Making Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) work for forests, people and the climate: Civil society recommendations on the future of VPAs

By highlighting the decade of successes already achieved during the negotiation and implementation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements to end illegal logging, civil society from timber producing countries explain where EU policy should go next.

Briefing: Addressing illegal cross-border timber trade in South Asia

The EU FLEGT Facility has published a briefing based on research into cross-border timber trade in South Asia, and between South Asian nations and Myanmar.

Blazing a trail for timber traceability in Benin

Every year, the National Timber Office of Benin (ONAB) produces around 50 000 cubic metres of logs from 14 000 hectares of state plantations. Local businesses buy the timber, mainly teak, before processing and exporting much of it to international markets.

Mist clears on China in African forests

Mists of uncertainty and misunderstanding have shrouded China's role in African forests in recent years. These are beginning to clear and, thanks to initiatives such as the China-Africa Forest Governance Learning Platform, the prospects for true China-Africa forest partnerships look more promising than ever.

VPAs and SMEs in Mekong countries – new website and discussion group

The EU FLEGT Facility has launched a web page and online forum focused on small and informal forest products enterprises in the context of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) in the Mekong region.

Here at last. EU importers welcome first FLEGT-licensed timber

It’s not often that some planks of wood make history. But the Indonesian plywood and other products that arrived in Europe in recent weeks deserve that accolade.

How the EU can protect the world’s forest by tackling corruption

Amid the political turbulence that kicked off in Europe in 2016, an important event from last year risks being forgotten, the unprecedented global commitment to tackle corruption.

Civil society keen to take part in ASEAN’s new FLEG plan

As the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states implement a new ten-year plan to improve forest governance, civil society organisations (CSOs) in region are keen to get involved.

To avoid the "conflict trap", Myanmar should protect its forests

Transitions from war are tough. When grievances smolder and economies fail to recover, most countries fall into a “conflict trap” and war resumes. To escape the trap, post-conflict governments often exploit forests, minerals, and other natural resources to jump-start war-torn economies.

Southeast Asia marks progress in combating illegal timber trade

Representatives from eight member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) shared their achievements in developing reliable timber legality assurance systems at a workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia from 6-8 December 2016.