An Update on the Status of Regional FLEG Processes

Nalin Kishor, FLEG Coordinator, The World Bank

Presentation to the Chatham House Meeting, “Illegal Logging Update and Stakeholder Consultation

London, 9-10 July 2007

• Regional Ministerial FLEG initiatives seek to create the political “space” and technical wherewithal for governments to address illegal logging, in partnership with major stakeholders from civil society and the private sector

• East Asia (since 2001, in Bali )• Africa (since 2003) and Europe and North Asia

(since 2005), Latin America (start-up phase)

Regional FLEG Processes

Regional Ministerial FLEG initiatives seek strong alignment with existing regional institutions

• East Asia—ASEAN seen as key partner• Africa—COMIFAC and EAC; • Europe and North Asia –MCPFE (?); • Latin America—CCAD and OTCA.

Regional Collaboration and FLEG Processes

• Joint work plan with AFR, with focus on – Support to REPAR– IFM Gabon & DRC– Design instruments for/monitor social benefits of concessions

• Presented to AFLEG/FLEGT Task Force (Bangui, Nov 06) • Support to East Africa Community FLEG meeting, tentatively

September 2007. Country Diagnostics studies underway for Kenya and Uganda. Plans for multi-stakeholder consultations under discussion for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

AFRICA FLEG

• 6m Euro follow-up support from EC/ENPI in collaboration with IUCN and WWF (in process)

• BNPP 0.5 mill $ support for National Action Plans for 6 IDA eligible countries

EUROPE AND NORTH ASIA FLEG

Amazon:• Initiation of ALFA process with OTCA in

collaboration with FAO/ITTO, GTZ, DGIS • 4 country scoping studies (Bolivia, Peru, Guyana,

Surinam)• 0.6 mill $ DFID funding to initiate a parallel civil

society led country-level process with TRAFFIC & VERIFOR (under finalization)

LATIN AMERICA FLEG

Central America:• Initiation of a sub-regional FLEG process with

CCAD in collaboration with IUCN, FAO/ITTO, GTZ, DGIS

• Support to CCAD in CITES enforcement for Mahogany

• Initiation of country-level activities in Honduras and Nicaragua

LATIN AMERICA FLEG

Emerging from the list of actions proposed in the Bali declaration, three ambitious areas emerge for further action:

Customs collaboration to control illegal logging Forest sector transparency initiatives Country diagnostics and experience sharing

EAST ASIA FLEG: Thematic Focus Areas

Regional Customs Cooperation

1. Prior notification of timber export– Establish a system of prior notification of timber export through relevant

customs procedures & documentation

2. ASEAN CELO

3. RILO– An ASEAN country to formally request RILO to designate illegal timber trade

as a priority agenda

4. Studies on key aspects of regional customs cooperation

Thematic Focus Areas of East Asia FLEG (1)

Forest Sector Transparency

1. Timber Chain Analysis– Producing a flow chart of wood & timber flow to better understand and track

harvesting, processing and export of timber

2. Money Flow Analysis– Producing a chart to track money flow associated with the timber chain

3. Digital Maps and Databases– Publicly available digital maps and databases of all current forest

management and concession units, processing facilities and timber exporters

4. Transparency Framework– Encouraging ASOF to adopt a framework for improving forest sector

transparency

Thematic Focus Areas of East Asia FLEG (2)

Country Diagnostics and Experience Sharing

1. Country Diagnostics Reports– EA FLEG country diagnostic reports for 2007

2. Thematic and Overall Reports– Thematic reports in 2008 and 2009 based on country priorities and

EA FLEG RSC guidance & major report on EA FLEG in 20103. Format

– Questionnaire or matrix type format to facilitate country reporting and analysis

4. Focal Points– Revise list of EA FLEG country and institutional focal points to

coordinate the work among various organizations concerned

Thematic Focus Areas of East Asia FLEG (3)

• Agreement on thematic areas for country-level and regional collaboration under the EAP-FLEG umbrella

• Emerging VPA’s with Malaysia and Indonesia under FLEGT• Move to finalize formal incorporation of FLEG issues in the

ASEAN program of work• Japan’s focus on IL, and its announcement to establish

ASEAN-Japan dialog on SFM and IL within the ASEAN-Japan CEP (Comprehensive Economic Partnership)

• Australia’s Global Initiative on Forests and Climate (esp. compensation for reducing IL under avoided deforestation)

EAST ASIA FOREST GOVERNANCE: PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS

• Integration of the regional FLEG processes with the work of existing regional processes & institutions

• More systematic partnerships and collaboration• Focusing analytic work to support FLEG processes • Facilitating financing and technical assistance for

implementation of (agreed-to) actions emerging from regional conferences/declarations

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS FOR FLEG

THANK YOU.

www.worldbank.org/flegwww.worldbank.org/forests