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.

Study reveals progress and gaps for civil society in VPA and REDD+ processes

Civil society groups are increasingly participating in national policy processes related to forest governance in Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and the Republic of the Congo, according to a new study.

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.

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.

Honduras and the EU test landmark forest agreement on the ground

Honduras has moved a step closer towards concluding a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU) after completing a significant milestone in the negotiation process. Known as field testing, this phase enables stakeholders to evaluate progress and make recommendations for the successful completion of the Agreement.

New briefing on VPAs, land-use governance and NDCs

The EU FLEGT and EU REDD facilities have released a briefing exploring how VPAs, REDD+ and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) initiatives offer opportunities for the forest and land-use sectors to contribute to achieving national climate change objectives and improving forest governance.

EU and Central African Republic assess progress towards restart of support to VPA implementation

The Central African Republic and the European Union held the third meeting of their Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) in Brazzaville on 7-9 December 2016.

EU and Indonesia hail milestone in partnership against illegal logging

Representatives of the EU and Indonesia last week celebrated the start of Indonesia’s FLEGT licensing scheme for exports of verified legal timber.

Indonesia and EU celebrate launch of FLEGT licensing

High-level representatives of the EU and Indonesia have celebrated the launch of Indonesia’s FLEGT licensing scheme in a ceremony in Jakarta on 24 November 2016.

Ghana advances towards FLEGT licensing

Ghana is making good progress in implementing its Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU ahead of FLEGT licensing, according to the joint body that oversees implementation of the agreement.