Summary Report

AFP Dialogue Dialogue on Timber Trade, Forest Law Compliance and Governance

at Asia-Pacific Forestry Week

Hanoi, 24 April, 09:00-12:00

 

 

 

A pivotal event of Asia-Pacific Forestry Week, Dialogue on Timber Trade, Forest Law Compliance and Governance, hosted by the Asia Forest Partnership (AFP), was held in Hanoi on the 24 April 2008.

 

The event brought together over 500 leading forestry experts and a variety of stakeholders to discuss sustainability in the trade of timber and forest products, and to develop strategies for success in an increasingly regulated environment. It provided a platform for participants to advance policy solutions, industry incentives and practical on-the-ground initiatives that address concerns about forest governance and legal compliance.

 

The dialogue was chaired by Rico Hizon, BBC Asia Business and Finance Correspondent, focusing on credible and practical outcomes for both policy makers and the timber industry. Major forestry players from across the region examined the changes underway in the global timber market, and review their impacts.

Introduction

The introductory remarks were made by Dr. Boen Purnama, Secretary General, Ministry of Forestry Indonesia; and Chair of UNFF 8 Bureau. He stressed that illegal logging and trade is a complicated issue involving many players with different interests, budgets and political power. At international and regional level this issue has been discussed at various forums and it is clear that a concerted effort is needed, particularly in developing better mechanisms to ensure timber legality.

To introduce the event and explain the complexity of the issue, it was started by a film that was winner of 2 movie categories at the 31st International Wildfilm Film Festival in 2008: “Forests of South-East Sulawesi”. It portrayed community based forest management in South East Sulawesi, in which collaboration between many players is needed, from the producer on the ground (community), the government, up to the consumer. The film documents the local community’s innovative and cooperative approach to combating the illegal timber trade.

Presentations:

·          Dr. Federico Francisco Lopez-Casero, IGES: “Action by consumer countries to tackle the international trade in illegal timber”. He gave examples of some actions which address illegal logging and trade particularly those that can be taken by people in consumer countries. Governments in some wealthier countries such as EU, USA and Japan have also developed some policies to address the issue although not all policies are equally effective. There are also a lot of dialogues and collaborations at regional levels such as FLEGT that lead to the development of some Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs). 

·          Private sector, Amir Sunarko, PT.Sumalindo Lestari Jaya,Tbk: “Ensuring the sustainability”. His presentation focused on what strategies have been taken by Sumalindo to address the issue of legality and sustainability, such as implementing of the HCVF approach as well as adopting FSC principles for natural resource management and renewable resource or plantation. Moray Isles, DLH Vietnam:”Are Timber Markets changing? What are Implications for Industry, Forests, People and Governments? A DLH Vietnam perspective”.  Moray made an interesting presentation about changes in the timber market and how DLH has adapted to these changes; taking examples from DLH works in Vietnam. 

·          NGOs perspective, Timer Manurung, Telapak: “Is legal and sustainable timber production important? Who for, and why?” Timer focused on the issue of legal vs. sustainable forestry and argued that there could be various combinations between legality and sustainability. He brought up, for example, that a forest area can be harvested illegally but in sustainable way. This is often the case with community forestry. 

·          The community forest was also the focus of Caroline Imun’s presentation: “Timber trade, Forest Law Compliance and Governance”: “Certifying Community Forestry in Papua New Guinea”. In PNG, the FSC certification system benefits the local community in many ways. She pointed out that certification works must be supported by government and also extended to private companies. 

 Highlights from the dialogue:

·          Markets are changing in ways that should encourage legal and sustainable forest management and trade

·          This should assist legal and sustainable producers by excluding unfair competition from illegal and unsustainable producers.

·          Governments can help these processes by streaming regulations for both community and industrial producers to reduce costs and opportunities for corruption

·          Governments should review their charges and royalty structures to provide more direct incentives for producers to adopt legal and sustainable production practices

·          Consumer and producer governments, development agencies, NGO’s, and other relevant parties should work together to support accelerated capacity building for both community and commercial enterprises seeking to move towards legal and sustainable production

·          There is an immediate need for credible verification of legality to help buyers and sellers determine what is legal and what is not.

Further information

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