|
4. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON CONCRETE ACTIONS
Presentations were made by the work plan sheets proposed by the leading
partners and followed by interventions from the floor. It was agreed that
the drafter of each work plan sheet would revise and distribute the work
plan sheet through AFP contact at CIFOR. The revised work plan sheets are
linked form this draft.
4.1 On going activities of CIFOR, Presented by Takeshi
Toma
For showing the importance of information sharing, two
of CIFOR’s activities were presented. Since those are on going activities,
links are made to the wab pages of the activities for detailed information.
This is an ongoing research project This project was conceived because
there have been a number of rehabilitation projects since last decades, but
still not clear what is actually rehabilitated, or what needs to be
rehabilitated.
He then listed quite a few initiatives of current ongoing rehabilitations
programs or projects that relate to this research. There is a need to
exchange information and make the insights from the research available to
those programmes and projects.
The Forest Spatial Information Catalog (FSIC) is a tool for searching and
browsing the contents of a metadata service—a central repository for forest
related spatial metadata
Hugh Speechly (DFID)
FSIC may overlap with what is proposed by FLEG: Clearing house of
information. Important to know in detail what the Forest Spatial Information
Catalogue is about, to make sure that there is no duplication of efforts.
Should this only cover Indonesia or should it
have a regional cover?
Takeshi Toma responded:
We hope that FLEG will utilize or build on the FSIC which is being
developed. The FSIC covers world wide information.
Haruo Sawada (FFPRI)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan is collecting
satellite images of all Asian countries (low
resolution images, Satellite Information Data Base [SIDaB])
and daily monitoring data from the
Asia Pacific Network for Disaster Mitigation using Earth
Observation Satellite. Those are freely down loadable. It could
be considered as a source of information of the Catalogue. The evaluation of
the information is essential for the Catalogue as AFP.
4.2 Compilation of database of training resources in
the Asia regions on sustainable forest management, proposed by Yuji Imaizumi
There is a high need for training and capacity building. This
information will make it know where facilities are available, such that they
become more used, and duplication can be avoided.
Javed Mir.
Why not follow the successful example of google. One of the problems of
integrating data is compatibility. Rather one could have model of linking
training and capacity building info points.
Content. There are millions of manuals and training book. We would need to
consolidate capacity and training material. Need to build some kind of
relational database.
Edwin Brown.
We need to look at organizations like FAO to see what they have gathered in
terms of consolidated information syntheses.
4.3 Presentations and Proposals for combating illegal
logging and etc.
- Activity of the TNC in East Kalimantan, presented by Byron Siegel
Responses from the participants
John Andrew Roby (Timber Trade Federation)
He represents UK private sector organization. AFP/ proposals recognize
private sector, but the does not emanate real effort to engage the private
sector. Urges AFP to go back to private sector organizations and ask them if
they want to be engaged.
There is one international initiative by FAO to develop a repository of
laws and regulations related to forestry from all UN countries. FAO is
setting it up, and looking for funding.
The UK private sector is looking for documentary proof of legality, because
markets in UK are asking for this. The UK Government, for instance, are
required to purchase only legal timber. This is something that government
representatives of AFP could pursue in their own countries.
Now we have the framework to work on this throughout Europe. Therefore
Timber Trade Federation is looking for any organization that wants to work
with them
Maharaj Muthoo
Work plans illegal logging could be fitted into a larger work plan on
certification. Most of all certification, may be more than 90%, are northern
developed. They are used in the South. If local certification systems are
not supported, than certifications will not work.
There should be no double standards. Testing of legality should also be
applied to processed products that are imported from countries that import
illegal timber.
But prices of timber of forest products must go up, otherwise certification
cannot work.
By imposing high standards we create new barriers, this will only promote
illegality.
Math Green (EC)
Major wood consuming partners should reduce consumption of illegal sourced
wood. Hope that EU action plan of FLEG should be linked to AFP.
Togu Menurung
Propose a work plan to combat illegal logging in the areas where the
logging is taking place. In part this requires to facilitate collaboration
between Indonesia and Malaysia government.
Indonesia is proposing a log export ban. There is a need that all the wood
products that are manufactured in Indonesia are prepared from wood/ timber
that is sourced legally.
There is a need for immediate action, giving the urgency of the problem of
illegal logging.
Edwin Brown
What USA has been doing is President’s initiatives against illegal
logging. Global initiative that has a high level of support. Copies of
documentation of the initiative provided.
US will is very interested in work plan related to customs.
Patrick Durst (FAO)
FAO is very willing to collaborate with illegal logging activities. FAO has
a long history of tracking forest laws in various countries, and will be
very interested in collaborating on this issue.
FAO has also been engaged in a series of studies on incentives for
plantation in eight countries. Some of that information will be quite
relevant for the smallholder plantation work plan. FAO will be organizing
two workshops soon on these studies.
Ahma Bin Buang (ITTO)
AFP should be more realistic in formulating of its work plan. Work plans
have also to be realistic. Work plans also have to reflect needs of AFP
itself. AFP must find its own niche in illegal logging. AFP must touch base
with the real problem on the ground. We must come up with something unique
that distinguishes it from all the other initiatives related to illegal
logging.
He also mentioned the need for resources to assure AFP's sustainability,
comparing funds committed so far with the Congo Basin Forest Partnership's
US$50 million. He also referred to the current "obsession" with illegal
logging and the need for cohesion between sustainability C & I, forest
certification and legal compliance.
Yuki Sakamoto (Global Environmental Forum)
Needs to include actions in Russia. Of instance the “customs” proposal
could include Russian customs.
Javed Mir
Proposed to prepare the affiliation matrix. Rows: put the different topics
(proposals).
Column different organizations. Each organization can put per each proposal
what it can contribute.
Arbi Valentinus (TELAPAK)
NGO monitoring illegal logging in Indonesia. Work plan on custom agencies
is a good proposal. Also work plan to analyze market access is also good,
especial activity number two. Work plan of developing minimal standards of
legality. This focus is already being discussed under the MOU between UK and
Indonesia related to illegal logging.
Proposes to set up working group that is active in between meetings.
Frederik Vossenaar (Netherland)
Confusion of comparison of certification schemes. Foundation Kerhout made a
comparison of certification schemes. Dutch governments is not yet partner,
but there is willingness to collaborate. Involvement of civil society and
especially of the corporate sector is of high interest of the Dutch
government. If those partnerships were created, possibilities for funding
would be real.
Andrey Laletin (Friends of Siberian Forest)
Very interested in putting Russian customs into the custom work plan. Many
examples of illegally sourced and traded timber to China, that eventually is
exported to USA. Minimum standards of legality also very much appreciated
and of high importance for Russia.
Yong Teng Koon (MTCC)
Was of the view that illegal logging should be addressed in the overall
context of forest and timber certification. AFP should encourage and support
existing national certification schemes. He mentioned about the Pan ASEAN
Timber Certification Initiative which was established with a view to
identify a core set of criteria and indicators that are applicable to ASEAN
member countries and informed that The Ad-Hoc Working Group on Pan ASEAN
Timber Certification Initiative will hold its third meeting in Jakarta in
January 2004. Efforts and resources of AFP should be channeled to such
on-going efforts. It is very important for consumer countries not to
overburden tropical countries to comply with so many requirements. Consumer
countries should make known their minimum requirements with respect to
timber certification so as to facilitate tropical producer countries in
developing standards that meet their requirements, including legal
compliance.
Aditya Bayunanda
On minimum standard of legality and developing timber tracking system,
formulation of a minimum standard of legality is not appropriate, as the
separation is either legal or illegal is clear thus a minimum standard is
not applicable, and that timber tracking systems are already available, in
Indonesia the LEI system and in Malaysia the MTCC timber tracking system so
there is no need for reduplication.
Hugh Speechly
Defining a minimum standard of legality should be done on an individual
country basis as each country's laws are different and must take into
account broad stakeholder views on what is important. Work carried out under
the Indonesia-UK MoU should have useful lessons about how to do this, but
this doesn't mean that a definition agreed in Indonesia can be transported
to another country.
Harmonisation between different initiativesis really necessary as there is
a need to avoid overlapping activities, especially between FLEG and AFP.
With many parallel initiatives there is a real risk that resources in
participating countries are overstretched.
Customs coordination is a very important aspect of controlling illegal
trade. However, it will require knowledge of the legal basis for each
country's customs agency. In the UK, for example there is currently no law,
apart from CITES, that would allow customs to intercept an illegal shipment.
The UK's public procurement policy recognises that full certification is
currently not possible in all cases but specifies legality as a minimum
requirement.
Hiroshi Kudo closed the discussion
At second meeting of AFP partners agreed on what issues to promote.
Proposals have been developed based on these agreements. Now we should
discuss how to realize these proposal. If we have no more clarity of how to
implement, than we did not have any progress. We need take one step further
from previous meeting and need to make agreements on how to implement
proposals.
Proposes further plan of action
- Drafters of the work plans/ activities will incorporates all
observations provided and drafts a new version of the work plan.
- The new version will be sent to the lead partners first, and then to all
the AFP partners (via the focal points). There will be various international
meetings over the next months where consultation can take place (in limited
form) about these work plans.
- Time limits. This is influence by the meetings where informal
consultations can be held, but also by funding disbursement requirements of
some of the governments.
- The 3rd Meeting of the Ad - hoc Working Group on a Pan ASEAN Timber
Certification Initiative will be held in Jakarta at the ASEAN secretariat,
8-9 January. This can be an opportunity for the partners interested in the
illegal logging work plans to meet.
[Agenda of Meeting] [1.
Opening session] [2. Reports]
[3. Organizational Matters
of Asian Forest Partnership] [Presentation and Discussion on Concrete
Actions] [Clossing items] [Feed
back from the participants] [List
of Participants]
|
print-version