Illegal Logging and FLEGT
- Elements of an IUCN Response

Tim Christophersen, IUCN – The World Conservation Union

June 22, 2005

Content of presentation

Brief review of some challenges

IUCN’s involvement in FLEG so far

Lessons learned on approaches to be taken

Benefits of a tripartite approach

Reflections on key policy issues

Some Challenges

Unclear forests tenure contributes to poverty, conflicts

Illegal timber trade used to perpetuate conflict and civil war

Costs associated with illegal logging/trade = 10-15 billion USD/yr

In some countries: 80-90% of logging is illegal

Majority of illegally harvested timber is consumed domestically

Forest laws frequently contradictory making definition of ‘legal’ contentious

Forestry laws tend to give preferential access to large-scale forestry enterprises.

Procedures for communities to secure rights often onerous & costly

IUCN’s role in FLEG (1)

Africa FLEG:

Civil society preparatory process in East, West and Southern Africa

Civil society/private sector consultations in Central and Western Africa

Support to civil society during African Ministerial Conference

Follow up networking, awareness building, testing of local governance approaches project in Central Africa, Ghana and Liberia

Europe and Northern Asia FLEG:

Regional civil society preparatory process in Russian Far East and North West – civil society hearings, information, dialogue with government

Development and testing of recommendations on how to address gaps and overlaps in Russian forest laws

Mapping and analysis of inter-agency and inter-stakeholder relations in Russia for improved FLEG coordination

Self selection process for local-national civil society for Prep. Conf and Min. Conf

Awareness-raising missions to key countries before Min. Conf

Civil society pre-meetings –refine and target recommendations

IUCN’s role in FLEG (2)

Africa, Asia and Latin America (EU – TFBL project):

Participatory assessments of policy, legal, institutional and economic obstacles

Pilot test innovative approaches to overcoming these obstacles, e.g. community forest committees, monitoring and information networks, codes of conduct

Training for governments, civil society and the private sector on, e.g., organization of consultative processes, forest governance issues and law, and on influencing policy forums

Enhancing multi-stakeholder involvement in existing and planned FLEG processes, identification of synergies, links to PRSPs and to monitoring and information networks, etc.

Pro-active capturing and sharing of lessons learned within and across countries and regions

IUCN is a union of Govt and NGO members with 50 years of experience convening multi-stakeholder consultations and shaping workable outcomes on sensitive issues

Lessons learned so far from Asia,
Africa and Europe/Northern Asia FLEG

Tripartite approach: Greater chance of progress if governments, civil society and private sector move forward in concert

Quality engagement through participatory processes: Participation in consultative preparatory processes improves level and quality of engagement of all stakeholders in ministerial conferences

Broadening engagement: Environment and development NGOs and CBOs, Government ministries which have an impact on forest lands, Parliamentarians and traditional leaders

One-off events + ongoing support and networking: One-off events like preparatory workshops are important but only as part of sustained capacity building and networking

Sharing lessons across countries and regions: Sharing lessons learned to accelerate pace of governance reform

Creating “tripartite” political space
– why is it important?

Problems too big to be solved by Governments alone

New perspectives: when to enforce – when to reform?

Build trust between stakeholder groups leading to:

Improved prospects for constructive engagement by all relevant actors

Increased likelihood of stronger public confidence and interest in official decisions or actions taken

i.e. Workable decisions!

Key policy issues

Definition of illegality – No “one size fits all” definition

Risk that a single definition imposed from outside will reinforce unjust concession allocation procedures (What is legal is not always sustainable and just – and what is sustainable and just is not always legal).

The links between improvements in governance and law enforcement and forest tenure reform need to be more explicit.

FLEG must look beyond forest law –other land-use laws may be part of the problem

Ensure that a focus on illegal trade to Europe does not neglect illegal domestic consumption and illegal trade with non-discerning markets

VPAs – excellent start but a “means” not an “end”

Functional licensing systems must include provision for full and transparent disclosure on issues like concession allocation etc.

Illegal Logging and FLEGT - Elements of an IUCN Response

tim

2005-06-16T16:10:07