The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) aims to reduce illegal logging and strengthening sustainable forestry. It is designed to prevent European Union-bound imports of illegal timber and wood-based products. Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) established between the European Union and timber-producing countries is a central componence of the scheme. Lao PDR has been entering into the negotiations with the European Union to take part in the VPA.
On 12 July 2016 in Luangphabang Province, the workshop on “the Second National Steering Committee Meeting on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade-Voluntary Partnership Agreement” was held. It was chaired by Dr. Phouangparisak Pravongviengkham (Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and Chief Negotiator for Lao EU-FLEGT VPA) and co-chaired by Mr. Chanhsone Sengbouttalath (Vice-Minister of Natural Resources and Environment), Mr. Bounsavath Boupha (Vice-Minister of Justice), Mr. Souksamay Chanthamath (Vice-Governor of Attapeu Province), Mr. Bounmy Phimmasone (Vice-Governor of Khammouane Province), and Mr. Yanyong Sipaseuth (Vice-Governor of Sayaboury Province).
This workshop was organized with the objective to review progress and roadmap of FLEGT process. It is also the second National Steering Committee that further implement the Prime Minister Order No. 15 to strengthen timber management and trade for the country.
Mr. Sousath Sayakoummane, Director General of Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, expressed that “the work of FLEGT process will support the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Order No 15 and fight deforestation as one of the core elements of FLEGT process is to define definition of legal timber, source, and how to monitor its movement in the supply chain process in pilot provinces endorsed by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry”.
Lao PDR has started to negotiate such an agreement with the EU, with an assistance from the German Development Cooperation’s project ‘Support to the Lao EU-FLEGT Process’ (ProFLEGT), implemented by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit). ProFLEGT is a joint initiative of the Lao Government and the German Development Cooperation. It is working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (through the FLEGT Standing Office under the supervision of the Department of Forest Inspection, DOFI), Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as other Government agencies, civil society organisations, academia and timber processing industry.
During the initial stage of the Lao EU-FLEGT process, three pilot provinces have been selected, including Sayaboury, Khammouane, and Attapeu Province. In this regard, WWF is working with the Department of Forest Inspection (DoFI) to implement its FLEGT project in support of the Lao EU-FLEGT process in the two pilot provinces (Khammoane and Attapeu province). WWF takes a solutions-oriented, integrated and local to global approach that seeks synergies with relevant stakeholders to influence drivers of deforestation and degradation.
Source: Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade of the Lao PDR
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