Forest Destruction:Forest Destruction:illegal logging illegal logging and related tradeand related trade

Chatham House meeting, Chatham House meeting, 19th January 200619th January 2006

SéSébastien Risso, bastien Risso, GreenpeaceGreenpeace

1. 1. Long-term political Long-term political directiondirection

2. 2. Implementation of EU Implementation of EU

Regulation for timber Regulation for timber licensing scheme licensing scheme

and and

negotiation of negotiation of voluntary voluntary partnership partnership

agreements (VPAs)agreements (VPAs)

3. 3. Commission report on Commission report on legislative legislative

optionsoptions

4. 4. Multilateral Multilateral negotiations to negotiations to protect protect forestsforests

• What is the end goal of What is the end goal of the political action we the political action we are are

talking about today ?talking about today ?

• What is expected to be What is expected to be

achieved through this achieved through this

process ?process ?

1. LONG-TERM POLITICAL DIRECTION (…)1. LONG-TERM POLITICAL DIRECTION (…)

• Greenpeace seeks:Greenpeace seeks:

A system that guarantees A system that guarantees sustainable trade and timber sustainable trade and timber consumption consumption and and the the protection of the planet’s protection of the planet’s last primary forests.last primary forests.

• EU Commission wants:EU Commission wants:

To cTo clarify legality, and support larify legality, and support better law enforcement and better law enforcement and governance in timber-governance in timber-producing countries.producing countries.

LONG-TERM POLITICAL DIRECTION (...)LONG-TERM POLITICAL DIRECTION (...)

Limitations and risks of a “phased-approach”:Limitations and risks of a “phased-approach”:

Legalisation of biodiversity and forest destructionLegalisation of biodiversity and forest destruction

Disincentive for companies to invest in Disincentive for companies to invest in ““truetrue”” SFM SFM

Disadvantage for companies that already support Disadvantage for companies that already support SFM.SFM.

Immediate Actions:Immediate Actions:

Ban imports of timber and wood products where Ban imports of timber and wood products where logged in breach of producer-country laws.logged in breach of producer-country laws.

Address legality, equity and sustainability as single Address legality, equity and sustainability as single issue during VPA negotiations.issue during VPA negotiations.

LONG-TERM POLITICALLONG-TERM POLITICALDIRECTION (...)DIRECTION (...)

Objectives forObjectives for the VPAs:the VPAs:

A “positive” definition of legalityA “positive” definition of legality

A joint, timebound programme of work, including a A joint, timebound programme of work, including a licensing scheme, establishing sustainable forest licensing scheme, establishing sustainable forest management andmanagement and guaranteeing legal and sustainable wood guaranteeing legal and sustainable wood exports to Europeexports to Europe

Main achievements envisaged:Main achievements envisaged:

Clear the market of illegal and unsustainable wood Clear the market of illegal and unsustainable wood productsproducts

Integrate ecological and social costs in the Integrate ecological and social costs in the price of these goods (contribute to setting a fair price)price of these goods (contribute to setting a fair price)

2. IMPLEMENTATION 2. IMPLEMENTATION

OF VPASOF VPAS A. Staff and financial resourcesA. Staff and financial resources

Assess needs, draw up budget and Assess needs, draw up budget and

allocate sufficient resourcesallocate sufficient resources

Create FLEGT Task ForceCreate FLEGT Task Force

B. Transparency and consultationB. Transparency and consultation

Agree on clear principles and Agree on clear principles and proceduresprocedures

Create a FLEGT advisory groupCreate a FLEGT advisory group

C. Evaluate existing system for C. Evaluate existing system for verifying legalityverifying legality

Clarify methodology for the evaluationClarify methodology for the evaluation

October 2005, London, UK

3. ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS3. ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS

Objective: Complete and Objective: Complete and

underpin the bilateral regime underpin the bilateral regime

proposed by the Commission proposed by the Commission

Ban illegal timber and ensure Ban illegal timber and ensure the supply of legal and the supply of legal and

sustainable sustainable wood.wood.

Make companies accountable for what they buy and sell in Make companies accountable for what they buy and sell in Europe.Europe.

Reward rather than penalise forest-owners who manage Reward rather than penalise forest-owners who manage their forests sustainably.their forests sustainably.

ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS (…)ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS (…)

Greenpeace expects the Greenpeace expects the

Commission:Commission:

to publish report with to publish report with

clear recommendations, including clear recommendations, including

timelines.timelines.

Greenpeace expectsGreenpeace expects

Member States:Member States:

to act promptly to adopt conclusions, making to act promptly to adopt conclusions, making

commitments and recommendations to Commissioncommitments and recommendations to Commission..

4. MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS TO 4. MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS TO PROTECT FORESTSPROTECT FORESTS

Progress unacceptably slowProgress unacceptably slow

2006 is a decisive year.2006 is a decisive year.

Aim: Aim: legally binding instrument to protect forests and legally binding instrument to protect forests and establish equitable and sustainable trade regime. establish equitable and sustainable trade regime.

CBD COP8 (Brazil, March 2006): CBD COP8 (Brazil, March 2006): a unique a unique opportunity to discuss and make significant progress opportunity to discuss and make significant progress towards that goal.towards that goal.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Amazon drought, October 2005

THANK YOU THANK YOU

FOR YOUR ATTENTIONFOR YOUR ATTENTION