Three years of FLEGT licensing: EU and Indonesia take stock of forest governance progress

The EU and Indonesia embarked on an ambitious journey to improve forest governance and promote trade in legal timber over a decade ago. This month, the two parties celebrated the third anniversary of a key result in that work, the launch of the world’s first ‘FLEGT’ licensing scheme, guaranteeing the legality of timber products exported from Indonesia to the EU.

UNEP-WCMC reports on EUTR implementation

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has published its latest briefing note on the implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which covers the period July to August 2019.

The European Commission adopts a new framework of actions to protect and restore the world's forests

On 23 July the European Commission (EC) adopted the Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests. It’s a new ambitious European approach in response to the continued widespread destruction of the world's forests.

The EU and Laos conclude the third formal negotiation towards an agreement on combating illegal logging and promoting trade in legal timber products

The European Union (EU) and Laos held their third 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 Brussels, Belgium from 17-21 June 2019. The Agreement aims to establish a system to verify the legality of timber products harvested and exported by Laos. This helps to promote trade in legal timber products, improves forest governance and contributes to combatting illegal logging.

UNEP-WCMC reports on EUTR implementation

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has published its latest briefing note on the implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which covers the period March to April 2019.

EC publishes results of consultation on action against tropical deforestation

The European Commission has published the results of a public consultation on its roadmap towards an EU “Communication on Stepping up EU Action against Deforestation and Forest Degradation”.

Recordatorio: Consulta pública sobre la acción de la UE contra la deforestación

El plazo para participar en la consulta pública sobre la acción de la UE en materia de lucha contra la deforestación finaliza el 25 de febrero de 2019.

Rappel: Consultation publique sur l’action de l’UE en matière de lutte contre la déforestation

La consultation publique de la Commission européenne au sujet de l’action de l’UE contre la déforestation se termine le 25 février 2019.

Reminder: Consultation on EU action on deforestation

The European Commission’s public consultation on EU action against deforestation closes on 25 February 2019.

How Chinese companies launder illegal timber

An investigative journalist has exposed how companies in China launder wood of dubious origin in products they export, and how their customers in the EU are often aware of the fraud but don’t care and may even encourage it.