Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phuangparisak Pravongviengkham, revealed the progress made at a workshop held yesterday in Vientiane to enhance and understand the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, which is Europe's response to the illegal timber trade.
“Forest use should be managed through regulations and following the procedures outlined in government policies. It should be in line with the mechanisms and regulations of trade partner countries,” Dr Phuangparisak said.
With the support of the European Union representative office in Laos and the European Forest Institute, the Department of Forest Inspection began information studies for the introduction of FLEGT in Laos in 2010.
The Base Line Study was completed in 2011 and the Lao Timber Flow Study was finished last year.
Dr Phuangparisak said that the Lao government gives a particular importance to the development of law enforcement, monitoring of timber circulation, and management and trade in the country, so that it meets international standards. These focus areas aim to boost trade support, sustainable development, poverty reduction and certification of wood sources for export to the EU.
As a result, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment and the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development signed an agreement which sees 5.8 million euro given to Laos for the support and development of law enforcement programmes, wood management policies, trade systems and negotiation procedures for joining the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the country and the EU, for acceptance into FLEGT.
The deputy minister sai d that based on studies from the country, it will be able to carry out the actions negotiated in the agreement.
FLEGT not only aims to reduce illegal deforestation, but also seeks to promote good forestry governance. Further targets include contributions towards poverty eradication and sustainable management of natural resources.
In his remarks at the opening of the workshop, Charge d'Affaires of the European Union in Laos, Mr Michel Goffin, reminded the gathering of Laos' continuing reduction in forest coverage.
He said that the EU supports the country in consolidating governance of forest management and will not only help in preventing illegal logging and boosting guarantees for the import of legally sourced timbers, but also wants to support sustainable development and poverty reduction to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Information Source: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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