EU and Vietnam ratify agreement on illegal logging and trade in legal timber

The EU and Vietnam have ratified a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, to address illegal logging and promote trade in legal timber products. The Agreement will take effect on 1 June 2019.

New resource for timber buyers on benefits of FLEGT-licensed products now available in French, Italian and Spanish

Timber buyers can now visit a new webpage in English, French, Italian or Spanish to learn about the business benefits of trading in FLEGT-licensed timber and the social, environmental and economic benefits that such trade brings to producer countries.

Liberia and EU review VPA progress and challenges

The Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) overseeing the EU-Liberia Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade has met this week in Monrovia to review progress and challenges in implementing the agreement.

CAR, EU report on VPA progress in 2017

The Central African Republic (CAR) and the European Union (EU) have released a joint report on progress in implementing their Voluntary Partnership Agreement in 2017.

Recordatorio: Consulta pública sobre la acción de la UE contra la deforestación

El plazo para participar en la consulta pública sobre la acción de la UE en materia de lucha contra la deforestación finaliza el 25 de febrero de 2019.

Reminder: Consultation on EU action on deforestation

The European Commission’s public consultation on EU action against deforestation closes on 25 February 2019.

El sector forestal hondureño alaba la participación en las negociaciones del acuerdo comercial maderero con la UE

Cuando Honduras decidió negociar un acuerdo sobre el comercio de la madera con la Unión Europea en 2013, pocos en el país imaginaban el efecto que tendría el simple hecho de juntar a los actores del sector forestal para que hablaran de temas relacionados con el mismo.

UNEP-WCMC reports on EUTR implementation

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has published its latest briefing note on the implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which covers the period November to December 2018.

Un sistema de trazabilidad para luchar contra la madera ilegal en Panamá

Considerada el gran pulmón de Panamá, la selva del Darién es una importante fuente de recursos para las comunidades de esta región. Sin embargo, en 2010 las estimaciones apuntaban a que el 67% de la madera extraída de este tupido bosque tropical de 20 000 km2 se obtenía de manera ilegal y sin ningún tipo de control. Para solucionar este problema, a inicios de 2018 el Ministerio de Ambiente puso en marcha un sistema de trazabilidad de la madera.

How Chinese companies launder illegal timber

An investigative journalist has exposed how companies in China launder wood of dubious origin in products they export, and how their customers in the EU are often aware of the fraud but don’t care and may even encourage it.