The UK’s Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Programme
Regional policy processes that support regulatory reforms
To ensure success in combating illegal logging, actions taken at national level or through agreements between countries need to be reinforced by regional processes, involving both producing and consuming countries. This is because unilateral or bilateral actions can be evaded, for example by trans-shipping of products through third countries. Regional coalitions also provide forums for sharing of information on the effectiveness of different initiatives. The main regional policy processes have been those arising out of the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) Ministerial Declarations. These aim to secure high-level government support and inputs from governments, industry interests and civil society towards implementing regional actions to combat illegal logging and trade in illegal timber. They are complemented by other initiatives such as the Asia Forest Partnership and the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. Key actions being supported are:
The East Asia Pacific FLEG and other Asian initiatives AFLEG and other African initiatives Other regional policy processes
East Asia-Pacific FLEG and other Asian initiatives
· The first FLEG Ministerial Conference, covering East Asia and the Pacific, was held in Bali, Indonesia in September 2001. This resulted in a declaration agreed by ministers from most countries in the region and from the major timber importing countries to take action to tackle illegal logging and associated trade. The UK delegation was led by DFID Minister Hilary Benn.
· DFID provided support through the World Bank to assist the East Asia Pacific FLEG Secretariat co-ordinate actions agreed at a first Inter-government Task Force Meeting in January 2003
· DFID contributed to a workshop, co-ordinated by Traffic International and hosted by the Philippine Government, in November 2005 to examine opportunities for strengthened border control in Asia aimed at preventing the regional trade in illegally logged timber. This provided input to a Task Force and Advisory Group meeting in Manila, March 7- 9, 2006.
· DFID supported EIA to co-ordinate the East Asia FLEG’s Advisory Group, which involves representation of a wide range of actors, including civil society and the private sector. Activities have included: - coordination of meetings between government officials of Indonesia and the Philippines to arrange a Task Force meeting in the Philippines - organisation of a “stand alone” meeting of the Asia FLEG Advisory Group in October 2004 to review existing and emerging Asia FLEG inspired initiatives; organise future Advisory Group activities; and discuss advice and recommendations to the FLEG Task Force. - organisation of a meeting with the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE) in October 2004 with the aim of establishing a network of regional enforcement representatives to create solutions to overcome difficulties of enforcing legal timber trade.	�Top ƒOverview
· DFID contributed to a regional conference of industry, government and civil society leaders, co-ordinated by The Forest Dialogue, an international multi-stakeholder grouping of forest interests in March 2005.
· The UK is participating in the Asia Forest Partnership, a WSSD Type II Partnership led by Japan, Indonesia, CIFOR and The Nature Conservancy. Illegal logging and forest governance are main topics and relevant actions include: - Forest partnership: from Kalimantan districts to the global market place - Formulating guidelines for systems to verify the legality of timber within the context of sustainable forest management - Learning from bilateral arrangements (such as the UK-Indonesia MoU) - The findings of a study on development of a regional enforcement protocol was presented at an AFP meeting in August 2004 and this will be further developed at a workshop on border control to be held in the Philippines in November 2005.
AFLEG and other African initiatives
· The AFLEG Ministerial conference was held in Younde, Cameroon in October 2003. This resulted in a declaration agreed by ministers from African countries and from major timber importing countries to take action to address forest law enforcement and governance issues. UK Government representatives (DFID, DEFRA and FCO) led by DFID Minister Gareth Thomas participated.
· Under its new Forest Governance Programme for West and Central Africa, DFID has awarded a grant to IUCN to help facilitate multi-stakeholder groups in developing national AFLEG programmes in selected West and Central African countries (more…).
· Prior to the AFLEG Ministerial meeting, IUCN and Forests Monitor were engaged to support NGO involvement.
· DFID supported workshops to prepare recommendations for monitoring and information  needs and actions by private sector from Central Africa.
· DFID supported a national multi-stakeholder workshop in Akosombo, Ghana in September to prepare for the AFLEG Ministerial. This has provided a useful model for multi-stakeholder dialogue for other countries.
· DFID participates in the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, a WSSD Type II Partnership.
Other regional policy processes
In November 2005 the Europe and North Asia (ENA) FLEG Ministerial Conference was held in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This resulted in a declaration of commitment by 44 governments to take action to address illegal logging and associated forest crimes. The participating governments also identified an Indicative List of Actions for the implementation of the Declaration.
· A Central American workshop on Forest Governance and Trade in the name of the Central American Commission for Sustainable Development (CCAD) was held in Honduras in March 2003. Further discussions to explore opportunities for a Latin American FLEG ministerial conference are being held.	�Top ƒOverview
Last updated 16 May 2006