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With new government in place, Liberia meets EU to review VPA implementation
The Joint Implementation Committee overseeing the EU-Liberia Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on forest law enforcement, governance and trade has met for the first time since Liberia’s new government — including new Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director C. Mike Doryen — took office earlier this year. -
FLEGT Independent Market Monitor publishes first quarterly newsletter
The FLEGT Independent Market Monitor (IMM) has published the first edition of its quarterly newsletter, featuring updates on the IMM project, market and policy news, and interviews with key FLEGT actors. -
Lessons and inspiration from Indonesia’s FLEGT experience
Indonesia was not the only one to celebrate its FLEGT licensing launch last year. Other tropical timber exporters engaged in the FLEGT VPA process en route to licensing welcomed the news too. They see Indonesia’s success not just as inspirational, but providing lessons from which they can learn. Mike Jeffree reports -
VPAs give communities a confident voice
FLEGT VPAs are not just about delivering legal timber to the EU, but ensuring greater stakeholder participation in timber sector decision-making in supplier countries to the benefit of ordinary people. Mike Jeffree reports on progress in Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Liberia and Vietnam. -
Civil society sharing lessons on participation and forest governance
When civil society organisations in Indonesia began proposing ways to end illegal logging, they knew they had a mountain to climb. In 2002, some 80 percent of logging there was illegally. Corruption and conflict were widespread. Trust was lacking. -
FLEGT boosts civil society self-help
After playing a key role in implementing their country’s FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement with the EU, Indonesian civil society groups are sharing experiences with counterparts in other countries engaged in the initiative. -
Ghana transformed and on target for licensing
Ghana’s confidence in its FLEGT VPA process is underlined by its eagerness to open it to scrutiny. Mike Jeffree reports -
EUTR enforcers claim growing competence
Latest evidence shows EUTR Competent Authorities increasingly strengthening enforcement capacity EU-wide, creating a more effective barrier to illegal wood and helping prepare the ground for successful impact of FLEGT-licensed timber. Mike Jeffree reports -
The VPA voyage is validated
The launch of Indonesian FLEGT licensing may not be a ‘magic bullet’ against illegal timber, but deserves recognition as a key step in the right direction, say participants in the initiative. Mike Jeffree reports