ASEAN cooperation in forestry strengthened through the fifth meeting of the ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network on forest law enforcement governance

Oct 21, 2014 | News, Press Releases

Illegal logging and its associated trade within and across the ASEAN region, and beyond, has been constantly tackled through various forms and levels; and currently this has been scaled up to another platform through the Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Knowledge Network on Forest Law Enforcement Governance (ARKN-FLEG), co-organised by the ASEAN Secretariat, the Government of Lao PDR, the EU-European Forest Institute (EFI) and the ASEAN – German Programme on Response to Climate Change (GAP-CC).

 

The meeting brings together about 30 key participants from the ASEAN Member States, the European Union (EU) and GAP-CC to share best practices and increase international cooperation, synergise market requirements, share lessons learnt and strengthen coordination in the forest governance within ASEAN region and global level.

 

Destruction of forests, particularly through illegal logging and associated trade, not only cause huge economic losses to the state, but also adverse environmental and social consequences to the unique biodiversity and the ecosystem they provide, including the livelihoods of the poorest groups of society depending on the intact forests. The risk loss of reputation and competitiveness in export markets are also consequences the timber producing countries need to bear if failed to manage and govern forest properly.

 

ASEAN has taken steps towards achieving sustainable forest management (SFM) in the region, which include the implementation of the ASEAN Strategic Alliance on SFM to partner with other regional processes working on the areas of forest law enforcement and governance such as the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), Asia Forest Partnership (AFP), and the East Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) initiative.

 

The ARKN-FLEG is a concept to combat illegal logging and include broader issues of forest governance, climate change and sustainable forest management and development which lie at the heart of the current discussion on the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation.

 

“For Lao PDR, ARKN-FLEG process is regarded as a method to strengthen forest governance in the country. Good governance of the forest sector will allow us to further develop opportunities for wood processing in the country, add value to our products, protect environment, reduce social consequences and stop illegal logging”, said Mr. Thongphanh Ratanalangsy, Deputy Director General, Department of Forest Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. “The enforcement of forest governance will contribute to the better implementation of sustainable forest management and ensure the availability of forest resources also for the next generation of the Lao nation”, Mr. Thongphanh added.

 

ASEAN cooperation on strengthening FLEG received further boost through the issuance of the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability by the 13th ASEAN Summit, where ASEAN Member States are committed “to strengthening law enforcement, combating illegal logging and its associated illegal trade as necessary measures in addressing trans-boundary environmental pollution, including haze pollution”.

 

You can download the press release HERE