FLEGT Action PlanReport from group

Duncan BrackBrussels, 27 April 2012

FLEGT Action Plan, May 20031. Support to timber-producing

countries2. Trade in timber3. Public procurement4. Private sector initiatives5. Financing and investment6. Existing legislative instruments7. Conflict timber

1 Support to producer countries Several developing countries now major

consumers – need different type of engagement

Development cooperation changing – how best to integrate FLEGT?

EU delegations play key role Importance of support for private sector, civil

society, government forestry institutions Role of technology Ensure alignment with REDD

2 Trade in timber Engagement with other consumer countries

critical – US, Japan, China … Importance of trade in deforestation-related

agricultural commodities Focus on demand-side actions – not just VPAs Need for different kind of VPAs in some cases Impact of VPAs on domestic markets What’s Commission’s fallback plan if no VPA-

licensed timber by March 2013?

3 Public procurement

Important more as signal than in real impact?

Need for better enforcement Need for better communication

about value of sustainable timber Government standards: building

regulations, biomass sustainability standards …

4 Private sector initiatives

Use wider range of EU instruments – e.g. trade missions – as well as development cooperation

More support for independent monitoring and transparency initiatives

Private sector should access more EU projects

5 Financing and investment

Look at new instruments – accounting directives, forest footprint disclosure – to improve transparency and awareness of risk

Need to ensure investments still flow to ‘good’ companies

Also focus on investment flows to agriculture

6 Existing legislative instruments Value of money laundering

legislation in producer countries Use World Bank financial units Anti-corruption commissions EUTR will increase focus on CITES –

need to engage on improving CITES permit system

7 Conflict timber

Still important

Other issues

Law enforcement key – in EU as well as producer countries

Communications critical – industry, general public, other countries

Need for reporting on progress and impact – Commission and EU member states

No need for new Action Plan – focus on implementation of this one, and application in changed circumstances