The EU and Guyana sign an agreement on sustainable trade of legal timber

On 15 December, the European Union and the Government of Guyana signed a legally binding trade agreement to promote sustainable trade of legal timber to the EU. The signing of this deal, known as a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), took place at the 15 Biodiversity COP in Montreal.

The VPA will give EU-based timber buyers assurance that timber products from Guyana are legal. It will help improve forest governance, tackle illegal logging and promote trade in verified legal timber products. Through the implementation of the VPA, the country will improve market access for law-abiding businesses, as well as modernise its forestry sector, create jobs, promote sustainable development and protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Signing of the VPA. From the left to the right: Mr. Vickram Outar Bharrat – Minister of Natural Resources of Guyana; Mr. Jan Dusík – Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic, EU presidency of the Council; Mr. Virginijus Sinkevičius – European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. Source: European Commission

Under the VPA, Guyana commits to developing a timber legality assurance system to assess that timber products – for all stages of the supply chain – have been produced in accordance with national legislation. When this system is operational, Guyana can issue verified legal timber products with FLEGT licences. The licence certifies that the timber or timber products exported under that licence are legal.

Guyana is the first country in the Amazon region and the second in the Americas – following Honduras – to sign a VPA on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) with the European Union. The signature marks the end of a 10-year negotiation process, and consolidates Guyana’s position as a frontrunner in the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests.

Following the signing of the deal, Guyana and the EU each need to ratify the VPA, according to their respective procedures. Forest stakeholders as the private sector, indigenous peoples, local communities and civil society, have all been closely involved in the negotiation of the agreement, alongside with the Government and EU representatives. They will continue to play a key role throughout the implementation phase.

In parallel to the VPA, Guyana is also one of the first five countries worldwide that signed a Forest Partnership with the EU. The aim of such a partnership is to strengthen cooperation on forests and make an important contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including addressing the challenges of climate change.

Author: FLEGT.org Info

Guyana and EU join forces to meet highest international standards on export of legal timber

On 27 October 2022, representatives of Guyana and the European Union convened at a Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting, to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). The Agreement will help improve forest governance and sustainable forestry and verify the trade in legal timber.

During the meeting, the Parties indicated they will endeavour to sign the Agreement before the end of 2022. The VPA will raise industry standards and living conditions of the sector. After Guyana and the EU sign and ratify the VPA, its commitments will become legally binding.

Representatives of Guyana and the EU at the Pre-Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (Pre-JMRC) meeting to review progress of the implementation of the Guyana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). Source: EFI

According to René Van Nes, Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, “the VPA spearheads Guyana as a global pioneer of sustainable forest management”.

The signature and subsequent ratification will mark the end of a 10-year negotiation process. Guyana will thereupon join a selected group of African, American and Asian countries committed to the protection of their forests. Guyana will become the first VPA country in the Amazon region, and the second in the Americas, after Honduras; making it a frontrunner in sustainable forest management, adhering to the highest international standards.

The Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Vickram Bharat, stated that “the Pre-JMRC meetings continue to highlight Guyana’s continued commitment to the VPA process and the broader initiatives to improve forest governance. He further stated that the VPA and the agreements reached are all part of the Government’s commitment under the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 aimed at promoting a green economy”.

The Parties agreed to focus their efforts on the further development and implementation of strengthened operational procedures for the sector, and a robust paper-based and digital traceability system of logs and timber that meets the VPA’s requirements. To ensure these priorities will be met in time, Guyana and the EU agreed on a detailed work plan.

The Parties also discussed how they will continue to engage with national and international stakeholders interested in VPA implementation. They committed to putting in place a range of tools to ensure that interested audiences can follow the developments and impacts of VPA implementation.

Representatives of the private sector and civil society, including indigenous peoples’ organisations, presented the issues they would like to bring to the table. Guyana and the EU also discussed next steps in the development of an approach to protect the traditional rights of Amerindian peoples.

Through the VPA’s implementation, Guyana will further strengthen the sustainable use of its forest resources, reduce illegal timber trade and better modernise timber operations, thereby ensuring that forestry brings green jobs in the formal economy. The VPA also includes commitments to improve transparency, accountability, legislative clarity and other aspects of governance.

Good governance of Guyana’s forests is crucial to sustainable development. Moreover, it helps both Guyana and the EU contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including by mitigating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

The next meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee is scheduled to take place in May 2023.

Author: FLEGT.org Info

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European UnionSebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

The EU and Honduras begin implementing their agreement to combat illegal logging at their first meeting

On 12 September 2022, the first meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee (CCA by its Spanish acronym) was held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to start overseeing the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT).

During the meeting the EU and Honduras signed the first act of the Aide Memoire of the CCA. This marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European Union. Source: Sebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

The CCA also agreed to prioritise actions that will yield concrete results in the short term. This includes the development and implementation of a robust traceability system for the transport of timber. With the help of technology it will be possible to address the falsification of transport documents. The CCA also agreed to accelerate the development and implementation of simplified procedures for the approval of forest management plans and the harvest of forest products.

The proceedings of the meeting are available publicly in the Aide Memoire (in Spanish).

The CCA oversees the VPA and is co-chaired by the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife and the European Union. The CCA includes the participation of various Government ministries and institutions, the private sector, including small forest owners, civil society organizations, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, and donor partners that support the implementation of the agreement.

Author: FLEGT.org Info

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European UnionSebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

La UE y Honduras inician la implementación de un Acuerdo para combatir la tala ilegal

El 12 de septiembre de 2022 tuvo lugar en Tegucigalpa la reunión inicial del Comité Conjunto de Aplicación (CCA) para la implementación del Acuerdo Voluntario de Asociación (AVA) entre Honduras y la UE para la Aplicación de las Leyes, Gobernanza y Comercio Forestales (FLEGT por sus siglas en inglés).

Durante la reunión, la UE y Honduras firmaron la primera acta del memorando del CCA. Esta firma representa el inicio oficial de la implementación del AVA-FLEGT.

The first CCA meeting marked the official start of the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Honduras and the European Union
La primera reunión del CCA marcó el inicio oficial de la implementación del Acuerdo Voluntario de Asociación entre Honduras y la Unión Europea. Fuente: Sebastiaan de Smedt, European Forest Institute

El CCA acordó priorizar acciones con resultados concretos a corto plazo. Esto incluye el desarrollo e implementación de un sistema de trazabilidad para el transporte de madera. La ayuda de la tecnología permitirá hacer frente de manera eficaz a la falsificación de la documentación de transporte. El CCA también acordó acelerar el desarrollo e implementación de procedimientos simplificados para la aprobación de planes de manejo forestal y la recolección de productos forestales.

El acta de la reunión está disponible públicamente en el memorando.

El CCA supervisa el AVA-FLEGT y está copresidido por el Instituto Nacional de Conservación y Desarrollo Forestal, Áreas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre y la Unión Europea. Incluye además representantes de varios ministerios e instituciones gubernamentales, el sector privado, incluidos pequeños propietarios forestales, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes y socios donantes que apoyan la implementación del Acuerdo.

Author: FLEGT.org Info

A sawmill in HondurasVPA Africa-Latin America Facility

The Honduras-EU agreement to reduce illegal logging enters into force

The objective of the VPA is to provide a legally binding framework to ensure that all EU imports of timber products from Honduras covered by this agreement are sourced legally. The VPA also aims at improving community forest livelihoods, mitigating climate change impacts, and recognising the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

In the negotiation phase, different groups of interest were consulted, including the representatives of the government, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and afro-descendant peoples. The Honduras voluntary partnership agreement is the first-ever in which indigenous peoples have had their say, looking into issues such as land tenure and rights.

A sawmill in Honduras. Source: VPA Africa-Latin America Facility

Honduras will now start the implementation of the VPA, where the full and active involvement of all stakeholders will continue through the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), the body overseeing the VPA. One of the first steps is setting up a timber legality assurance system to assess that timber products have been legally produced at all stages of the supply chain in accordance with national legislation.

More information:

A sawmill in HondurasVPA Africa-Latin America Facility

Entra en vigor el acuerdo entre Honduras y la UE para reducir la tala ilegal

El objetivo del AVA es proporcionar un marco legalmente vinculante para garantizar que toda la madera y productos derivados de la misma, provenientes del país socio exportador, y cuyo destino es el mercado de la UE; cumple con la legislación del país de origen.

El AVA también tiene como objetivo mejorar los medios de vida de los bosques comunitarios, mitigar los impactos del cambio climático y reconocer el derecho al consentimiento libre, previo e informado.

En la fase de negociación se consultó a diferentes grupos de interés, incluidos los representantes del gobierno, la sociedad civil, el sector privado y los pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes. En este sentido, el AVA de Honduras es el primero en el que los pueblos indígenas han expresado su opinión, analizando temas como los derechos sobre la tenencia de la tierra.

A sawmill in Honduras
Aserradero en Honduras. Fuente: VPA Africa-Latin America Facility

Honduras comenzará ahora la implementación del AVA, donde la participación plena y activa de todas las partes interesadas continuará a través del Comité Conjunto de Aplicación (CCA), el organismo que supervisa el AVA. Uno de los primeros pasos es establecer el Sistema de Aseguramiento de la Legalidad de Honduras (SALH) para garantizar que los productos de madera se hayan producido legalmente en todas las etapas de la cadena de suministro, de conformidad con la legislación nacional.

Más información:

European Forest Institute

Latest assessment of the forest-timber sector in the Central African Republic published

The Government of the Central African Republic, in collaboration with the European Union, CIFOR-ICRAF and the VPA Africa – Latin-America Facility of the European Forest Institute, have published the report “State of the forest-timber sector in the Central African Republic 2021”. The report is available in French: “L’état du secteur forêt-bois dans la République centrafricaine 2021”.

The Central African Republic has about 23 million hectares of forest, covering almost 37% of its total area.

The Central African Republic (CAR) covers an area of ​​more than 62 million hectares and has about 23 million hectares of forest, covering almost 37% of its total area. The forest-wood sector represents an important source of income and employment, as well as 13% of the country’s export earnings.

Since 2011, a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) has been signed between the European Union (EU) and CAR on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). This Agreement aims to improve Central African forest governance and ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU are legal.

As part of the VPA, CAR and the EU have committed to implement measures to promote transparency on forest exploitation and management activities. Thus, the production and dissemination of forest data is a priority. The aim is for decision makers, development partners, researchers and the general public to have an exhaustive source of information on the Central African forest-wood sector. The previous version of the report was published in 2016.

Author: VPA Africa-Latin America Facility

European Forest Institute

Publication du dernier rapport sur l’état du secteur forêt-bois dans la République centrafricaine

Le Gouvernement de la République centrafricaine, en collaboration avec le CIFOR-ICRAF et la Facilité APV Afrique – Amérique-Latine de l’Institut européen de la forêt, viennent de publier le rapport « L’état du secteur forêt-bois dans la République centrafricaine (2021) ».

La République centrafricaine compte environ 23 millions d’hectares de forêts, soit presque 37 % de sa superficie totale.

La République centrafricaine (RCA) couvre une superficie de plus de 62 millions d’hectares et compte environ 23 millions d’hectares de forêts, soit presque 37 % de sa superficie totale. Le secteur forêt-bois représente une source importante de revenus et d’emploi, ainsi que 13% des recettes d’exportation du pays.

Depuis 2011, un Accord de Partenariat Volontaire (APV) a été signé entre l’Union européenne (UE) et la RCA sur l’application des réglementations forestières, la gouvernance et le commerce de bois et de produits dérivés du bois destinés au marché de l’UE (FLEGT). Cet Accord vise à améliorer la gouvernance forestière centrafricaine et à assurer que le bois et ses produits dérivés exportés vers l’UE sont légaux.

Dans le cadre de l’APV, l’UE et la République centrafricaine se sont engagées à mettre en œuvre des mesures pour favoriser la transparence sur les activités d’exploitation et de gestion forestière. Ainsi, la production et la divulgation des données forestières sont une priorité. Le but est que les décideurs, les partenaires au développement, les chercheurs et le grand public disposent d’une source d’informations exhaustive sur le secteur forêt-bois centrafricain. La version préalable du rapport date de 2016.

Author: VPA Africa-Latin America Facility

The EU and Côte d’Ivoire agree on the principles for the signature of a sustainable timber trade agreement

The sixth and final formal negotiation session of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) was held on 1 June 2022. The FLEGT VPA aims to ensure the legality and traceability of timber exported from Côte d’Ivoire to the EU to improve the sustainability of the timber sector.

Source: Marc Vandenhaute, EFI

During the session, the two parties agreed on the principles for the signature of the Agreement and celebrated an important step in their cooperation on the sustainable management of Ivorian forest resources. The FLEGT VPA will contribute to improve forest governance, fight illegal logging and promote legal timber trade between Côte d’Ivoire and the European Union (EU). In addition, for the first time, gender equality is explicitly included in a FLEGT VPA, in line with Côte d’Ivoire’s and the EU’s commitments to integrate women in natural resources management.

“Having lost 90% of its forest cover over the past 60 years, Côte d’Ivoire has undertaken several reforms with a view to stop deforestation, preserve remaining forests and restore forest cover to 20% of the territory. Through the FLEGT VPA, particular emphasis is placed on forest governance and the fight against illegal logging”, said General Conservator Zouzou Epse Mailly Elvire Joëlle, Chief Negotiator of Côte d’Ivoire.

Chantal Marijnissen, European Chief Negotiator, said at the closing of the session that “Côte d’Ivoire and the EU are celebrating an important milestone in their cooperation against illegal logging. We must now focus on the preparation for the implementation of the VPA to achieve its social, environmental and economic objectives within a reasonable timeframe. The EU will continue to support Côte d’Ivoire’s efforts in this regard”.


Read the joint communication (in French):

Author: FLEGT.org Info

Dialogue with Ivorian womenRodrigue Ngonzo, EU-F4F/Particip

Les voix des femmes s’élèvent dans le secteur forestier ivoirien

La Facilité Afrique-Amérique latine de l’Institut européen de la forêt publie un article qui décrit la situation des femmes dans le secteur forestier ivoirien, ainsi que le renforcement de leur rôle dans les négociations d’un Accord de Partenariat Volontaire (APV) FLEGT entre la Côte d’Ivoire et l’UE. Ces négociations sont en train de reconduire la gestion des forêts ivoiriennes.

Dialogue with Ivorian women
Dialogue avec un groupe de femmes ivoiriennes. Source: Rodrigue Ngonzo, EU-F4F/Particip

Depuis 2018, la Côte d’Ivoire s’est engagée à prendre des mesures pour intégrer les femmes de manière effective dans la gestion des ressources forestières du pays.

Cette plus grande prise en compte du genre est également manifeste dans les négociations d’un APV sur l’Application des réglementations forestières, la gouvernance et les échanges commerciaux (ou FLEGT, acronyme anglais) avec l’Union européenne (UE). Cet Accord vise à améliorer la gouvernance forestière ivoirienne et à assurer que le bois et ses produits dérivés exportés vers l’UE sont légaux.

Plusieurs femmes représentant le secteur civil ivoirien, l’administration publique et l’UE ont partagé leurs points de vue sur les avancées réalisées jusqu’à présent en matière d’intégration du genre dans les négociations de l’APV, ainsi que sur les défis à surmonter pour atteindre l’égalité des sexes.

Ahoussi Delphine, présidente de MALEBI, une association de femmes rurales ivoiriennes, souligne que « si on parle de développement durable, on ne peut pas laisser les femmes en dehors des décisions qui concernent la gestion des forêts. C’est simple : si on veut y réussir, on a besoin des femmes. »

Pour Chantal Marijnissen, négociatrice en chef de l’APV pour l’UE, « les négociations de l’Accord doivent contribuer à la reconnaissance du droit des femmes à jouer un rôle dans la gouvernance forestière, et à être incluses dans le partage des bénéfices économiques obtenus des forêts ».

Lire l’article : Les femmes ivoiriennes réclament leur place dans le secteur forestier

En savoir plus :

EU-Côte d’Ivoire FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA)

Author: FLEGT.org Info