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Creating Sustainable Timber Markets Launch of the European STTC An NGO Perspective Amsterdam - 6 November 2013 Indra Van Gisbergen. The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU
Creating Sustainable Timber Markets
Launch of the European STTC
An NGO Perspective
Amsterdam - 6 November 2013Indra Van Gisbergen
Increase demand “sustainable tropical timber”
First preliminary question:
Voluntary certification schemes (ex.FSC) = driving SFM Tropical forest certification = very limited –only 6% of tropical forest production is certified
WHY is there little SFM in
the tropics?
Certification cannot address policy & institutional failure
Certification does not address the root causes of poor governance: •Lack of clarity of tenure •Endemic corruption
Increase demand for sustainable tropical timber
Second preliminary question:
Doescertification
improves SFM in the tropics ?
•No evidence in countries with weak/absent governance
•Many certificates have been disputed, revoked or suspended :
Ex. SIFORCO/Danzer – DRC
1. How important are demand-side compared/in
addition to supply-side measures ?
Action on both side is required – Go hand in hand - Need for simultaneous and complementary action
BUT danger :
Increase of demand
Increase of supply
Unsustainable supply
Cfr FSC Complaints panel Sodefor/DRC – Jan.2012
“Do not dramatically increase certified areas in regions without good governance
1. How important are demand-side compared/in
addition to supply-side measures ?
FLEGT Action plan = unique tool to:
- bring demand & supply sides together
- address illegal logging in producing + consumer countries
VPA = cornerstone of FLEGT Action plan - voluntary bilateral legally binding agreement
Please note: NO FLEGT licenses yet – Need to go until the finish
VPA Process = Innovative tool to improve forest governance
How?
•Multi-stakeholder process
•Creating space for CSOs/Communities
•VPAs includes social dimensions
•Most VPAs include annexe on transparency and access to information
•VPA = motor for participatory legal reform (offers opportunity to strengthen community rights)
•VPA is a tool to address worrying trends: land grab – conversion timber
2. Seven Do’s and don’ts for STTC partners
• DO’s
Recognize: No sustainability, no certification without legality & governance
Do not pretend certification is a real solution. Certification will not lead to SFM if structural problems are not addressed
Companies
Assess if certification is feasible & viable for outstanding companies in areas without good governance (ex. Congo Basin)
Do not underestimate the burden of: -Action in non VPA countries - controversial certification undermine reputation
Companies
Support FLEGT action plan as tool for change
Do not underestimate VPAs as key to certification success – accounatabiity & transarency, reduce risks
All
2. Seven Do’s and don’t s for coalition partners
Integrate lessons learned from FLEGT/VPA process
Ignore power of participation
All
Prioritize VPA implementation + Provide financial, technical and political support accordingly
Do not underestimate complexity of VPA implementation
All
Increase the collaboration/dialogue with other consumer markets including Asian markets
Ignore changing market trends
All
Support EUTR implementation of the EUTR
Failure of EUTR implementation affects VPA implementation
All
STTC Ambitions are particular challenging
Reminder of IDH Report: Highly unlikely certification will become mainstream practice in the tropics Forecast: by 2030 2/3 tropical forests will remain uncertified
3. NGO’s contributions to STTC ambition and efforts
4 concrete suggestions: NGOs should be involved:
- Monitoring - STTC to develop a risk
index for different countries, link NGOs in these countries confronted by negative impacts to the coalition
Support VPA + EUTR implementation
Support civil society – capacity building
Share the lessons learned from the FLEGT VPA with all stakeholders
What NGO’s can do
Rue d’Edimbourg 26 1000 Bruxelles Belgique
t +32 2 894 4693 e [email protected]
www.fern.org
The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU