Illegal Logging and FLEGTIllegal Logging and FLEGT- Elements of an IUCN - Elements of an IUCN ResponseResponse

Tim Christophersen, IUCN – The World Tim Christophersen, IUCN – The World Conservation UnionConservation Union

June 22, 2005June 22, 2005

Content of presentationContent of presentation

Brief review of some challengesBrief review of some challenges IUCN’s involvement in FLEG so farIUCN’s involvement in FLEG so far Lessons learned on approaches to Lessons learned on approaches to

be takenbe taken Benefits of a tripartite approachBenefits of a tripartite approach Reflections on key policy issuesReflections on key policy issues

Some ChallengesSome Challenges

Unclear forests tenure contributes to poverty, Unclear forests tenure contributes to poverty, conflictsconflicts

Illegal timber trade used to perpetuate conflict and Illegal timber trade used to perpetuate conflict and civil warcivil war

Costs associated with illegal logging/trade = 10-15 Costs associated with illegal logging/trade = 10-15 billion USD/yr billion USD/yr

In some countries: 80-90% of logging is illegal In some countries: 80-90% of logging is illegal Majority of illegally harvested timber is consumed Majority of illegally harvested timber is consumed

domesticallydomestically Forest laws frequently contradictory making definition Forest laws frequently contradictory making definition

of ‘legal’ contentiousof ‘legal’ contentious Forestry laws tend to give preferential access to Forestry laws tend to give preferential access to

large-scale forestry enterprises. large-scale forestry enterprises. Procedures for communities to secure rights often Procedures for communities to secure rights often

onerous & costly onerous & costly

IUCN’s role in FLEG (1)IUCN’s role in FLEG (1)Africa FLEG: Africa FLEG:

1.1. Civil society preparatory process in East, West and Southern AfricaCivil society preparatory process in East, West and Southern Africa

2.2. Civil society/private sector consultations in Central and Western AfricaCivil society/private sector consultations in Central and Western Africa

3.3. Support to civil society during African Ministerial ConferenceSupport to civil society during African Ministerial Conference

4.4. Follow up networking, awareness building, testing of local governance Follow up networking, awareness building, testing of local governance approaches project in Central Africa, Ghana and Liberiaapproaches project in Central Africa, Ghana and Liberia

Europe and Northern Asia FLEG:Europe and Northern Asia FLEG:

1.1. Regional civil society preparatory process in Russian Far East and North Regional civil society preparatory process in Russian Far East and North West – civil society hearings, information, dialogue with governmentWest – civil society hearings, information, dialogue with government

2.2. Development and testing of recommendations on how to address gaps Development and testing of recommendations on how to address gaps and overlaps in Russian forest laws and overlaps in Russian forest laws

3.3. Mapping and analysis of inter-agency and inter-stakeholder relations in Mapping and analysis of inter-agency and inter-stakeholder relations in Russia for improved FLEG coordinationRussia for improved FLEG coordination

4.4. Self selection process for local-national civil society for Prep. Conf and Self selection process for local-national civil society for Prep. Conf and Min. ConfMin. Conf

5.5. Awareness-raising missions to key countries before Min. ConfAwareness-raising missions to key countries before Min. Conf

6.6. Civil society pre-meetings –refine and target recommendationsCivil society pre-meetings –refine and target recommendations

IUCN’s role in FLEG (2)IUCN’s role in FLEG (2)

Africa, Asia and Latin America (EU – TFBL project):Africa, Asia and Latin America (EU – TFBL project):1.1. Participatory assessments of policy, legal, institutional and Participatory assessments of policy, legal, institutional and

economic obstacles economic obstacles 2.2. Pilot test innovative approaches to overcoming these Pilot test innovative approaches to overcoming these

obstacles, e.g. community forest committees, monitoring and obstacles, e.g. community forest committees, monitoring and information networks, codes of conduct information networks, codes of conduct

3.3. Training for governments, civil society and the private sector Training for governments, civil society and the private sector on, e.g., organization of consultative processes, forest on, e.g., organization of consultative processes, forest governance issues and law, and on influencing policy forumsgovernance issues and law, and on influencing policy forums

4.4. Enhancing multi-stakeholder involvement in existing and Enhancing multi-stakeholder involvement in existing and planned FLEG processes, identification of synergies, links to planned FLEG processes, identification of synergies, links to PRSPs and to monitoring and information networks, etc.PRSPs and to monitoring and information networks, etc.

5.5. Pro-active capturing and sharing of lessons learned within and Pro-active capturing and sharing of lessons learned within and across countries and regionsacross countries and regions

IUCN is a union of Govt and NGO members with 50 years IUCN is a union of Govt and NGO members with 50 years of experience convening multi-stakeholder consultations of experience convening multi-stakeholder consultations and shaping workable outcomes on sensitive issuesand shaping workable outcomes on sensitive issues

Lessons learned so far from Lessons learned so far from Asia, Asia, Africa and Europe/Northern Africa and Europe/Northern Asia FLEGAsia FLEG Tripartite approach:Tripartite approach: Greater chance of progress if Greater chance of progress if

governments, civil society and private sector move governments, civil society and private sector move forward in concert forward in concert

Quality engagement through participatory processes:Quality engagement through participatory processes: Participation in consultative preparatory processes Participation in consultative preparatory processes improves level and quality of engagement of all improves level and quality of engagement of all stakeholders in ministerial conferences stakeholders in ministerial conferences

Broadening engagement:Broadening engagement: Environment and development Environment and development NGOs and CBOs, Government ministries which have an NGOs and CBOs, Government ministries which have an impact on forest lands, Parliamentarians and traditional impact on forest lands, Parliamentarians and traditional leaders leaders

One-off events + ongoing support and networkingOne-off events + ongoing support and networking: : One-One-off events like preparatory workshops are important but off events like preparatory workshops are important but only as part of sustained capacity building and only as part of sustained capacity building and networkingnetworking

Sharing lessons across countries and regions:Sharing lessons across countries and regions: Sharing Sharing lessons learned to accelerate pace of governance reformlessons learned to accelerate pace of governance reform

Creating “tripartite” political space Creating “tripartite” political space

– why is it important?– why is it important?

1.1. Problems too big to be solved by Governments aloneProblems too big to be solved by Governments alone

2.2. New perspectives: when to enforce – when to New perspectives: when to enforce – when to reform? reform?

3.3. Build trust between stakeholder groups leading to:Build trust between stakeholder groups leading to:

1.1. Improved prospects for constructive engagement Improved prospects for constructive engagement by all relevant actors by all relevant actors

2.2. Increased likelihood of stronger public confidence Increased likelihood of stronger public confidence and interest in official decisions or actions taken and interest in official decisions or actions taken

i.e. Workable decisions!i.e. Workable decisions!

Key policy issuesKey policy issues

Definition of illegality – No “one size fits all” definition Risk that a single definition imposed from outside will

reinforce unjust concession allocation procedures (What is legal is not always sustainable and just – and what is sustainable and just is not always legal).

The links between improvements in governance and law enforcement and forest tenure reform need to be more explicit.

FLEG must look beyond forest law –other land-use laws may be part of the problem

Ensure that a focus on illegal trade to Europe does not neglect illegal domestic consumption and illegal trade with non-discerning markets

VPAs – excellent start but a “means” not an “end” Functional licensing systems must include provision for full

and transparent disclosure on issues like concession allocation etc.