FERN, UK had entrusted IPE Global’s wholly owned London based subsidiary, IPE Triple Line, as an independent monitor of the program to provide insights into its effectiveness in delivering its outcomes
A major milestone was achieved in the global fight to eliminate illegal logging and the trade in illegal timber products, as Indonesia began issuing FLEGT* (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licences that attest to the legality of the timber products it exports to the EU.
The FLEGT licence automatically meets the requirements of the European Union (EU) Timber Regulation (EU Reg.# 995/2010), which prohibits operators in the EU from placing illegally harvested timber and products derived from illegal timber on the EU market. Importers of FLEGT-licensed timber products can place their imports on the EU market without the need to conduct any risk management exercise (due diligence).
Indonesia’s FLEGT licensing Scheme
Indonesia’s FLEGT-licensing scheme is based on a mandatory certification system called the ‘Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK)’ or timber legality assurance system, which was developed by representatives of Indonesian forestry stakeholders. The FLEGT licensing scheme is the first of its kind in the world, and is the result of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Indonesia and the EU.
Indonesia and the EU negotiated and implemented the VPA to address illegal logging and its associated trade at the supply and demand sides, improve forest governance and promote the trade in legal timber products. All timber product types listed in the VPA and directly exported to the EU must be now accompanied by a FLEGT licence issued by any of the 22 Indonesian Licensing Authorities. Competent Authorities in EU Member States will deny entry to any such products exported from Indonesia to the EU without a valid FLEGT licence. Indonesia’s SVLK assures that all timber products harvested or imported, transported, traded, processed and exported comply with national laws on environmental, social and economic aspects as identified by stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society.
“By addressing legality and meeting the EU’s high standards, we can not only trade responsibly but also ensure our forests support sustainable development, improve livelihoods and help address climate change,” said Putera Parthama, Director General of Sustainable Management of Production Forest at Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry. “Today, all of Indonesia’s timber exports are from independently audited factories and forests. Our timber legality assurance system and FLEGT licensing scheme will continue to improve thanks to in-built mechanisms for addressing concerns as they arise.”
Our Contribution
The FLEGT programme aimed to reduce illegal logging by strengthening sustainable and legal forest management, improving governance and promoting trade in legally produced timber. The overall goal of the programme is to improve forest management by strengthening community tenure rights and improving forest governance – specifically within the framework of the European Union (EU) FLEGT process – through legal, institutional and policy reform.
In order to ensure maximum impact, FERN, UK had entrusted IPE Global’s wholly owned London based subsidiary, IPE Triple Line (Triple Line Consulting Limited) as an Independent Monitor to guide this programme and provide insight into its effectiveness in delivering its results and outcomes during the 3 year life time.
As an Independent Monitor (IM), we guided the programme and providing insight into its effectiveness in delivering its results and outcomes using various M&E approaches/tools, such as ladders of change, results chain, theory of change, most significant change and appreciative inquiry. As part of the project, we had also prepared annual reviews, developed an M&E manual and provided training, and review of civil society platforms supported by FERN.
*NOTE:
The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan of 2003 is the EU’s initiative against illegal logging. The Action Plan aims to reduce illegal logging by strengthening the sustainability and legality of forest management, improving forest governance and promoting trade in legally produced timber. FLEGT contributes to efforts to limit climate change, conserve biodiversity, protect rights and increase transparency.
