017 Strong political commitment and synergies between PM Order No. 15 and FLEGT process; Active Multi-stakeholder processes Initial discussion on TLD and the product scope; Roadmap and joint assessment work Major challenges: conversion, capacity, limited direct trade with EU
Malaysia Malaysia FLEGT VPA nego.a.ons on hold TLAS mostly developed for PM & Sabah Increasing awareness of FLEGT Myanmar Technical support and work towards mul.- stakeholder dialogue Cambodia and Philippines Engaging in regional dialogues
Guyana: VPA neg. started December 2012 Progress Annexes in final draft stage Field testing being undertaken in 12th 30th June 2017 Broad stakeholder participation (PS, CS, Gov. agencies involved in Legality Definition and TLAS). Potential technical initialling at end of 2017 depending on outcome of Field Testing. Challenges: Maintaining the momentum and commitment Ensuring continued stakeholder consultation and participation Support to Amerindian land issues need to be articulated in complementary measures. Establish clear links in the VPA annexes between the IFM (MoU Norway) and the IA (VPA)
Honduras: VPA neg. started January 2013 Technical work on VPA texts to be finalised early July 2017. Initialling date in the coming months, but influenced by adoption of a law on FPIC (consultation of indigenous people) and by general elections in November. Stakeholders engagement and expectations remain high, remarkably wide participation. Keep high level and technicalmomentum to start implementation as soon as initialled. Important challenges taken into account in VPA: regularisation of land tenure, SME informality, institutional capacities.
VPA entry into force: 1 December 2009 Ghana: Readiness assessment for licensing planned before end 2017, with expected positive results. Hence possibility to start emitting licenses in 2018. Legislative instrument addressing most controversial forest issues, and built with wide stakeholder participation, expected to be adopted in the coming months.
VPA entered into force 1 December 2013 Liberia: Progress Modest progress New VPA progress tracking tool in place. Monitoring more regularly at technical mini-jic's Transparency improving: documents on www.fda.gov.lr LAS software (LiberTrace) nearing completion (although some recent issues identified) for main timber source and product. Independent audit contracted by European Commission Independent monitoring carried out since 2013, mandated by NGO coalition. Challenge Building capacity for handover of systems
VPA entered into force March 2013 Rep. of Congo: Full speed of implementation with positive dynamic: TLAS software being roll-out nationally, but challenges for coordination Process of recognition of private certification schemes Independent Audit to release first audit in the fall 2017 inspiring lively debates in JIC on topical governance challenges: concession allocation and deforestation permits Very active Independent Forest Monitoring by CSOs Enhanced communication but work ongoing on documents to be made publicly available
Cameroon VPA entry into force: 16 December 2011 Main achievements: Legal basis for VPA in place Sustained support of stakeholders (especially CS and PS) Main challenges and uncertainties: Development of the new information system (SIGIF 2) Gap between VPA requirements and current practices Real commitment of Government EU priority: Make sure SIGIF 2 is actually functional, and can be deployed Have a common and strong approach of EU and its MS towards Cameroon authorities
VPA entry into force: 1 July 2012 Central African Republic: At initial stages of implementation: Process gradually restarted after 2013 crisis Key actors still support the VPA but their knowledge has decreased FAO FLEGT prg supporting technical secretariat during 2016-7 + central database on forest data + www.apvrca.org with disclosure of documents assessment of the sector/stakeholders undertaken and is the basis for developing a road-map for implementation +reorienting EC aid (projects to be launched end 2017) BUT challenges due to conflict persisting outside Bangui, weak capacities, lack of domestic financial resources
Côte d'ivoire VPA neg. started 2013 Negotiation : 2nd négotiation held on June 2014 No formal neg sessions in 2017 but 1 VC. Roadmap is being revised. Challenges: Slow progress on VPA elements. Lack of national vision for forest and consistency among initiatives. Way forward: Ivorian FLEGT Focal Point changed and work at national level revitalized. Common letter of the main partners (GIZ, AFD, FAO, UE) sent to the Prime Minister to support the development of a national vision for SFM and forest governance. CI Government responded by creating a technical committee involving several Ministries. A special inter-ministerial council on forest issues is planned in June.
Gabon VPA neg. Started September 2010 Negotiation : Official negotiations stalled since October 2011 Technical sessions re-launched during 2015 and 2016 Challenges: New forest code to be approved soon Stakeholder's request for more transparency and participation National political events slow down the process Way forward: With the new FLEGT Focal Point, concertation at national level is likely to restart Focus will be on the drafting of the implementation texts of the forest code Private sector strongly motivated, will push on technical elements (traceability, )
DRC VPA neg. started October 2010 Negotiation: Negotiations stalled since November 2013 Some progresses at national stakeholders' level (meetings, work on updating legality grids,..) in 2016 / 2017 Government reshufflings problematic for progress Challenges: Stakeholders not focused on VPA, the focus is more on REDD, legal reform, economic issues (CITES negotiations for high value timber) National political agenda, high risk for suspension of activities Way forward: Restructure FLEGT working groups, and work not only on VPA specific issues, but also participate to the elaboration of a national forest policy.
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