TIMBER TRACEABILITY IMPACT ON FOREST

GOVERNANCE IN TROPICAL COUNTRIES. The study case of Honduras

Student: Kawtar Bouassel Supervisor: Davide Pettenella

Course: 2015/2016 Co-supervisor: Daphne Hewitt

CONTENTS

Background

Objectives

Research methodology

Results and discussion

Conclusion

FAO FLEGT Programme

FAO FLEGT Programme

FAO FLEGT ProgrammeFAO FLEGT Programme

Illegal logging

Deforestation and forest degradation

Funding source for armed conflicts

Reduction of

forest environmental services

Loss of biodiversity

Government revenue losses

Habitat destruction

www.fauna-flora.org

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

GOOD FOREST GOVERNANCE

Governance of Forests Initiative

(GFI)

Accountability

Capacity

Coordination

Participation

Transparency

Different

definitions

Different

organizations

Different sets

of principles

FAO FLEGT Programme

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Timber traceability

system

Good forest governance

Legality certification

Due diligenceResponsible management certification

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

TRACEABILITY

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Harvest Transport ProcessingMarket

(domestic / exportation)

Supply chain

Organizations Control: Instruments + activities

Forest Management Plan, Tracking System, Monitoring documents, Invoices,

Contracts, Tax payment, etc.

Public Authorities Control

Control on the

field

Permits and

documentation

control

Law

enforcement

AND CONTROL

VERIFICATION

Organization Control

Public Authorities Control

Supply Chain

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Check

processing

permits

Check

harvest

requirements

Compliance with all

applicable laws

Performance reporting

and monitoringCitizen

Monitoring

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Timber traceability impact on forest governance

Conceptual framework for “Traceability”, “Control” and “Verification”

Identification of the impact on: “Accountability”, “Capacity”, “Coordination”, “Participation” and

“Transparency”

3. Analysis of expert perception about traceability impact on Good Forest Governance

Face to face interviews Interviews’ analysisPerceptions

interpretation

2. Description of Study case: Forest sector in Honduras

Literature review Other sources

1. Conceptual framework: Traceability + Control + Verification

Literature review Expert consultation

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

The interviews: 11 by Skype + 1 by phone

The language: Spanish

Translation: to English

Expert facilitator: Daphne Hewitt (FAO Forest officer)

Experts groups: 4

• Government

• Private sector

• NGOs

• Indigenous people

confederation

Sample: 13 experts

Response rate: 92.3%

Questionnaires : 4 different

Questions: 4 general + 2 specific = 6

STUDY CASE: HONDURAS

Dense woodland

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

STUDY CASE: HONDURAS

Natural resources

Forest cover= 50%

Conifers (49%)Broadleaves

(51%)

Deforestation annual net rate

1.2 %

Social context

People dependent on forest

resources: 1.5 million (75%)

Rural poverty: 60%

Corruption CPI index: 31/100

(0 = high corruption)

Political context

First forestry law : 1971

Nationalization of forests: 1974

New forestry law: 2008

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

L

Verification by entities implementing the

system (internal audit)

Verification by independent monitoring

organization

(external audit)

Conceptual framework

Traceability

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Wood tracking

control

Legal

requirements

Control

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Expert perception analysis

Expert perception of traceability impact on forest governance

Helps to identify and track the lack of

accountability

Guides the government in the capacity

building tasks.

Creates coordination between the

government sectors.

Promotes stakeholders’ involvement and

participation.

Induces the government to information

sharing and more transparency.

Timber

traceability

system

Good Forest

Governance

Expert perception analysis

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

0

1

2

3

4

5

Accountability Capacity Coordination Participation Transparency

Tra

ce

ab

ilit

y sys

tem

im

pa

ct

sca

le

Good forest governance principles

NGOs evaluation

IUCN

F. Vida

A. Verde

P. Latina

FDsF

Ag. Forestal

Expert perception analysis

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

0

1

2

3

4

5

Accountability Capacity Coordination Participation Transparency

Sca

le o

f in

flu

en

ce

Good forest governance principles

Traceability system impact on forest governance

Gov

P. sector

NGOS

Ind. People

Long term goals of timber

traceability system

Background Objectives Methodology Results ConclusionsMost frequent opinions Topic Experts category Conclusion

To enforce sustainable forest

management and move the country’s

governance toward sustainable

development.

Sustainability P. sector + NGOs Traceability system should

support sustainable

development.

To generate more knowledge, awareness,

sensitivity and understanding for civil

society.

Transparency and

Information

sharing

Government+ NGOs Traceability system should

raise the transparency and

society awareness.

Redistribution of the timber trade

benefits to reach poverty alleviation.

Equity P. sector + NGOs Traceability system should

promote equity in benefit

distribution.

To tackle illegal logging and combat

timber traffics and timber criminal

networks.

Legality Government + P.

sector + NGOs

Traceability system should

ensure timber legality and

law enforcement.

To increase trust and forest sector

authorities credibility and reduce

corruption.

Credibility Government + P.

sector + NGOs

Traceability system should

tackle corruption.

To minimize the level of deforestation in

the country.

Forest

conservation

P. sector + NGOs Traceability system should

increase forests natural

resources conservation.

To centralize the traceability information

and to update the information in real

time.

Efficiency and

effectiveness

Government Traceability system should be

efficient and effective.

Expert perception analysis

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Most frequent opinions Topic Experts category Conclusion

To enforce sustainable forest

management and move the country’s

governance toward sustainable

development.

Sustainability Private sector +

NGOs

Traceability system should

support sustainable

development.

To generate more knowledge,

awareness, sensitivity and

understanding for civil society.

Transparency and

Information

sharing

Government+

NGOs

Traceability system should

raise the transparency and

society awareness.

Table : Long term goals of timber traceability system

Suggestions for further research:

New components of Good forest governance

Amplification of experts sample

Consideration of more study cases to compare

Background Objectives Methodology Results Conclusions

Timber Traceability system impact on forest

governance

General impacts

• Relevant impacts on

“Accountability”, “Capacity”,

“Coordination”, “Participation”

and “Transparency”

• More credibility and less

corruption within the government.

• Forest conservation and

sustainable natural resources

management.

• Tropical deforestation and illegal

logging mitigation.

In the short term

• Additional cost introduction.

• Inequitable competition (Private sect.)

• More land use restrictions.

• Increased poverty.

• Social dissatisfaction.

In the long term

• Equity in benefits distribution.

• Sustainable economic development.

• Fairer competitiveness between all the

private sector actors.

• Timber price improvement.

• Honduras timber market expansion.

• More investments from the private

sector.

• More development funding from

international organizations.

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