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Independent forest monitoring evolves, aided by VPAs
FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements are aiding an evolution in the implementation and impacts of independent forest monitoring in West and Central Africa, according to a new brief by the consultancy Palladium International. The report is based on inputs from 19 civil society organisations and individuals, and it covers eight countries in West and Central Africa. -
The EU Timber Regulation implementation and enforcement updates
ClientEarth is looking at how the EUTR has been implemented and is being enforced in each country, and has compiled info-briefings on selected Member States. The info-briefings set out key details of each Member State’s implementing legislation and enforcement approach. -
FAO boosts support to promote legal timber trade in Lao PDR
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is stepping up support for the legal timber trade in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with the official launch of two new projects that will strengthen the roles of civil society and the private sector in improving forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) in the country. -
Republic of the Congo and the EU release 2016 annual report on VPA progress
The Republic of the Congo and the EU have released a joint report on progress in implementing the Voluntary Partnership Agreement in 2016. -
Helping Indonesian craftsmen go global, sustainably
Mechanisms to ensure wood is legally sourced are essential to conserve forests, and can also help small businesses expand exports, thereby increasing income. CIFOR scientist Herry Purnomo discusses the importance of this pioneering certification system for small industry, livelihoods and forests in Indonesia. -
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. -
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.