With new government in place, Liberia meets EU to review VPA implementation

The Joint Implementation Committee overseeing the EU-Liberia Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on forest law enforcement, governance and trade has met for the first time since Liberia’s new government — including new Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director C. Mike Doryen — took office earlier this year.

Honduras y la UE rubrican un acuerdo para promocionar el comercio legal de madera

La UE y Honduras han concluido las negociaciones de un Acuerdo Voluntario de Asociación (AVA) sobre la Aplicación de las leyes, gobernanza y comercio forestales (FLEGT, por sus siglas en inglés). El Acuerdo ayudará a mejorar la gobernanza forestal, luchar contra la tala ilegal y promocionar el comercio en productos verificados como de origen legal. Este AVA es el primero que se establece entre la UE y un país de América Latina.

Honduras and EU agree deal to promote legal timber trade

The EU and Honduras have concluded negotiations on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The agreement will help improve forest governance, address illegal logging and promote trade in verified legal timber products. The VPA is the first between the EU and any country in the Americas.

Congo, EU take stock of implementation of their forest governance Agreement

The Republic of Congo and the European Union (EU) have reviewed the implementation of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) aimed at promoting good forest governance. This Agreement is part of the EU initiative on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).

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.

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.

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.

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).