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).

Indonesian forest monitors report on timber legality issues

Indonesia’s Independent Forest Monitoring Network (JPIK) says the country’s timber legality assurance system (SVLK) has led to “significant changes in improving good forest governance” but still has weaknesses and must be continuously improved to ensure its credibility and accountability.

EUTR Implementation: UNEP-WCMC releases Feb-March 2018 Briefing Note

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has released a Briefing Note on developments relevant to the implementation and enforcement of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). The note, which covers the period from February to March 2018, was developed by UNEP-WCMC as a consultant of the European Commission in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the European Union (EU) Member States.

Why I’m cautiously hopeful about China’s efforts towards regulating timber imports

In 2012, when I first started researching China’s illegal timber imports, related news or information in Chinese was scarce. Six years on, however, a study co-authored by a Chinese government research institution offers a flicker of hope. China may be heading in the right direction and joining a growing global community who prohibit illegal timber imports by law.