EU opens doors to Indonesia's licensing scheme for exports of verified legal timber

The European Commission has amended the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulation (FLEGT) to recognise Indonesia’s licensing scheme for exports of verified legal timber to the EU.

BREXIT and the possible implications on FLEGT; the EUTR, VPA negotiations and FLEGT licensing

TFT's Sarah Hickman discusses how the UK's exit from the EU could affect the EUTR, VPA negotiations and FLEGT licensing.

Chatham House’s 26th Illegal Logging and Stakeholder Update Meeting report released

The summary report of Chatham House’s 26th Illegal Logging and Stakeholder Update Meeting is now available to download in French, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Cameroon publishes data on illegal logging cases and fines

In the first quarter of 2016, Cameroon suspended the licences of four logging companies, issued 35 other companies with warning notices and generated 54.2 million FCFA (82.6 million euros) in fines related to illegal activities in the forest sector.

Myanmar’s logging ban a major step towards forest sector reform

The new Government of Myanmar has agreed a temporary national logging ban and a 10-year logging ban in the Pegu Yoma region to give its beleaguered forests breathing space from years of unchecked exploitation.

EC publishes report on evaluation of EU FLEGT Action Plan

The European Commission (EC) has published its report on an independent evaluation of the EU’s initiative against illegal logging: the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan of 2003. The publication, a ‘Staff Working Document’ in EC terminology, summarises the findings of the independent evaluation.

The FAO FLEGT Programme launches a new call for concept notes in VPA countries

The FAO FLEGT Programme is now accepting concept notes from government institutions, civil society and private sector organisations in timber-producing countries engaged in Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with the EU.

How can we achieve deforestation-free commodities goals?

Around the world, public and private-sector organisations have made commitments to remove commodity-driven deforestation from their supply chains, including the New York and Amsterdam declarations. But implementation of commitments has been slower and harder than expected.

Ghana and Indonesia: Major progress against illegal logging through Voluntary Partnership Agreements with EU, says study

Ghana and Indonesia have greatly improved forest governance and achieved measurable declines in illegal logging by implementing Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with the EU, says a new study.

Earthsight releases new monitoring resources for civil society

The NGO Earthsight has developed new resources that support civil society in monitoring deforestation and illegal logging, and tracking illegal timber through international supply chains.