Laos-EU VPA negotiations advance

The European Union (EU) and Laos have held their second round of face-to-face negotiations on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The talks took place in the Lao capital Vientiane from 4-7 June 2018.

Timber companies – your help is needed

Since 2016, NEPCon’s project 'Supporting Legal Timber Trade' has aimed to show timber-related businesses how to align with the EU Timber Regulation and discover possibilities of gaining a competitive edge.

Uneven EUTR enforcement creates loophole for illegal timber

A new study for the European Commission reveals how uneven enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is letting companies off the hook.

Accountability and consolidating peace: civil society engagement in the Central African Republic

According to an African proverb, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.’ The growing involvement of civil society in managing natural resources in the Central African Republic seems to indicate that the country is prepared to go far.

Study quantifies enforcement of EU Timber Regulation

A study for the European Commission summarises the checks that Competent Authorities in Europe have performed to verify compliance with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), as well as any enforcement actions taken.

EIA details illegal timber operations between Cambodia and Vietnam

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has released a report detailing unabated illegal logging, timber laundering and smuggling in Cambodia. The report follows earlier EIA reports on Vietnam’s trade in timber illegally harvested in, and illegally imported from, its neighbours. The new report, titled ‘Serial Offender: Vietnam’s continued imports of illegal Cambodian timber,’ finds corrupt officials on both sides complicit.

FLEGT IMM Spring 2018 newsletter now online

The FLEGT Independent Market Monitoring (IMM) project has published its second quarterly newsletter.

Vietnam’s VPA implementation progresses as stakeholders meet

The third meeting of the multistakeholder group set up to support implementation of the EU-Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on forest law enforcement, governance and trade took place on 8 March 2018 in Hanoi.

L’UE, la Chine et l’Afrique étudient des moyens de travailler ensemble dans le cadre de leur coopération forestière

Les participants européens, chinois et africains au séminaire international sur la gestion durable sino-africaine des écosystèmes forestiers ont discuté des synergies entre la finance verte, les engagements de la Chine en Afrique et le Plan d’action pour l’application des réglementations forestières, la gouvernance et les échanges commerciaux (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade - FLEGT).

EU, China and Africa explore ways to work together in their forestry cooperation

At the International Workshop on China-Africa Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management, participants from Europe, China and Africa discussed synergies among green finance, China’s engagement in Africa, and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).