Achievements and challenges

Achievements and Achievements and challengeschallenges

About the EA FLEG

EA FLEG is an initiative that brings timber-producing countries in the Asia-Pacific region together with various timber-consuming countries.

Common aim : To combat illegal logging, associated trade of illegal timber and corruption.

Consultative, collaborative process involving the participation of governments (Task Force) and civil societies (Advisory Group)

EA FLEG Process

Regional Approach

Concerted actions

Information sharing

Regional dialogues Improve forest

governance, policy reform, forest management & law enforcement

2005

2001

Indonesia hosted initial East Asia Forest Law Enforcement & Governance (EA-FLEG) Ministerial Meeting in Bali leading to Bali Ministerial Declaration.

Indonesia & Philippines issued a Joint Statement to further pursue coordinated efforts to strengthen EA-FLEG process.

Interim Steering Committee

of EA-FLEG met & discussed progress & priorities. Customs & Forest Law

Enforcement Workshop in the Philippines

2006 Side Meeting at UNFF 6

Philippines hosted the 2nd Task Force and Advisory Group Meeting.Informal Meeting for

the RSC

10th AMME and SOM-28th AMAF and related meetings

FLEG in the Region: The Process

9th ASOFSpecial SOM-27th AMAF

2007 1st ASOF Roundtable and 2nd RSC Meeting

EA FLEG Strategy Meeting

2002

Establishment of the Task Force and Organization of the Advisory Group

2003 1st TF/AG Meeting

Organizational Meeting of Regional Steering Committee

Regional Workshop on the 3 Thematic Areas of FLEG

2nd ASOF Policy Roundtable 10th ASOF

Special SOM-28th AMAF

Significant Developments in the Region

A. National Programme

– Increased efforts at country level/programmes with dialogue partners to combat illegal logging and its associated trade and corrupt practices

B. Regional Inititive (ASEAN Process/Bilateral and Multilateral undertaking)

– Revitalization of the FLEG process in the region including a meetings of the TF/AG (Bali, Indonesia, 2003 and Philippines, March 2006)

Achievements of EA FLEG – Phase I

– Inclusion of FLEG into the ASEAN strategic plan and regional program of action

– Deepening the technical content of FLEG discussions helped build consensus around the three thematic areas

• regional customs cooperation • forest sector transparency • reporting on country level efforts on FLEG

– Strengthening of an outreach process with customs officials (and with RILO) in the context of regional customs cooperation to control trade in illegal timber, and through a regional customs cooperation workshop (Philippines, 2005)

Achievements of EA FLEG

– Support to series of ASEAN actions on FLEG

• Recognition of FLEG as an important regional initiative, as evidenced by the decisions of ASOF, SOM-AMAF, AMAF+3

• Introduction of the draft proposals on the 3 thematic areas during the 1st ASOF Policy Roundtable (Bali, Indonesia)

• Recommendations by the 2nd ASOF Policy Roundtable on strengthening ASEAN Cooperation in EA-FLEG which include the three thematic areas ( Manila , Philippines)

The 10th ASOF recommended to the 29th AMAF, the issuance of “Bangkok Declaration on Strengthening FLLEG in

ASEAN.” (Lao PDR, July 2007)

• The Special SOM-28th AMAF agreed in principle to the “draft Bangkok Declaration on FLEG” for endorsement and issuance as a standalone Ministerial document by the 29th AMAF however the ASEAN Secretariat was requested to circulate to AMCs the “draft” for consultation whether it would be a “Declaration” or” Ministerial Statement”. (Singapore, August 2007)

FLEG was recognized as a cross cutting issue in the United Nations Forum on Forests during the UNFF7 within the context of UN themes from UNFF8 to

UNFF 11 (New York, April 2007)

C. Global Agenda (UNFF 7, MYPOW)

EA FLEG Phase II Implement the 3 thematic areas of EA-FLEG

Strategize resource and social mobilization

Sustain momentum in EA FLEG initiatives and Streamline on-going activities in the Region

Secure high level political commitment of AMCs in the EA FLEG process ( AMAF-EA FLEG Declaration)

Translate Regional plans into national programmes to produce concrete outputs at the local level

The Challenges

■ Holding of Asia FLEG Ministerial Meeting in 2008

■ Support, strengthen and complement other FLEG processes (ENA, LATIN, AFRICA)

■ Link with ongoing regional initiatives (ITTO, FAO,AFP, etc)

■ Bring other important players (countries and institutions)more centrally into the FLEG process

Thank You!Thank You!