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EU-Indonesia timber pact aims to fight illegal logging | EU-Indonesia timber pact aims to fight illegal logging |
(35 minutes later) | |
The EU is introducing new checks on imports of Indonesian timber products to curb illegal logging. | The EU is introducing new checks on imports of Indonesian timber products to curb illegal logging. |
Indonesia, rich in tropical forests, is by far Asia's biggest exporter of timber to the EU. The trade is worth about 15% of Indonesia's total exports. | Indonesia, rich in tropical forests, is by far Asia's biggest exporter of timber to the EU. The trade is worth about 15% of Indonesia's total exports. |
The EU will provide technical support to help Indonesia ensure that only legally harvested timber is exported. | The EU will provide technical support to help Indonesia ensure that only legally harvested timber is exported. |
Environmentalists welcomed the new agreement, but said Jakarta must do much more to fight illegal loggers. | Environmentalists welcomed the new agreement, but said Jakarta must do much more to fight illegal loggers. |
The scale of deforestation in Indonesia has triggered global concern, as it reduces biodiversity, threatens rare species and creates harmful smog through the burning of vegetation. | The scale of deforestation in Indonesia has triggered global concern, as it reduces biodiversity, threatens rare species and creates harmful smog through the burning of vegetation. |
The EU is Indonesia's biggest export market for timber, with Germany, the UK, France and Italy among the major importers. | The EU is Indonesia's biggest export market for timber, with Germany, the UK, France and Italy among the major importers. |
Verification system | Verification system |
The European Commission says the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with Indonesia commits both sides to trade only in verified legal timber products. | |
Indonesia exports processed timber, in the form of paper, wooden furniture and plywood. Indonesia's rainforest is reckoned to be the third-biggest in the world, after those in the Amazon and Congo basins. | Indonesia exports processed timber, in the form of paper, wooden furniture and plywood. Indonesia's rainforest is reckoned to be the third-biggest in the world, after those in the Amazon and Congo basins. |
From now on, only Indonesian timber compliant with the EU's verification system, called Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT), will be imported into the EU, the Commission says. | From now on, only Indonesian timber compliant with the EU's verification system, called Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT), will be imported into the EU, the Commission says. |
The regulations require Indonesia to trace the timber's source back through the whole supply chain. Independent auditors will be brought into the timber industry. | The regulations require Indonesia to trace the timber's source back through the whole supply chain. Independent auditors will be brought into the timber industry. |
The Indonesian government has set up a verification system, known by the initials SVLK. | The Indonesian government has set up a verification system, known by the initials SVLK. |
European timber merchants are also obliged by law to sell only legally harvested timber, under the EU Timber Regulation which took effect in March. | European timber merchants are also obliged by law to sell only legally harvested timber, under the EU Timber Regulation which took effect in March. |
The EU already has VPAs with Ghana, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia and Central African Republic. | The EU already has VPAs with Ghana, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia and Central African Republic. |
VPAs are being negotiated with several more African and Asian countries. | VPAs are being negotiated with several more African and Asian countries. |
A London-based environmental group, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), praised the VPA with Indonesia, noting "the formal role for Indonesia's civil society in monitoring the compliance of the country's timber industry". | A London-based environmental group, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), praised the VPA with Indonesia, noting "the formal role for Indonesia's civil society in monitoring the compliance of the country's timber industry". |
But the EIA's Faith Doherty also said the agreement would test the Jakarta authorities' resolve to tackle corruption in the industry. | But the EIA's Faith Doherty also said the agreement would test the Jakarta authorities' resolve to tackle corruption in the industry. |
"It does not mean that there is not a substantial amount of work still to be done," she said. | "It does not mean that there is not a substantial amount of work still to be done," she said. |
Bustar Maitar, a Greenpeace campaign director in Indonesia, welcomed Monday's agreement, but said "there is still much work to be done if Indonesia's timber legality standard (SVLK) and system are to be credible". | Bustar Maitar, a Greenpeace campaign director in Indonesia, welcomed Monday's agreement, but said "there is still much work to be done if Indonesia's timber legality standard (SVLK) and system are to be credible". |
"Indonesia must take steps to improve enforcement such as prohibiting forest conversion for industrial timber plantations and ensuring transparency and access to relevant data and maps," he said. | "Indonesia must take steps to improve enforcement such as prohibiting forest conversion for industrial timber plantations and ensuring transparency and access to relevant data and maps," he said. |
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