20 August 2009
DFID is leading international efforts to promote reforms to deal with illegal logging and the trade in illegally logged timber by addressing underlying failures of governance, policies and markets.
The five-year, £24 million Forest Governance and Trade Programme is focused on supporting reforms in those countries that enter into bilateral Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with the European Union. VPAs, implemented under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, will establish a licensing system that ensures that timber exported from signatory countries to the EU has been legally produced.
VPA negotiations with Ghana, Congo and Cameroon have been concluded and negotiations are currently under way with Malaysia, Indonesia, Liberia, Central African Republic and Gabon.
To help promote the trade in forest products from legal and well-managed sources, the programme also cooperates with the private sector and other major timber importing countries.
The programme is being implemented through grants to governments and non-governmental organisations, and consulting contracts to undertake work that supports its aims.
Regional activities focus on Africa and Asia, with budgets of £12 million and £7 million respectively. The remaining £5 million supports policy research, communications and advocacy.
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