La réunion d’information sur la préparation de la société civile Congolaise, partie prenante au processus FLEGT en prévision de négociation d’un Accord de Partenariat Volontaire (APV), modérée par Isaac MOUSSA, avait les objectifs d' informer la société civile sur le contenu du processus FLEGT, et désigner 4 représentants pour faire partie du secrétariat technique de la négociation.

Alternative Versions:
Communiqué final Atelier de la Société civile 20k PDF
Etat d’avancement du processus FLEGT en Congo 169k PDF

The representatives of the Indigenous Communities from the Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak express their concern on the way the Government of Malaysia handles the multi-stakeholder consultation process on the FLEGT-VPA.

Sarawak Timber Association (STA) considers the timber industry in Sarawak is already well regulated that logs produced and exported by its members are not logs from any illegal sources. STA stands that any disputes between members and natives claims should be resolved through established channels such as by reference to Lands & Surveys Department whose decisions thereon should be final.

This statement aims to explain in detail the grounds behind the withdrawal of the JOANGOHutan and JOAS coalitions from the FLEGT Multi-stakeholder Consultation process organised by the Ministry of Plantation and Industrial Commodities (MPIC) on March 18, 2008.

The coalition of indigenous and social groups, JOANGOHutan and JOAS walked out of the multi-stakeholder consultation on FLEGT organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC).

 

This paper summarizes a range of issues that challenged Liberia's first pre-qualification process for prospective logging compnaies. The paper highlights the key issues and suggests ways in which those issues could be dealt with.

This report, formally launched in Monrovia on January 30, 2008, proposes formalizing customary Liberian land ownership by registering it as private property. This would signal the launch of a reform agenda that would restore the forest land rights of the overwhelming majority of Liberia’s rural populations; made up of poor agrarian families and clans. 

A report on forest governance in Liberia produced for FERN by Tom Lomax

Memorandum is written in response to the Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Meeting organised by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities in Kuching, Sarawak on November 15, 2007 for FLEGT-VPA negotiations between Malaysia and the European Union.

Paper presented by the Malaysian Ministry of Planation Industries and Commodities at the Consultations with Stakeholder Groups Related to the EU FLEGT VPA Negotiations in Malaysia

A report, jointly published by the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), Liberia and FERN, presents the findings of a forestland tenure study commissioned by the SDI in 2007.

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SDI/ FERN_ Full Report 3754k PDF

On November 8, 2007 the NGOs Coalition for Liberia sent an opened letter to the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Hon. John T. Woods requesting the FDA to make public the names of the various logging companies applying for pre- qualification, the names of significant individuals, shareholders and board members of these companies.

Final report of three month Feasibility Study on Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) in the DRC, 2007. Summary for policy makers in English.

Final report of three month Feasibility Study on Independent Forest Monitoring (IFM) in the DRC, 2007. Full report available in French only.

Official agenda of the national workshop on FLEGT organised in Brazaville on 3-4 December 2007.

Atelier national FLEGT tenu, sur l’initiative du Ministère de l’Economie Forestière du Congo et avec l’appui de la Délégation de la Commission Européenne, du 3 au 4 décembre 2007. La liste des participants, que compris organisations sous régionales et internationales, l’administration Congolaise, la société civile, les partenaires au développement et le secteur privé, est jointe en annexe.

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Feuille de route 178k DOC
Acteur - Administrat Forestiere 35k DOC
Acteur - Autres Administrations 41k DOC
Acteur - Industrie Forestiere 47k DOC
Acteur - Societe Civile 32k DOC
Groupe Thematique - Legalite 31k DOC
Groupe Thematique - Tracabilite 29k DOC
Groupe Thematique - Observation Independante 31k DOC

Roadmap for the VPA negotiations in Cameroon. Agreed at the the first negotiation session that took place in Yaoundé on 28-29 November 2007.

Attendance list of the first VPA negotiation session between the European Union and the government of Cameroon. The session took place in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, on 28-29 November 2007.

Government Decision nominating the persons responsible for conducting the VPA negotiations at the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Cameroon.

Declaration of the EC Forest Platform on the conduct of the FLEGT process in Cameroon

EC Forest Platform's comments on the draft of legality standard (version of 02 November 2007).

Government Decision creating a Technical Commission in charge of participating in the negotiations of the VPA on behalf of the Cameroon Government.

Alternative Versions:
OPEN 37k DOC

Following the launch of a campaign by the NGO Coalition for Liberia to delay industrial logging until a National Forest Management Strategy has been developed; the FDA released a draft strategy in June 2007. The strategy summarizes the FDA philosophy for managing the national forest endowment. The strategy outlines the FDA approach to forest management, its long-term end-states, or goals, and the Authoritys major forest management objectives for the following two years. The specific management actions outlined in the strategy are based on the current best available information and will require continued revision through public scrutiny and field evaluation.

NOTE: This draft has been described as incomplete, by civil society, because it fails to take into consideration forestland rights and ownership.

From June 27th to the 29th, a tripartite workshop on FLEGT, VPA and Forest Certification convened in Monrovia, Liberia. One hundred and fifteen (115) participants from the Government of Liberia, Private Sector, Local and International Civil Society, Rural Communities and Academia attended the three day session at the Latter Day Saints Compound on Horton Avenue in Monrovia. Participants negotiated, agreed and presented a joint resolution to the FDA after the workshop.

This briefing note summarizes key findings and recommendations of a land tenure study commissioned by the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) in Liberia, with a focus upon the customary rights to the country's forests. The study was given urgency by the Liberian government's commitment to put a Community Rights Law relating to forests to the national legislature before the end of 2007, and its recognition that this should include more thorough treatment of forest tenure issues.

Rapport de l'atelier official preparatoire des negociations de l’APV/FLEGT au Cameroun.

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Presentation by Cameroonian government 183k PDF
Presentation by European Commission 315k PDF
Presentation by TTAP 166k PDF

Commentaires de les les organisations membres de la Plateforme Forêts sur le processus FLEGT au Cameroun apres le démarrage des négociations sur la définition de la légalité, le mécanisme de mise en oeuvre et de contrôle, et le calendrier des négociations.

A delegation of the EC visited Liberia in early May 2007. The delegation met with various government agencies, civil society groups and the private sector to discuss follow- up activities on FLEGT and VPA in Liberia. Based on the comments, suggestions and feedbacks gathered from the various meetings, these recommendations were prepared by Silas Siakor (SDI) and presented to the FDA.

A submission from JOANGOHutan (Jaringan Orang Asal dan NGO TEntang Isu Hutan/Network of Indigenous Peoples and Non-Governmental Organisations on Forest Issues) and JOAS (Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia/The Indigenous Peoples' Network of Malaysia) to the government of Malaysia.

Alternative Versions:
Agenda 70k PDF

Brief, bilingual information note on the first pilot IFM phase in the DRC, including project terms of reference.

Paper summarising comments on the draft (version 8) of the Liberia National Forest Management Strategy from a range of stakeholders. It includes comments generated at a meeting convened by the NGO Coalition for Liberia and from other external experts.

Notes from the 2nd Ghana-European Commission negotiation session on a FLEGT
VPA, held on 15 June 2007 in Brussels. The items to be negotiated, and the 'road map' for negotiations, were agreed.

Letter from WWF Malaysia to Datu Dr. Michael Dosim Lunjew, Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation, Industries and Commodities, regarding the public consultation on the VPA to be held on 22 June 2007.

This document is the outcome of multi-stakeholder processes in Indonesia to produce standard to verify timber legality.  Hence this is not an official document and translation.  This draft has been submitted to the Ministry of Forestry in January 2007 for enactment, which has not happened until now.  There is a growing concern that this draft of timber legality verification standard will be watered down during the legal drafting process in the ministry, despite promises from the ministry that they will uphold the standard and that they will not undermine the long arduous process in producing it.

A Greenpeace report exposing that international logging companies operating in the DRC are causing social chaos and wreaking environmental havoc. 'Carving up the Congo' uncovers endemic corruption and impunity in the DRC's logging sector at a time when key decisions that will determine the future of these forests are about to be made.

A Forests Monitor and Rainforest Foundation report that aims to influence policy processes and discussions on forests in the DRC. Also available in French - Concessions a la pauvrete.

EC Forest Platform Cameroon proposed amendments to the 3rd draft of the Legality Definition proposed by the Cameroonian government in December 2006.

NGO briefing to the European Commission outlining the key principles for VPAs.