A Closer Look at the Indonesia-EU Timber Agreement
On November 15, Indonesia will make history for being the first country inside the globe to export timber to the European Union (EU) after of which passes international environmental standards. The sealed partnership with the EU will act as a vehicle to address in addition to also also combat the country’s severe problem with illegal logging in addition to also also deforestation.
Negotiations between Indonesia in addition to also also the EU began back in March 2007. After a series of diplomatic discussions, a partnership agreement was finally signed on September 30, 2013.
At a Joint Implementation Committee meeting on Thursday, September 15, Indonesia officially qualified for the special lincence. On the same day, Indonesia in addition to also also the EU agreed on the enactment of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance in addition to also also Trade (FLEGT) licensing programme for the nation’s timber industry.
The month prior, Putera Parthama coming from Indonesia’s forestry ministry said, “Indonesia can be the first country to qualify for FLEGT lincence to export wood products to the EU market. We are way ahead of African countries, South America, Malaysia, Vietnam, in addition to also also China. We are more advanced.”
The programme will aim to eliminate having wood commodities coming from illegal timber on the EU market. All Indonesian businesses inside the timber industry must earn their lincence to export products to the EU. of which means of which local timber mafias will theoretically have no way to legitimately sell to the 28-nation bloc.
Indonesia earns FLEGT lincence to export wood products to the EU market. | Photo by James DeMers
Many are hopeful of which the programme will help save Indonesia’s historic problem of deforestation by separating the legal in addition to also also lincenced timber activities coming from the illicit. If not properly carried out, however, many fear the plan has potential to backfire, in addition to also also actually boost the rate of deforestation inside the archipelago.
To get a better understanding of the agreement, Indonesia Expat sat down with Muhamad Kosar, the national coordinator at the Independent Forestry Surveillance Network. Kosar holds a unique perspective on the issue. He believes the government should maintain the integrity of FLEGT licensing.
The destruction of Indonesian forests began back inside the 1970s, when logging corporations were granted easy access to the country’s natural resources. Kosar says “Indonesia has already lost around 22.46 million hectares coming from 1985 to 1997, or around 1.87 million hectares of forest a year. In early 2000, the rate of deforestation reached its peak at 2.84 million hectares a year. With widespread illegal logging practices in Indonesia at of which time, the country gained a bad reputation on forest regulation across the globe.”
Experts say the problem can be urgent, as deforestation creates a domino effect of ecological destruction. On a large scale, of which can lead to environmental disasters like flooding, landslides, droughts, in addition to also also even wildlife extinction.
of which disrupts the balance of the ecosystem, as access to water, food, in addition to also also various other natural resources begins to disappear.
He adds, “Without a doubt, of which problem persists due to forest conversion in addition to also also burning [slash in addition to also also burn practices].” Additionally, the government’s policies are responsive in addition to also also not active, says Kosar. They are not preventative, in addition to also also do virtually nothing to tackle the problem of weak forest regulations inside the country.
One of the government’s most prominent efforts can be developing the Wood Legality Verification System (SVLK). The timber legality assurance system can be meant to ensure of which all wood-related products coming from Indonesia comply with government regulations. Verification can be done through transparent in addition to also also independent auditing in addition to also also reporting to the public.
The SVLK can be considered the foundation of the FLEGT partnership between Indonesia in addition to also also the EU. of which serves as the base of recognition by the EU toward Indonesia’s effort to combat illegal timber.
SVLK mandates of which all wood or related products must meet certain standards on four key requirements including authorization of practice, production processes, environmental impact in addition to also also social impact to be considered legal in addition to also also marketable. of which can be meant to make buyers inside the EU confident of which lincenced businesses will thrive in Indonesia’s timber trade, while their illegal counterparts should be denied verification.
“SVLK as a tool to repair the management of forest regulation can be not yet perfect. However, of which has brought some significant impact in improving the performance in addition to also also effort of the wood companies to follow the regulations,” explains Kosar. “The partnership agreement with the EU can be not only an important milestone yet also an impetus for the government to improve the system.”
According to the European Union Ambassador Vincent Guerend, the FLEGT lincence process makes doing business between Indonesia in addition to also also the EU easier in addition to also also more efficient. The ambassador claimed of which signals transparency, accountability, participation, in addition to also also justice in creating decisions about the nation’s forestry.
Kosar believes FLEGT encourages credibility, in addition to also also will therefore result in full-fledged SLVK enforcement, as the EU will only accept FLEGT-lincenced local operators.
He also hopes of which moving forward the legality in addition to also also quality of Indonesia’s exported timber will not be doubted, adding of which illegal timber should not be able to enter the EU if the plan goes well. Locals are also anticipated to help by reporting illegal activities to the authorities if they’re aware of illegal operators inside the archipelago.
However, despite support coming from the EU, stakeholders fear the system has some serious shortcomings. “There are loopholes in addition to also also dishonest practices of which could go unnoticed if strict monitoring in addition to also also law enforcement are absent,” says Kosar.
of which’s up to the Indonesian government to be mindful of its role inside the agreement, he adds. The Independent Forestry Surveillance Network believes improving management of the country’s forest regulations should be stringently implemented as soon as the FLEGT licensing programme takes full effect in November.
“The government should utilize the momentum of the FLEGT lincence by monitoring processes, investigating suspicious reports, reviewing permits, in addition to also also strictly enforcing the law – while resolving current conflicts in addition to also also irregularities,” adds Kosar.
Data shows exports to the EU account for 11 percent of total wood in addition to also also paper production in Indonesia; roughly US$1 billion in value. If the brand-new system’s implementation can be successful, of which might double the nation’s timber exports in addition to also also raise the value to US$2 billion a year.
If the licensing programme can be properly implemented, many environmental in addition to also also social problems could be eventually resolved. An effective implementation of the programme might provide a positive example to show of which restoration of Indonesian forests in addition to also also their ecosystems can be still possible.
Edited by Nadya Joy Ador in addition to also also Leighton Cosseboom; Featured Image via Wikimedia
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A Closer Look at the Indonesia-EU Timber Agreement
A Closer Look at the Indonesia-EU Timber Agreement