EU and Thailand hold first talks on forest governance and legal timber trade deal

Thailand and the European Union (EU) have held their first negotiations towards a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) to improve forest governance and promote trade in verified legal timber products.

Highlights of EC conference on tackling deforestation and illegal logging

On 21-23 June 2017, the European Commission met with stakeholders from across the world to discuss future work on tackling deforestation and illegal logging. The meeting, in Brussels, attracted more than 250 representatives from timber producer and consumer countries, private sector and civil society, indigenous and local communities, European Union Member States, and international organisations.

Contribuciones al plan de trabajo para la implementación del Plan de Acción FLEGT

La Comisión Europea invita a las partes interesadas a comentar su borrador de documento de trabajo: Hacia un Plan de Trabajo 2017-20 para la implementación del Plan de Acción para la Aplicación de las leyes, gobernanza y comercio forestales (FLEGT).

Contributions au plan de travail pour la mise en œuvre du Plan d’action FLEGT

La Commission européenne invite les parties prenantes à faire des commentaires sur son document provisoire de travail : Vers un plan de travail 2017-20 pour la mise en œuvre du Plan d'action sur l’Application des réglementations forestières, gouvernance et échanges commerciaux (FLEGT).

Contributions to the draft work plan for the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan

The European Commission invites stakeholders to give feedback about its draft working paper: Towards a work plan 2017-2020 for the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.

What can the EU do to curb corruption in the forest sector?

Corruption. It has blighted countries in every continent for generations, and is identified as a main reason why illegal logging continues at a seemingly unstoppable rate.

Guyana and EU test timber legality agreement on the ground

Guyana is a step closer towards concluding a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU), after completing a significant milestone in the negotiation process. Known as field testing, this phase enables stakeholders to evaluate progress and make recommendations for the successful completion of the VPA negotiations.

Independent forest monitoring to boost transparency in Africa

Independent forest monitoring by civil society can improve transparency and help strengthen checks on illegality in the forest sector in Africa, an international conference heard last month in Accra.

Commentary note on future opportunities in line with the fight against illegal logging and deforestation

What is the future of FLEGT? Are we facing "FLEGT-xit" or are we moving towards a 2.0 version? What could be the risks? And the opportunities?

Communities benefit at last from Liberia’s money trees

It’s a myth that money doesn’t grow on trees — a glance at any timber baron’s bank balance would confirm that. But for people living near tropical forests it has long been clear that when money flows to logging companies, there is little left behind for local development. Now, in Liberia, that is all changing, thanks in part to a trade deal called a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) the country negotiated with the EU.