UNEP-WCMC Releases November 2017 – January 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 EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). The note, which covers the period November 2017 to January 2018, has been developed by UNEP-WCMC as a consultant of the European Commission in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the European Union Member States implementing the EUTR.

European Commission invites views on EUTR product scope

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Product Scope of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which will run until 24 April 2018. Operators, traders, affected industry and/or trade associations, EU Member States' EUTR Competent Authorities, Monitoring Organisations under the EUTR, civil society organisations, non-EU timber-producing countries and the general public are invited to provide their views and evidence on possible changes to the EUTR product scope.

Responsible Timber Trade Fair in Ghana, a unique international event

BVRio is organizing the first international timber trade fair dedicated to promoting the trade of 100% legal and certified timber. The Responsible Timber Trade Fair will connect buyers and sellers of legal and certified timber products, focusing on West African timber. The event will be held in Accra, Ghana, 28 February – 2 March 2018.

UNEP-WCMC briefing note on EUTR developments

The UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre has published the latest edition of its periodic briefing note on developments relevant to the implementation and enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

ClientEarth publishes new issue of EUTR News

The latest edition of ClientEarth’s EUTR News is now available in English, French, Spanish and Chinese.

Save the date! ‘Sourcing Legal Timber 2.0’ conference — 15 March 2018

Nearly five years have passed since the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force and things are looking quite different to how they did then. Authorities are increasing their enforcement activities all over Europe, a lot of new information and tools are available from all kinds of sources, and FLEGT-licensed timber is now available on the market.

FLEGT Independent Market Monitor publishes first quarterly newsletter

The FLEGT Independent Market Monitor (IMM) has published the first edition of its quarterly newsletter, featuring updates on the IMM project, market and policy news, and interviews with key FLEGT actors.

FLEGT is big, says Director General for the Environment

In this exclusive interview with the ETTF, European Commission Director General for the Environment Daniel Calleja Crespo describes the first year of FLEGT licensing by Indonesia as a great start. Now, he says, it’s the responsibility of all stakeholders to capitalise on the opportunities presented by this unique timber legality initiative and to take the wider EU FLEGT Action Plan forward.

FLEGT advances accountability in the Ivoirian forest sector

Six years have now passed since the end of civil conflict that destabilised Côte d’Ivoire for years. In this period, the country has made great strides towards improved governance and accountability. It held free and fair elections, adopted a new constitution making government structures more representative, and undertook institutional reforms. Rule of law, however, is still not completely institutionalised across the country.

Congo and the EU adopt tools to implement their Agreement on illegal logging

The Republic of Congo and the European Union (EU) have adopted a five-year plan for the implementation of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) aimed at eliminating illegal logging. This Agreement is part of the EU initiative on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).