Stakeholder_survey_FLA_meeting_0.pdf

8/9/2019 Stakeholder_survey_FLA_meeting_0.pdf

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Prepared for the Semi-Annual Membership Meeting, January 27, 2015

Stakeholder Insights - OVERVIEW

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Douglas Meyer

Bernuth & Williamson

www.bernuthconsulting.com


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PURPOSE

Gather, analyze and summarize stakeholder opinion on:

The trade in illegally harvested wood and wood products

The impact of the Lacey Act

The efforts of the FLA The future of the issue, with potential focal areas for the FLA

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PARTICIPATION

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Interviews (October-November 2014)In-depth conversations with 40 representatives from companies, organizations and

associations with interest in the issue, knowledge of the policies and familiarity with

FLA

Private Sector (19)

NGO/Academia (16)

Government (5)

*


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FINDINGS: SUMMARY

2012

The Lacey Act has played an important

role in moving the global market towards

a standard that demands legality

(Interviewees seeing anecdotal evidence

of a move to a new normal) The FLA has done a solid job in its

specific niche, raising the profile of, and

providing information about Lacey Act

Those directly involved with the FLA are

largely satisfied with the work of the FLA,

especially the work of WRI, whileencouraging the development of tools

and resources

Indications that others affected had

accepted the new normal of the Lacey

Act, albeit with some lingering questions

about implementation and enforcement

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2014

The introduction of additional

demand-side policies, especially the

EUTR, is accelerating this transition

(Interviewees now seeking hard data

about impacts) The FLA has expanded its expertise

beyond the Lacey Act to include

other demand-side policies

Those directly involved with the FLA

remain largely satisfied with the work

of the FLA, while raising questionsabout the use of existing tools and

resources, and strategy for the future

A shift in the conversation, beyond

the implementation and enforcement

of the demand-side policies, down

the supply chain, and out to other

products


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Ongoing concern for those focused on the future of

forests* Lacey Act and EUTR, those are huge milestonesstill there is massive work

to be done...I would be totally lying if I said I was calm about this issue (NGO)

With new emphasis on producer markets & other

products As much as I'd like to believe the US telling them (via the Lacey Act) will make

the difference, there really is a systemic problem, long historical issues, in the

producing countries - land tenure, bad regulations, everything - and that iswere the conversation is going now (BUSINESS)

5* The majority of interviewees

FINDINGS: CONCERNABOUTTHEISSUE


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FINDINGS: PERCEIVEDIMPACTOFTHEACT*

A success in raising awareness and inspiring action (Lacey Act and EUTR) have sent very significant market signals that these markets are

tightening up (NGO)

while awaiting the benefits for legitimate business

There are always going to be costs with these policies, as it made us be a lot morecareful and understand our supply chain...but it is just the cost of doing business...if you

are getting any product from any country, you need to know (the production process)

(BUSINESS)

questioning the ultimate impact on the forest

The Lacey Act has been very effective in changing the dynamics on how UScompanies talk about thisincreased awareness, investment, risk analysis and

concern too - (but) do I think it's affected illegal logging, that's a really tough answer

to come up with (BUSINESS)

and wondering whether it will be fully enforced

There are yellow cards, but not enough red cards (BUSINESS) 6*Note that when discussing impact, most interviewees spoke of the collective impact of the demand-side policies


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FLA positivesissue expertise that has expanded beyond the Lacey

Act Not just as a resource but the resourcethere are competing initiatives out there and I

do not recommend those (BUSINESS)

meetings lauded for approach, info and networking A great platform in that it brings NGOs, private sector and others to the table (and) that

diverse engagement is importantthe twice-yearly meetings where we can learnvery

valuable information sharing (NGO)

research and tools appreciated, but underutilized One of the things I've felt most positive about is that it is not just a convening group...the

fact that there have been really practical tools and outcomes is what makes it different

(NGO) / Recently (I saw) one of the brief country profiles they produced and I thought,

Well, I wasn't aware of these,' (but that) struck me asa nice little cheat sheet (GOVT)

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FINDINGS: FEEDBACKFORTHEFLA


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FLA negatives

meetings becoming less interesting, less diverse There's always a struggle to find something new to talk about at their meetings (GOVT)

/ Informal conversations are the most valuable part of the conveningsevery year

there is a discussion about a more interactive format but it doesnt happen (and) more

and more people walk away thinking they dont need to be there during the day(BUSINESS)

concerns about the strategy for the future Im always slightly wondering what it is, what its angle is, where (the FLA) is going to

nextand I can see that its got a lot of info...real question is about what it wants to do

next (NGO)

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FINDINGS: FEEDBACKFORTHEFLA


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Reasons for hopemomentum and technology

We are betting a lot on transparency and the use of technology, where everyone would

know how much has been produced, and exactly where it came from (NGO)

Cause for concernensuring impact of demand-side

policies and addressing supply-side problems The next challenge facing this is if you look at the deep drivers of deforestation it is not

really paper and packaging but palm oil and consumer non-forest products, sohow

to address the illegal conversions (NGO)

And then theres Chinahope and concern

You go to China...and (officials) expect you all to drink the Kool-Aid...but (companieswill) put whatever you want on theproductthree grades: the cheap, the (fake)

compliant, and the actually compliant (BUSINESS)

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FINDINGS: THEFUTURE


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Suggestions for the FLA

stay centered on legality & continue convening Number one is to continue the networking as there is nothing more important than

sharing the information, and the FLA, because of its constituents, from WWF and EIA to

industry...you can't reproduce it, that's invaluable (BUSINESS)

bring existing resources to new audiences I've been impressed with the breadth of attendees at FLA meetings, but I have noticed

that the attendees have not expanded in the last couple of yearscould they do a push

to recruit new companies? Cast the net wider? Hold the meetings elsewhere to help do

that? (NGO)

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FINDINGS: THEFUTURE


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gather data and report out to business and USG I'd love to know how much progress has been made on illegal logging as for the

companies who have taken a leadership role (on this issue, I know) they'd love to be

able to tell that story....they'd love to hear that it has been making a difference (and) if

they can show a definitive outcome then wow, that's awesome (BUSINESS)

go deeper into producer markets FLA does a great job at looking at the demand-side pieceI'm wondering if it's worth

focusing their attention on the producer sidethose questions are harder, and there

will never be a one-size-fits-all solution (but) that could be a really interesting

conversation (NGO)

consider collaborations with other initiatives You have a whole series of organizations and initiatives that are focused on

sustainability, and you have industry buy-inthe Tropical Forest 2020, the Consumer

Goods Forumand there is climate stuff going on, generating other investments in

sustainability - that's excitingthe extent to which FLA plays in that is the question

(NGO)

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FINDINGS: THEFUTURE


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FINDINGS: CONCLUDINGTHOUGHTS

Sincere appreciation for the FLA, and interest in its

future

We still feel committed and supportive of the FLA, and I appreciate that they, through

(B&W), reach out to check in and see how things are going....and the timing is

rightlargely we're happy and think it is headed in the right directionjust those couple

of things as to how it could be even better (NGO)

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NEXTSTEPS

Immediately prior to the semi-annual meeting

B&W hosted discussion groups to explore in more detail two of the ideas

that arose during the interviews

The possible role for the FLA in identifying and/or promoting

technologies that could help eliminate the trade in illegal wood The possible role for the FLA in advancing the creation of nationally-

based alliances in Brazil, Mexico and China

During the semi-annual meeting

FLA staff will present a draft work plan for review and discussion

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Prepared for the Semi-Annual Membership Meeting, January 27, 2015

Stakeholder Insights - OVERVIEW

14

Douglas Meyer

Bernuth & Williamson

www.bernuthconsulting.com

Stakeholder_survey_FLA_meeting_0.pdf

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