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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for forest management
28 results foundAuthor: Pescott, Michael J. Title: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance: Progress in Asia and the Pacific Summary: Forest law enforcement and governance (FLEG) is a specific and recognizable field of professional practice within forest management. A country's FLEG framework provides the foundation for combating forest crime and for realizing the true potential that sustainable forest management can contribute to socio-economic development. With increasing demand for wood products and for environmental services in Asia and the Pacific, the value of strenghening FLEG will undoubtedly increase in the future. The papers in this volume aim to provide an overview of the current FLEG-related initiatives for 16 of the most forest-rich nations in Asia and the Pacific. Details: Bangkok: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 2010. 205p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 118615 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Trevin, Jorge Title: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance and Forest Practices in Guyana Summary: The Republic of Guyana is the only English speaking country in South America. Located on the Guianas Region of northeastern South America, it comprises about 215,000 km2, with a population of 750,000. Tropical forests cover 18.6 million hectares or about 76 percent of its territory and represent a highly valuable asset. The deforestation rate is one of the lowest in the world, with no significant forest change evidenced for the 2000-2005 period (FAO 2005). Most of these forests have not been affected by extractive uses, and the vast majority of those woodlands that have had some harvest intervention, generally through selective logging methods, retain their productive capacity and other major ecosystem functions. Guyana and Norway have agreed to work toward the establishment of a REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) mechanism. Within this context, the objective of this study is to arrive at an independent assessment of Forests Law Enforcement and Governance and forest practices in Guyana. The importance of this assessment stems from the significance of effective and legitimate governance of forest resources to achieving REDD. In order to reach this objective, several aspects of the broad area of forest governance have to be considered. They include the state of forest policies and legislation, production and export of forest products and government revenue, border and trade issues, legal compliance in the forest sector, management of concessions and protected areas, status of land claims and demarcation of indigenous territories, and the participation of forest dependent populations in the design and implementation of forest policies. The assessment is based on information from existing sources, including governmental sources, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. Gaps in information are identified, allowing for an evaluation of the robustness of the analysis. Both along the complete document and within individual sections, data and general descriptive aspects are for the most part introduced firstly. The discussion and analysis of issues is generally presented afterward. Details: Bogor Barat, Indonesia: Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), 2009. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/MD/Vedlegg/Klima/klima_skogprosjektet/Guyana/CIFOR%20report%20final.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Guyana URL: http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/MD/Vedlegg/Klima/klima_skogprosjektet/Guyana/CIFOR%20report%20final.pdf Shelf Number: 125275 Keywords: Environmental ConservationForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Banerjee, Onil Title: Socioeconomic and environmental impacts of forest concessions in Brazil a computable general equilibrium analysis Summary: Understanding the forces that drove policy in the past can inform our expectations of the effectiveness of policy implementation today. Historical analysis suggests that forest policies of countries with significant forested frontiers transition through stages reflecting the orientation of governments toward economic development on the frontiers, namely: settlement, protective custody and management. With respect to Amazonian forests, Brazil’s path is no exception from this trend. This dissertation begins by following the trajectory of forest policy in Brazil to identify its path through the stages of policy development. Brazil is on the cusp of a transition toward the management phase of policy development. As such, the question of whether this phase will represent a break from the historical tendency of largely ineffectual forest policy is addressed. For society to accept and support a forest policy, it should generate positive socio-economic and environmental benefits. Brazil’s Public Forest Management Law (2006) and specifically the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of implementing forest concessions, are taken as a proximate indicators of whether the transition to management will in fact increase the relevance of forest policy. To evaluate these impacts, two quantitative experiments are conducted. In the first, a static computable general equilibrium model is developed to evaluate the short-run policy effect on welfare, the forestry sector and levels of legal deforestation. Given the economic importance of illegal logging and illegal deforestation in Brazil, the second experiment explicitly models these sectors. A recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium modeling framework is employed to consider the medium-term implications of the policy, to shed light on the resulting economic transition path, and to assess the short-term costs and longer-term gains resulting from policy implementation. Results of this analysis can provide important insights on forest sector and deforestation dynamics to policy makers, industry and civil society such that complimentary policies and programs may be developed to maximize benefits and minimize any negative impacts resulting from the implementation of forest concessions. Details: Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 2008. 216p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0022324/banerjee_o.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Brazil URL: http://etd.fcla.edu/UF/UFE0022324/banerjee_o.pdf Shelf Number: 125285 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Brazil)Natural ResourcesOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Kostov, Georgi Title: Illegal Logging in Bulgaria Summary: This report analyses the aspects and extent of illegal logging in Bulgaria. WWF shows that the volume of illegally logged timber amounts to 3.7 million cubic metres per year, or 45% of the annual harvest. Most of this is used as fuelwood, but about 1 million cubic metres are processed by the timber industry. The authors point to an urgent need to improve law enforcement and prosecutions for violations, to increase motivation for forest staff by removing obstacles to their work and increasing salaries, to assess logging companies and exclude those violating legislation, and to improve the cooperation between the National Forestry Board and revenue and customs authorities. Details: World Wildlife Fund, European Forest Programme and the Danube Carpathian Programme, 2005. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: http://www.forestconsulting.net/Downloads/Publications/finalillegalloggingbulgariafebr05.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Bulgaria URL: http://www.forestconsulting.net/Downloads/Publications/finalillegalloggingbulgariafebr05.pdf Shelf Number: 125304 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Bulgaria)Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Oliva, Roberto V. Title: Philippine Forest and Wildlife law Enforcement: Situationer and Core Issues Summary: The Philippines is one of the 18 mega diverse countries in the world. The country has more than 52,170 described species, about half of which are found nowhere else in the world. Studies show that on a per unit area basis, the Philippines is the top mega diversity country. However, unsustainable logging operations and illegal timber trade continue to pose serious threats to the country’s species richness. In 1917, the country still had 17 million ha, or more than 50% of her 30 million ha land area. Today, the latest estimate shows that only about 7.168 million ha of Philippine forests remain (Philippine Forestry Statistics, 2003). In the 60’s and 70’s the forestry sector was a major contributor to the country’s economy. The Master Plan for Forestry Development of the Philippines (1991) indicated that for almost two decades, agriculture, logging, mining and fisheries together contributed annual almost P15 billion to the country’s gross value added. Although this was almost doubled in 1988 (P25 billion), the share of forestry and logging dramatically plummeted from 12.5% in 1970 to only about 2.3% in 1988. In the 2003 Annual Report of DENR, it was reported that the Philippines—from being a major tropical timber exporter up to the 70’s has become a net importer of forest products (65%-70% of wood requirements). About 18-20 million Filipinos live in the uplands under abject poverty. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2007. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADL681.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Philippines URL: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADL681.pdf Shelf Number: 125311 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Philippines)Offenses Against the EnvironmentWildlife Crime |
Author: Fagan, Chris Title: An Investigation of Illegal Mahogany Logging in Peru’s Alto Purús National Park and its Surroundings Summary: Illegal logging of bigleaf mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla) in Peru’s Alto Purús National Park and adjacent lands continues despite Peruvian laws and international regulations intended to protect mahogany, indigenous people and conservation areas. This illegal logging is detrimental to the ecosystem of the Alto Purús region, indigenous communities in the area, uncontacted indigenous groups and global biodiversity. We recommend: • removing immediately loggers operating in the park • constructing and staffing control posts on the primary access routes into the park • monitoring closely the logging operations in the indigenous communities northeast of the park and the forestry concessions along its western border • creating an independent research team to investigate mahogany logging in the region and the legality of Peru’s mahogany exports • pressuring importing countries to reject shipments of illegal mahogany from Peru We were also prepared to recommend the creation of the Alto Purús National Park in what was formerly the Alto Purús Reserved Zone, a move being considered by the Peruvian government at the time of our investigation. However, the recommendation became immaterial in November 2004, when the government announced the creation of the Alto Purús National Park, covering 2.5 million hectares, 93% of the former reserved zone. Our findings and recommendations are based on an investigation conducted in the fall of 2004 in the Alto Purús National Park (the Alto Purús Reserved Zone, at the time), as well as forestry concessions and indigenous communal lands adjacent to it. The investigation involved two overflights and four weeks of river travel. Data were collected through personal observations and a combination of informal and structured interviews with indigenous leaders, government officials, non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, loggers and local inhabitants. Details: Durham, NC: ParksWatch, Center for Tropical Conservation, Duke University, 2005. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.parkswatch.org/spec_reports/logging_apnp_eng.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Peru URL: http://www.parkswatch.org/spec_reports/logging_apnp_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 125312 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Peru)MahoganyOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Global Witness Title: Forest Carbon, Cash & Crime: The Risk of Criminal Engagement in REDD+ Summary: Corruption in the forest sector has until now been overwhelmingly linked to logging, both illegal and legal, which in many countries has led to significant depletion of valuable tropical forests. But today incentive mechanisms such as REDD+, intended to compensate governments, communities or other groups in developing countries for reducing forest loss, are beginning to change the face of corruption in the sector. While corruption and illegality in logging continue to be a significant international problem, the potential for future REDD+ earnings is bringing about new corrupt practices, starting with cases of land grabs. REDD+ is also likely to lead to new forms of corruption not previously seen in the forest sector, such as questionable carbon accounting and manipulation of forest carbon measurements. The recognition of ‘carbon’ as a commodity to be measured and paid for creates a number of new opportunities for corrupt activities, since forest “carbon” is an intangible asset that is difficult to measure and relies on complex calculations that can be manipulated. Alongside the familiar risks of criminal activity encountered with such large financial flows – for example fraud, bribery and tax evasion – REDD+ poses some specific risks. These include increased illegal logging, linked to law enforcement capacities being stretched by the need to police additional forest protection efforts, illegal land grabbing, the theft and misappropriation of REDD+ funds, the manipulation of carbon measurements to exaggerate results and increase payments, and poor regulation of carbon markets. With the right national and international frameworks, plus sufficient funding, REDD+ is an unprecedented opportunity to address climate change, as well as protect natural forest ecosystems and biodiversity and deliver development benefits, especially for forest communities. Governance is key to the effective implementation and delivery of the intended outcomes of REDD+ - from international to grass roots level. A well-designed governance system is also needed to address the substantial risks of corruption and criminal involvement that are posed by REDD+. Significant sums of money are involved: the REDD+ mechanism is expected to require an estimated US$17- 33 billion every year, equivalent to up to a quarter of OECD aid flows in 2010,1 much of which will be pumped into forest-rich developing countries.2 Some of this money is already being paid out for preparation and pilot activities. For the most part, however, these forest-rich countries suffer from weak regulation and governance. More than 80% of countries currently receiving REDD+ funds fall into the bottom half of countries assessed for Control of Corruption by the World Bank. Past attempts to tackle forest loss in these countries have mostly failed, undermined by policy failures, perverse incentives and corruption. Given the large sums of money involved, there is also a substantial risk that criminal elements, including state actors, will undermine REDD+ and prevent it from achieving its overall objectives. So far there is also a serious funding gap. Only US$5 billion has been pledged by rich countries3 and it is unclear where the rest will come from. Welldesigned national REDD+ programmes with proper safeguards and measures to minimise corruption risks will encourage better REDD+ projects and instil confidence in those who provide funding that REDD+ is worth investing in. To address these risks, this paper calls for clear and effective safeguards to ensure transparent financial flows, improvements to governance throughout national REDD+ processes, and for donors to provide financial and technical support to recipient countries to improve governance as preparation for REDD+. Similarly, donors should consider other ways that existing aid programmes can be used to ensure appropriate REDD+ implementation. Immediate and sustained investment in building governance capacity will help ensure that REDD+ funds, once flowing, have a much better chance of reaching where they are needed and achieving genuine results for the climate. Further, law enforcement agencies, both national and international, should be encouraged to contribute their expertise to Details: Holborn, UK: Global Witness, 2001. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.salvaleforeste.it/en/reports/file/806.html?start=600 Year: 2001 Country: International URL: http://www.salvaleforeste.it/en/reports/file/806.html?start=600 Shelf Number: 125313 Keywords: CorruptionForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: FERN Title: Exporting Destruction: Export Credits, Illegal Logging and Deforestation Summary: Exporting Destruction is the conclusion of research that included fieldwork in China, desk studies, and a new financial review, all commissioned to shine a light on the role that export credit agencies (ECAs) play in financing global deforestation. Through detailed case studies and historical research, FERN has been able to produce a set of policy recommendations that would, if implemented effectively, bring export credits in line with other publicly-funded institutions and reduce their potential for negative social and environmental impacts. The paper suggests that while the primary, if not sole, remit of ECAs is to promote their country’s domestic industries in competitive and risky environments, particularly in poor emerging markets, the huge amounts of money involved mean that they also have an important effect on policies and actions in the countries in which they support projects. To put their size in context, ECAs underwrite around US$100 billion annually in medium and long-term credits and guarantees, compared with, for example, multilateral development banks, which have a combined total of US$60 billion in loans per year. ECA involvement in activities that have fuelled unsustainable, and often illegal, deforestation in a number of countries has been documented since the mid 1990s. Evidence in this paper, gathered from community groups around the world, suggests that a number continue to be centrally involved in the sector. Their significance is primarily the result of their 'door opening' public finance status, as well as their focus on countries that are a high-risk for commercial operators, usually those which also lack the institutional governance to regulate their industries effectively. Direct ECA support for logging or timber trading is minimal because they are not particularly capital-intensive sectors, but significant support from ECAs has been instrumental in aiding the infrastructure and pulp and paper sectors for the last fifteen years, particularly for controversial expansion projects in Indonesia. FERN’s report shows that this support was, and continues to be, ‘blind’, not taking environmental or social issues into account or investigating whether operators’ prospectus documents were based on realistic assessments of the nature or ownership of the forest resource. This lack of ‘ground-truth’ in assessing projects is shown to be one of the core problems of ECAs. Although taxpayers fund them, their remit is often limited to economic considerations, and they are not currently subject to the binding environmental, social, human rights or transparency standards by which other public sector agencies are governed. The case studies clearly show that this has led to increased illegal logging, corruption and the opening of previously isolated forests. Indeed, experience highlighted in the studies suggest that no ECAs have the relevant procedures in place to identify and address the flawed operating and expansion model that much of the pulp and paper sector has followed. What’s more, by aiming for very low-transaction costs, most ECAs have little internal capacity for assessing the environmental or social impacts of the operations the help to finance. This report calls on Governments to urgently address the negative impact that ECA-supported operators have internationally, particularly in sensitive sectors such as forestry, and to develop safeguards that would ensure that the operations of export credit agencies do not serve to undermine international commitments to sustainable development and good governance in some of the poorest countries in the world. Such policies should draw on those already in place in most multilateral banks and some of the largest commercial ones, and be resourced and monitored to an extent which ensures diligent implementation. More specific details on what these policies should look like in the forest sector and how ECAs could be brought into line with two decades of their national governments commitments to tackle illegal logging and unsustainable deforestation can be found in Chapter 7. Details: Moreton in Marsh, UK: FERN, 2008. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/FERNexportingdestruction.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.illegal-logging.info/uploads/FERNexportingdestruction.pdf Shelf Number: 125314 Keywords: CorruptionForest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Robinson, Elizabeth J.Z. Title: To Bribe or Not to Bribe: Incentives to Protect Tanzania´s Forest Summary: Where participatory forest management has been introduced into Tanzania, “volunteer” patrollers take responsibility for enforcing access restrictions, often receiving a share of the fine revenue that they collect as an incentive. We explored how this shared revenue and alternative sources of forest products for villagers determine the effort patrollers put into enforcement and whether they choose to take a bribe from illegal harvesters rather than honestly reporting the illegal activity. Using an optimal enforcement model, we show that, without transparency or funds to pay and monitor the volunteers undertaking enforcement, policymakers face tradeoffs between efficiency, enforcement effectiveness, and revenue collection. Details: Tanzania: Environment for Development, 2009. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper Series::, Efd DP 09-17: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.efdinitiative.org/research/publications/publications-repository/to-bribe-or-not-to-bribe-incentives-to-protect-tanzanias-forest Year: 2009 Country: Tanzania URL: http://www.efdinitiative.org/research/publications/publications-repository/to-bribe-or-not-to-bribe-incentives-to-protect-tanzanias-forest Shelf Number: 125689 Keywords: Forest ManagementForests (Tanzania)Illegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentVolunteers in Law Enforcement |
Author: Delacote, Philippe Title: Systemic Corruption, Scale Effects and Forest Harvesting Summary: This paper explores the influence of scale effects and corruption on forest harvesting. Policy-maker and bureaucratic corruption are considered sequentially. Overall, the corrupt policy maker chooses a less stringent forest policy. Moreover, this permissive forest policy partly enhances bureaucratic corruption. This paper therefore partially supports the idea of systemic corruption. Finally, it appears that a larger number of lobbying firms tends to increase this effect. Details: Nancy, France: INRA, 2008. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1016780 Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1016780 Shelf Number: 126020 Keywords: CorruptionForest Management |
Author: von Pfeil, Evy, ed. Title: FLEGT - Combating illegal logging as a contribution towards sustainable development Summary: Illegal logging and trade in illegally harvested timber constitutes a widespread phenomenon in many developing countries. Illegal logging contributes to the destruction of forests world-wide, and its far-reaching impacts go far beyond the confines of the forest sector. FLEGT is therefore a key field of action of international forest policy. Since the Plan of Implementation was adopted by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg in 2002, there has been a fundamental global awareness of the urgent need to combat illegal activities in the forest sector. As far back as 1998, the G8 states made a commitment to promote measures to combat illegal logging. Since 2001, the World Bank has been assisting regional processes whereby participating countries undertake to implement FLEG measures. In 2003, the EU adopted its FLEGT Action Plan, cornerstones of which include a licensing scheme for timber and Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs)with timber-producing countries. Both the Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO)and the International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO) have incorporated FLEGT measures into their work programmes. Although there is akeen awareness at political level – also among many timber-producing countries – of the need to curb illegal logging and trade in illegal timber products, actual implementation is still difficult and results to date have been limited. The proposals for action to combat illegal activities in the forest sector outlined in this paper should be seen as an intermediate step towards achieving sustainable forest management. Development-policy measures to promote FLEGT aim to support the partners’ own commitment to introducing and implementing reforms relating to good governance, combating corruption and supporting law enforcement. Advisory services to partner countries and regions adopt a multi-level approach that incorporates all instruments of German development cooperation. FLEGT-relevant measures have already been integrated into many ongoing bilateral development cooperation projects and programmes. This strategy provides ideas on how to extend this commitment,taking account of the specific national and regional features of FLEGT policies. Details: Bonn, Germany: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2007. 19p. Source: Topics 180: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2012 at http://www.bmz.de/en/publications/topics/environment/Materialie180.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Germany URL: http://www.bmz.de/en/publications/topics/environment/Materialie180.pdf Shelf Number: 126085 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the EnvironmentTimber |
Author: Wells, Adrian Title: Public Goods and Private Rights: the Illegal Logging Debate and the Rights of the Poor Summary: This briefing paper applies a rights perspective to understanding legal and institutional reform of the tropical forest sector. The sector is characterised by strongly competing interests, and massive differences in the power of stakeholders to influence the application of the law. The regulatory regime governing the sector often discriminates against the poor. This is of particular concern in the context of donor- and industry-led initiatives to combat illegal logging. Upholding legal frameworks which already fail to accommodate local rights could compound injustices. A rights perspective focuses attention on the channels by which the poor can contest and uphold their claims in the face of national and international interests in the forest sector. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, 2006. 5p. Source: Forestry Briefing Number 9: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2012 at http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/800.pdf Year: 2006 Country: International URL: http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/800.pdf Shelf Number: 126700 Keywords: Environmental CrimeForest ManagementHuman Rights, Rights of the PoorIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Gurung, Bhim Title: Tiger Human Conflicts: Investigating Ecological and Sociological Issues of Tiger Conservation in the Buffer Zone of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Final Report Summary: Historically, there was contiguous forest all across the terai region of Nepal and tigers were distributed in high densities. The situation changed during early 1960s because the tiger habitat in the terai was drastically reduced as a result of human resettlement program. The destruction of habitat and fragmentation lead to the sharp decline in tiger population. Sport hunting and poaching also contributed to its decline. Like other tiger range countries Government of Nepal worked to overcome this crisis since early 70s. Protected areas were established, strict protection was adopted, and stiffer wildlife laws against wildlife criminals were endorsed. To further increase the land base for tigers buffer zone community forests around the parks and reserves were promulgated and moreover, Nepal initiated an ambitious Tarai Arc Landscape project not only to increase land base for tigers but also to restore connectivity between reserves. Tiger conservation effort in Nepal has been successful. After establishment of protected areas in the early 1970s tiger numbers increased and since late 1970s numbers have been stable in protected areas. Density, based on mean female home range size, is the highest anywhere. The improvement of habitat quality in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park and elsewhere across the terai has increased the overall land base where tigers reside. Breeding has been recorded at five sites outside of protected areas. Such increase in habitat use by tigers in the multiple use buffer zone community forests resulted in conflict between tiger and human. Over the last quarter of a century 88 people have been killed by tigers in and around the park. The trend of human loss has been increased significantly from an average of 1.5 persons per year (1979 – 1998) to 8.25 per year since 1999. The increasing trend of people killed was significant in the buffer zone but not inside the park. A total of 37 tigers were involved in killing 88 people. Of these, 17 were removed because of their man-eating behavior. The number of problem tigers removed per year increased dramatically in 2004-05. Four relevant factors were associated with man-eating tigers: (1) injured or aged tigers find it difficult to kill natural prey, (2) imbalance between tiger and prey base, (3) aggressive tiger behavior and, (4) defensive or accidental killing. Management actions were not taken against if it appeared that tigers killed humans accidentally; however, if possible the tigers that turned into deliberate “man-eaters” were removed. A high percentage (38%) of humans killed by tigers occurred in the south sector of the park, i.e. Madi Valley. This study focused on the status of tigers and its prey in Chitwan National Park and in the Madi Valley buffer zone. Tiger and prey were relatively more abundant in the park than buffer zone. However, the disturbance factors, measured as encounter rate of livestock and human were significantly higher in the park than the buffer zone. Reduced human activity in the buffer zone as compared to the park is because there is a stronger incentive to local people to control local use of buffer zone forest. Support of local people is critical in tiger conservation in the human dominated landscape. To understand the perceptions of Madi population towards tigers and its conservation, a household questionnaire survey was conducted. Majority of the people in Madi valley did not like tigers in the neighboring forests because of threat to people and livestock. However, just less than half of the people liked tigers because of ecological, utilitarian, and moral values. To mitigate the conflict the study recommends establishing a system to regularly monitor tigers in cooperation with the local “Bagh Heralus” attached to each community forestry user committee. Each committee in cooperation with Park staff would supervise the “Bagh Heralu” and the overall goal of the tiger and prey monitoring program would be to understand the activity pattern of tigers living in the buffer zone, implement a tiger conservation awareness program designed to educate local people on tiger biology and research, and to create a problem tiger response team to act immediately and efficiently to assist in conflict situations. Local participation between local user groups in Madi valley and park staffs is also needed to reduce grazing along the southern border of the park. Details: Kathmandu, Nepal: WWF-Nepal Program, 2006. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/STF/2005-0013-014.2.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.panthera.org/sites/default/files/STF/2005-0013-014.2.pdf Shelf Number: 128099 Keywords: Forest ManagementHuman-Animal ConflictTigersWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: Yadav, N.P. Title: Forest Law Enforcement as an Underlying Driver of Forest Governance in Nepal Summary: Historically, forest of Nepal is exploited by rulers of the state for revenue generation and political interest. Although strong and protection oriented forest laws with judicial power to district forest officer has been formed but it was not enforced effectively, consequently deforestation and illegal logging continued. Since 1980 the participatory forestry emerged and restoration of forest cover in the hills and the relation of people and department of forest improved. DoF staff changed from policing to service providers. People oriented bylaws and guidelines prepared by the ministry of forest and several donors and NGOs involved in forestry sector for facilitating community based forest management. To some extent the process of community based forest management has brought positive impact considering the different dimension of forestry benefits. However over all forest governance is becoming poor due to weak forest law enforcement at different level. The annual deforestation rate and different form of illegality are increased and also foster corruption. Government mode of forest operation is command and control, hierarchical, bureaucratic and informal rules of the game is often take precedence. The outcome of this system became in favour of politically and economically powerful people. Local interests marginalised, passive forest management due to lack of specific plan, ‘timber men and politicians’ become de facto owners of the resource and state foresters become their agents–professionalism is undermined etc. The legal ownership on Nepal's forest is mainly lies communal and government authority with essence of common property that hinder good governance. The major characteristics of ‘good governance' are such as participatory decision-making process, accountability, transparency, responsive, effective and efficiency, equitable and inclusiveness which are weak in forestry institution because of vested interest of stakeholders. Over all the status of law enforcement for forest protection in Nepal is very weak; and legal instruments for penalties and punishment are largely ineffective. Weak forest law enforcement is an underlying driver of poor forest governance that causes forest degradation and corruption. The government mechanisms have been unable to control forest encroachment, illegal logging and wild-life poaching, which resulted in a substantial loss of forests cover and wild lives. The Quality of forest administration and plan based forest operations is important for good governance. To a great extent, the new concept is emerging to involve many more actors for improving forest governance. In particular there is a realization that plan based, multi-stakeholder processes and joint monitoring are key drivers to improve forest governance. The participation of multi-stakeholders in the process of decision making and implementation of forest operations is elements that support to improve forest governance and reduce corruption and crime in forestry sector. Details: Nepal: Forestry Nepal, 2013. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://www.forestrynepal.org/images/publications/Yadav_2012_forest_governance.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.forestrynepal.org/images/publications/Yadav_2012_forest_governance.pdf Shelf Number: 128101 Keywords: DeforestationForest ManagementIllegal LoggingWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (India)Wildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Management |
Author: India. Ministry of Environment and Forests Title: Committee Constituted to Holistically Address the Issue of Poaching in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Report Summary: 1. Biodiversity of Andaman and Nicobar Islands: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are very rich in biodiversity, harbouring unique endemic life forms. The islands have both rich terrestrial as well as marine ecosystems, such as mangroves, coral reefs and sea grass beds. The marine biodiversity includes marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, dugong; marine turtles; estuarine or salt water crocodile; fishes; prawns and lobsters; corals; sea shells including rare and endangered Trochus species and Giant Clam Shells and numerous other marine life forms including coelenterates and echinoderms etc. 2. Reasons for threat to biodiversity: Economically also, many of the above species are highly valuable and some of them such as sea cucumbers, sea-shells, sharks, marine turtles, salt water crocodiles etc. are under severe pressure of over exploitation from illegal foreign fishing boats and poachers. Historically, these species had been exploited by people from neighbouring countries, mainly due to the low protective cover and low priority accorded to conservation of the marine biodiversity in general by the enforcement agencies of the country. 3. Legal measures for protection of biodiversity in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Several legal measures have been in place for protection of the marine biodiversity of the region. The Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels Act, 1981, Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 (last amended in 2011), Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, etc. coupled with establishment of 9 National Parks and 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries for a more focused conservation initiative, have all strengthened the enforcement regime in the region. Besides, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has also taken measures for protecting the flora and fauna of the islands. Some of these National Parks are exclusively for the protection of the marine species. These include Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, etc. As on date, an area of 1619.786 sq. kms has been covered under the Protected Area network in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 4. Management of biodiversity in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Forest Department-The Wildlife Wing of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, responsible for the protection of the biodiversity of the islands, is headed by the Chief Wildlife Warden, in the rank of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and has four divisions under his control. In addition to this, there are six territorial Divisions that carry out protection duties outside the designated Protected Area network. Coastal Police- Twenty Coastal Police Stations have also been established on the islands to upgrade regulatory and law enforcement regime in the coastal waters. The Coastal Police Stations are being equipped with latest infrastructural communication and patrolling equipments. Coast Guard: The Coast Guard has been assisting the Forest Department in apprehending the poachers in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as along the coast. 5. Issues that require attention: (a) Issue of foreign poachers: Despite the concerted efforts by various departments and agencies, the very availability of rich marine resources attracts foreign poachers to Indian territorial waters. Although, the enforcement agencies routinely apprehend several foreign poachers, it is believed that a large number of them get away undetected. Most of the poachers are habitual offenders and had been in Indian prisons several times. It has been observed that the western part of the Andaman Islands was the most vulnerable to poaching and also that the volume of the poaching has considerably increased over the years inspite of the best efforts by the Administration to contain the problem. Further, it is also believed that the problem of foreign poachers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has a long history, and there are a large number of ethnic people of Myanmar origin settled in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These people are believed to be often conniving with the poachers. (b) Issue of Trochus and Sea cucumbers: It has been observed that although there was good population of Sea Cucumbers in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, there were contradicting reports of the status of the species as a whole in the country’s waters. Therefore, there is need for carrying out detailed scientific study on the population status of Sea Cucumbers. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), who has the required wherewithal for carrying out such scientific studies, is being requested for undertaking the study. The report of ZSI would be dovetailed with this report, as soon as the same is received from ZSI. A similar study on Trochus niloticus, would also be taken up. (c) Issue of livelihood: The reduction in forestry operations has reduced the employment opportunities considerably for the local people of islands. It may be added that this sector was one of the biggest local employers for the last five decades. Subsequent ban on certain marine species after their inclusion in the Scheduled lists of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has also adversely affected the livelihoods of the fishers community in the last decade. Strategy and measures suggested for improvement: In order to reach the desired goal, a three pronged strategy has been suggested which, inter alia, includes tightening and improving the protection regime for conservation of marine resources, taking care of the livelihoods of local fisher folk, both qualitatively and quantitatively so as to increase their stake in conservation of marine biodiversity, and to open a diplomatic channel with the Government of Myanmar to address the issue of ingress of its illegal fishers (poachers) into the waters and shores of A&N Islands with a view to finding a solution to this problem and stop the illegal practice jointly. The report concludes with a number of recommendations to address the various issues. Details: New Delhi: Ministry of Environment and Forests, 2011. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2013 at: http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/report-on-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-poaching-issue.pdf Year: 2011 Country: India URL: http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/report-on-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-poaching-issue.pdf Shelf Number: 128105 Keywords: Animal PoachingBiodiversityForest ManagementIllegal FishingWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (India)Wildlife Management |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Clear-Cut Exploitation: How International Investors & REDD+ Donors Profit from Deforestation in West Papua Summary: • Indigenous landowners in Sorong, West Papua province, are being exploited by the Kayu Lapis Indonesia Group (KLI) for plantations development – at great cost to them and their forests. • Documents obtained by EIA/Telapak reveal “land rental” agreements provide Moi landowners with as little as US$ 0.65 per hectare – land projected to be worth US$ 5,000 per hectare once developed. • Timber payments are equally bad: KLI has paid landowners as little as US $2.8 per cubic metre of merbau – wood KLI sells for US$ 875 on export. • Legal norms in permit allocation and timber harvesting have been routinely flouted, with little to no law enforcement by either the national or provincial government. • International investors – including Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) – are profiting from the situation. This highlights a failure to incorporate commodity and investment market reforms into the REDD+ agenda, resulting in the perverse financial incentives of those markets continuing to undermine efforts to reduce deforestation and deliver sustainable development for Indonesia's indigenous peoples. Details: London: EIA, 2012. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2013 at: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Clear-Cut-Exploitation-FINAL-v2.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Clear-Cut-Exploitation-FINAL-v2.pdf Shelf Number: 128155 Keywords: Deforestation (West Papua)Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingNatural Resources ConservationNatural Resources Exploitation |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: Appetite for Destruction: China's Trade in Illegal Timber Summary: In November 2011 China hosted the annual Asia-Pacific Forestry Week meeting conference at an impressive and vast centre near the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. During the week-long event participants from around Asia and beyond discussed a range of issues, encompassing China’s impressive reforestation programme to the links between deforestation and climate change. The meeting coincided with the tenth anniversary of the landmark Bali Declaration agreed at the East Asia ministerial meeting on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in 2001. This event marked the first time governments from the region, including China, had come together to address the threat posed by widespread illegal logging. Yet meaningful discussions on illegal logging were strangely absent from the Beijing conference. This was probably out of deference to the hosts, as over the past decade China has emerged as the world’s leading trader in illegally logged timber. During the last decade, the major timber consumers of the United States, European Union and Australia have taken action to exclude illicit timber from their markets. Timber producing countries such as Indonesia have improved enforcement against illegal logging. Meanwhile, China has largely stood on the sidelines. The astounding economic growth of China attracts a host of superlatives; its position as the largest importer of stolen wood is one of the more undesirable ones. Since the late 1990s the country has taken strong measures to protect and grow its own forests. At the same time it has built a vast wood processing industry, reliant on imports for most of its raw materials supply. It is in effect exporting deforestation. Although much of the wood processing sector is export-oriented, the vast construction effort in China, coupled with increasing wealth, is creating a surge in domestic demand for timber products. A vivid example is the fashion for reproduction furniture made from rare rosewoods, which has created an upsurge in illegal logging from the Mekong region to Madagascar. The Environmental Investigation Agency has been conducting field investigations into flows of illicit timber since 2004, covering a host of producer countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Russia, Laos, Mozambique and Madagascar and, of course, China itself. The findings from these investigations, laid out in this report, show the impact of illegal logging to feed China’s market; destruction of vital forest ecosystems, loss of revenue for developing countries, increased corruption and conflict. This report also includes analysis of trade data showing flows of illicit timber into China worth billions of dollars a year, and highlights imports from countries known to have high rates of illegal logging and instances where national regulations such as log export bands are disregarded. The evidence makes a clear case for action by China. It needs to take measures to exclude illegally logged timber from its market. The fate of many of the world’s natural forests depends on this. Details: London: EIA, 2012. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2013 at: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Appetite-for-Destruction-lo-res.pdf Year: 2012 Country: China URL: http://www.eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Appetite-for-Destruction-lo-res.pdf Shelf Number: 128157 Keywords: DeforestationForest ManagementIllegal Logging (China)Illegal TradeNatural Resources |
Author: Environmental Investigation Agency Title: First Class Connection: Log Smuggling, Illegal Logging, and Corruption in Mozambique Summary: Detailing the findings of EIA undercover investigations in Mozambique, and outlining timber trade data discrepancies, this briefing provides compelling evidence of how China’s insatiable demand for timber is directly driving increased illegal logging and timber smuggling in Mozambique, and robbing the impoverished country of significant revenues. Trade data discrepancies indicate that in 2012 Chinese companies imported between 189,615 and 215,654 cubic metres of timber illegally exported from Mozambique - constituting up to 48 per cent of China’s imports from the country. Further, EIA research shows that China’s 2012 imports from Mozambique dwarf not only licensed exports, but also exceed the licensed harvest by 154,030 cubic metres– generating an alarming 48 per cent illegal logging rate in the country. Such crimes are costing Mozambique tens of millions of dollars a year in lost tax revenues – funds desperately needed in what is the world’s fourth least developed nation. Expanding on a November 2012 EIA report on China’s illegal timber imports, this briefing provides detailed investigative case studies into some of the biggest companies engineering these crimes in Mozambique today, exposing the smuggling techniques and the political patronage and corruption that facilitate it. Finally, the briefing makes clear recommendations to the Mozambican Government on how to eliminate such illegal logging and trade and protect its forests from illegal timber traders. Details: London: EIA, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2013 at: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/EIAFirstClassConnectionslores.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Mozambique URL: http://www.eia-global.org/PDF/EIAFirstClassConnectionslores.pdf Shelf Number: 128158 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Mozambique)Illegal Timber TradeNatural ResourcesTimber Smuggling |
Author: Bystrom, Marie Title: Responsible Trade in the Shadow of Illegal Logging: Swedish Import of Latvian Timber and Wood Products Summary: Swedish imports of timber and wood products from Latvia have increased considerably over the last five years, reaching 4.2 million m≥ in 2001; this increasing trend in import is expected to continue. Latvian forests are high in ecological value, providing habitat to a number of threatened and endangered species. The forestry sector is also highly important to the Latvian national economy. Sweden’s position as a major importer of Latvian timber and wood products in conjunction with their reputation as actors taking responsible forest management seriously, warrants closer scrutiny of the origin and impact of the Swedish import from Latvia. Swedish timber and wood product import was first investigated by TRN and WWF Sweden in 2000, resulting in the report entitled, Towards Responsible Timber Trade? – A Survey of Actors and Origin of Timber from Russia and the Baltic States. As a follow-up investigation to this report and taking into account the problem of illegal logging in the Baltic States, Taiga Rescue Network, WWF Sweden and WWF Latvia have undertaken extensive research. The research, compiled in the following report, has sought to highlight the specifics of current Swedish imports through analysis of the level of knowledge of Swedish companies as to the origin and impact of their trade. Current mechanisms mean that a significant amount but not all of the Swedish import from Latvia can be traced back to its origin. However the impact on forests is less clear. Additional active steps need to be taken by Swedish companies to improve their knowledge of impact if they aim to achieve a level of responsible timber trade. A gap does remain in tracing the origin of timber procured due to the growing problem of illegal logging in Latvia. Such illegal activities have only recently been uncovered and documented across Latvia, the Baltic States at large and Russia. When considered together with guidelines for responsible trade and current mechanisms to trace timber origin, Swedish companies have a unique position and very important role to play in the campaign to eliminate illegal logging. Swedish companies have the capacity to fully develop programs establishing systems to trace timber, specify and enforce company environmental and purchasing policies to the ecological and socio-economic conditions of Latvia and obtain FSC chain-of-custody certification. Furthermore, it is our hope that this report will provide the basis for and encourage openness and dialogue among all stakeholders in Sweden and Latvia alike. Thus, developing transparent trade channels, eliminating illegal forestry activities and promoting the exchange of environmentally and socially sustainable forest management within the region. Details: Jokkmokk, Sweden: Taiga Rescue Network; Solna, Sweden: WWF Sweden; Riga, Latvia: WWF Latvia, 2002. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Year: 2002 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.taigarescue.org/_v3/files/pdf/3.pdf Shelf Number: 128216 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal Logging (Latvia)Natural Resources ConservationOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change Title: Realising Rights, Protecting Forests: An Alternative Vision for Reducing Deforestation Summary: The Accra Caucus on Forests and Climate Change is a network of southern and northern NGOs representing around 100 civil society and Indigenous Peoples' organizations from 38 countries, formed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Accra, Ghana in 2008. The Caucus works to place the rights of indigenous and forest communities at the centre of negotiations on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), and to ensure that efforts to reduce deforestation promote good governance and are not a substitute for emission reductions in industrialised countries. In this report the Caucus proposes an alternative vision for achieving the objective of reducing deforestation, arguing for policies and actions that would tackle the drivers of deforestation, rather than focusing exclusively on carbon. Drawing on case studies from organisations with experience of working with forest communities, the report highlights problems linked to the implementation of REDD and suggests ways in which policies to reduce deforestation can actually work on the ground. Through case studies from selected countries the report highlights three critical components: full and effective participation (Indonesia, Ecuador, Democratic Republic of Congo); secured and equitable land rights (Brazil, Cameroon, Papua New Guinea) and community-based forest management (Tanzania, Nepal). Details: London: Rainforest Foundation UK, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2013 at: http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Accra_Report_ENG Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Accra_Report_ENG Shelf Number: 128501 Keywords: ConservationDeforestationForest ManagementIllegal LoggingNatural Resources |
Author: Roe, Dilys Title: Community Management of Natural Resources in Africa: Impacts, Experiences and Future Directions Summary: Across sub-Saharan Africa, natural resources remain central to rural people’s livelihoods. Local norms and customs shape people’s everyday forms of resource use. In contrast, the commercial uses of natural resources often remain highly centralized, conditioned by government policies of the colonial and post-colonial eras. During the past several decades, there has been a shift from this predominantly centralized natural resource management towards more devolved models known very broadly as Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). CBNRM models work to strengthen locally accountable institutions for natural resource use and management, enabling local groups of people to make better decisions about the use of land and resources. Because it involves the transfer of authority over natural resources to local communities, including of potentially valuable resources such as wildlife and timber, CBNRM is often about major institutional reforms and fundamental changes in power. This pan-African review of the impacts, challenges, and future directions of CBNRM highlights the diverse range of forms of community involvement in natural resource management that have emerged across the continent during the past twenty years. CBNRM means different things to different actors in different places across sub-Saharan Africa. In much of western and central Africa, CBNRM is interpreted by government authorities, donor agencies, and NGOs as benefit-sharing or outreach between national parks and adjacent communities. In such instances communities are not empowered as authorized local resource managers but are involved principally as passive recipients of benefits controlled elsewhere. This form of outreach and benefit-sharing is also a characteristic of some protected area management in East African countries. In Southern Africa, CBNRM is most clearly defined in terms of the devolution of rights to make management decisions, and capture benefits, in relation to resources located on communal lands. In all instances CBNRM involves some degree of co-management of resources between central authorities, local government, and local communities which share rights and responsibilities through diverse institutional arrangements. The various forms of CBNRM and their many locally-specific adaptations have greatly diversified approaches to natural resource governance in sub-Saharan Africa. Some notable ecological, economic, and institutional achievements have been documented. Details: London: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), 2009. 207p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 1, 2013 at: http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/17503IIED.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Africa URL: http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/17503IIED.pdf Shelf Number: 128597 Keywords: Community ParticipationEnvironmental ConservationForest ManagementNatural Resources (Africa)Wildlife Management |
Author: Erdenechuluun, T. Title: Wood Supply in Mongolia: The Legal and Illegal Economies Summary: The forests of Mongolia protect watersheds and water supply, and as a source of timber, fuel wood, pine nuts, berries and game they are saviors and sustainers of livelihoods. Mongolia's forestry sector is currently in crisis, with illegal logging devastating accessible forests, particularly around urban centers. Lack of reliable data means that estimates of timber consumption vary widely, but levels are clearly well above the sustainable harvest for Mongolia's slow growing forests. Lack of planning and active management, lack of inventory, loss of capacity, and corruption have together led to significant degradation of forest quality, and have created virtual anarchy in the forestry industry. The publication reviews the current situation, examines action to date and makes a series of recommendations for bringing control to, and prosperity from, Mongolia's forestry sector. This report represents a novel and unconventional approach to the very serious subject of illegal wood supply in Mongolia. Rather than just relying on official statistics, which have many drawbacks, the team sought information from a range of sources, such as direct interviews with government officials and others working in the sector; field observation of illegal activities, often in the dead of night; and indirect approaches using various data sources to test assumptions. Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2006. 88p. Source: Internet Resource:Discussion Papers, East Asia and Pacific Environment and Social Development Department; Accessed May 22, 2013 at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/MONGOLIAEXTN/Resources/mong_timber_int_for_web.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Mongolia URL: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/MONGOLIAEXTN/Resources/mong_timber_int_for_web.pdf Shelf Number: 128781 Keywords: ConservationForest ManagementForestsIllegal Logging (Mongolia)Natural ResourcesTimber |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Criminal Justice Response to wildlife and forest crime in Lao PDR Summary: Laos in a landlocked country of about 5.7 million people made up of 49 broad ethnic groups. Approximately eighty per cent of the population is located in rural areas and many depend on agriculture and natural resources for survival. The country is bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. It is governed in the framework of a single socialist political party, the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPPR). Laos is a land rich in biological diversity and home to unique and rare species of flora and fauna. Many of these species are listed under Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These flora species include high value timber species such as Aquilaria crassna and Aquilaria baillonii commonly known as Argarwood (Appendix I) and Dalbergia cochinchinensis commonly known as Siamese Rosewood (Appendix III) and rare orchids such as the Paphiopedilum appletonianum commonly known as Appleton's Paphiopedilum (Appendix I). Some of the better known CITES listed fauna species found in Laos include the Tiger (Appendix I), Leopard (Appendix I), Clouded Leopard (Appendix I), Elephant (Appendix I), Sun Bear (Appendix I), Asiatic Black Bear (Appendix I), Pangolin (Appendix II) and several turtles including the Indochinese Box Turtle (Appendix I). Despite their protection under CITES and National Laws, Lao forests have undergone extensive commercial logging over the last 30 years with forest cover dropping from 75% in 1979 to 40% in 2009. In 2014 a government initiated planting program has increased forest cover to just over 50% but the country has a long way to go to reach its goal of 65% cover by 2015 and 70% by 2020. There is growing evidence that transnational organised crime groups are contributing to a significant degree to forest exploitation and the Lao government has come under harsh criticism for its failure to control the illegal logging of its forests. Many of Laos' fauna species have fared no better and continue to be subjected to illegal trafficking to feed markets in neighbouring China and Vietnam. The objective of this study therefore is to determine what role the criminal justice system in Laos is playing in the struggle against the illegal trade in timber and wildlife. It is based on a field visit to Laos, a review of the available primary and secondary data, interviews with key interlocutors and a roundtable meeting of senior officers from the key government departments, IGO's and NGO's held in Vientiane in September 2014. During the meeting in September the current version of the report was circulated to all participants both in Lao language and in English to solicit comments and feedback. The presentations of the senior officers at the September meeting were eventually incorporated into what has become the final version of the report. Interviews were mainly conducted with key players of the criminal justice systems such as prosecutors, police, customs and environment/forestry officials involved in law enforcement. Details: New York: UNODC, 2014. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//2014/10/trade-timber/Criminal_Justice_Responses_to_the_Illegal_Trade_in_Timber_in_South_East_Asia_v7.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Laos URL: https://www.unodc.org/documents/southeastasiaandpacific//2014/10/trade-timber/Criminal_Justice_Responses_to_the_Illegal_Trade_in_Timber_in_South_East_Asia_v7.pdf Shelf Number: 133831 Keywords: Forest ManagementIllegal LoggingIllegal TradeOrganized CrimeWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Laos)Wildlife Law EnforcementWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Marijnissen, Chantal Title: Facing Reality: How to halt the import of illegal timber in the EU Summary: By mid-2004, the European Commission is due to report back to the Council of the European Union with its proposals for implementing the EU Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) that it released in May 2003. FERN, Greenpeace and WWF welcome the Plan and aim, with this report, to provide further recommendations to EU policy makers that will assist their efforts to ensure its successful implementation. Given the stage of development of the FLEGT Action Plan, this report will focus primarily on criminal aspects of the timber industry. However, it is important to remember that much legal logging is also highly destructive - and that ultimately it is the issue of forest sustainability that needs to be addressed. As the environmental NGO community has repeatedly shown, the impacts of illegal logging on wildlife and human welfare are devastating. Illegal logging contributes to deforestation and loss of biodiversity; fuels civil wars and threatens international security through bribery, organised crime and human rights abuses; cuts tax revenue of producer countries; destabilises international markets and undermines both legitimate business and responsible forest management. As a major buyer and importer of illegal forest products, and with European timber companies heavily implicated in this trade, the European Union has the duty as well as the power to curtail criminal activities linked to it. We believe that, to be successful, the FLEGT process cannot be restricted to voluntary mechanisms. Illegal logging has reached an unprecedented high level, proving that voluntary measures, together with industry self-regulation, have been insufficient to stop illegal logging. Therefore, although we welcome the planned EU regulation for a voluntary licensing scheme and the development of voluntary partnership agreements, we believe that the EU must develop a regulation to outlaw the import of illegally sourced timber and forest products. This regulation must be implemented at the same time as the regulation for the voluntary licensing scheme and should allow EU enforcement officials to seize illegally sourced forest products and to prosecute those that trade in them. We also ask the European Union to build political support within producer countries for the voluntary partnership agreements proposed by the FLEGT Action Plan. The negotiations of these agreements should bring together all stakeholders in producer and consumer countries in developing solutions and promoting responsible forest management. Details: Brussels: FERN, 2004. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2015 at: http://www.fern.org/sites/fern.org/files/pubs/reports/facing_reality.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Europe URL: http://www.fern.org/sites/fern.org/files/pubs/reports/facing_reality.pdf Shelf Number: 136456 Keywords: DeforestationForest ManagementForestsIllegal LoggingIllegal ProductsOffences Against the Environment |
Author: Sundstrom, Aksel Title: Understanding Illegality and Corruption in Forest Management: A Literature Review Summary: This review synthesizes the literature studying illegality and government corruption in forest mangement. After discussing the theoretical connections between different types of corruption and illegal forest-related activities it describes the major trends in previous studies, examining cross-national patterns as well as local in-depth studies. Both theory and available empirical findings pro-vide a straightforward suggestion: Bribery is indeed a "door opener" for illegal activities to take place in forest management. It then discusses the implications for conservation, focusing first on international protection schemes such as the REDD+ and second on efforts to reduce illegality and bribery in forest management. Key aspects to consider in the discussion on how to design monitoring institutions of forest regulations are how to involve actors without the incentive to engage in bribery and how to make use of new technologies that may publicize illegal behavior in distant localities. The review concludes by discussing avenues for future research. Details: Goteborg: University of Gothenburg, QOG The Quality of Government Institute, 2016. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series 2016:1: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: http://qog.pol.gu.se/digitalAssets/1558/1558576_2016_1_sundstrom.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://qog.pol.gu.se/digitalAssets/1558/1558576_2016_1_sundstrom.pdf Shelf Number: 137736 Keywords: BriberyCorruptionDeforestationsForest ManagementForestsIllegal LoggingOffenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Logging, Legality, and Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea: Sythesis of Official Assessments of the Large-Scale Logging Industry Volume I Summary: Between 2000 and 2005, in response to a widely held view that forest management in Papua New Guinea was not providing long-term benefits to the country or its citizens, and to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the new governance regime introduced in the PNG Forestry Act of 1991, the Papua New Guinea government commissioned five separate reviews of the administration and practice of the logging industry. This report, Volume I in a three volume series, summarizes the key findings of the five reviews to present a clear and precise picture of the legal status, environmental sustainability and social impacts of current large-scale logging operations in PNG. We follow this synthesis of the existing studies with our own recommendations for steps that would move PNG toward legal and sustainable logging, provide satisfactory livelihood opportunities for forest dependent communities, and promote sustainable economic development for the nation as a whole. Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2006. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/publication_details.php?publicationID=105 Year: 2006 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/publication_details.php?publicationID=105 Shelf Number: 145626 Keywords: DeforestationsForest Management Forests Illegal Logging Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Forest Trends Title: Logging, Legality, and Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea: Sythesis of Official Assessments of the Large-Scale Logging Industry Volume II Summary: Between 2000 and 2005, the Papua New Guinea government commissioned five separate reviews of the administration and practice of the logging industry: - Review of Forest Harvesting Projects Being Developed Towards a Timber Permit of Timber Authority (2000-01); - Review of the Forest Revenue System (2001-02); - Independent Review of Disputed Timber Permits and Permit Extensions (2003); - Review of Current Logging Projects (2004-05); and - Compliance Audits (2004-05) In addition, a sixth report from an Ombudsman Commission investigation into the allocation of one concession (Kamula Doso) was published in July 2002. The five Reviews were conducted under Terms of Reference agreed between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the 'World Bank'), by teams of experts that included lawyers, foresters, economists and environmental and social scientists. The review teams were given unique access to official records, logging sites and company documents and were able to conduct wide-ranging interviews with industry participants, landowners and government officials. The findings of the five government-initiated Reviews were presented in sixty-three individual reports that together provide a unique assessment of Papua New Guineas forest administration system and the sustainability of current and future large-scale logging operations. They provide a thorough examination of the whole timber harvesting process from initial project development through permit allocation to the actual logging operations and their long term impacts. The Reviews considered a range of different criteria for assessing the status of timber harvesting operations and analyzed their impact from the perspective of all the key stakeholders. Of the five Reviews, only some of the reports were made publicly available through the PNG Prime Minister's website. Copies of the other documents produced were circulated amongst government departments, industry and civil society organizations in PNG and subsequently distributed internationally. The Ombudsman Commission report was tabled in Parliament and can be viewed in the Parliamentary library In this Report (Volume II), we bring together all the reports from the five Reviews and the Ombudsman Commission investigation and present a complete summary of their findings. Maps and imagery in this publication were sourced from the UPNG Remote Sensing Centre via www.rsc.upng.ac.pg (and were not part of the Review Reports). Updates on any follow-up actions on the recommendations in the Review Reports have been added based on publicly available information as of January 31, 2006 (and were not part of the Review Reports). Details: Washington, DC: Forest Trends, 2006. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_161.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.forest-trends.org/documents/files/doc_161.pdf Shelf Number: 146045 Keywords: DeforestationForest Management Forests Illegal Logging Offenses Against the Environment |
Author: Satyal, Poshendra Title: Assessing Civil Society Participation in REDD+ and FLEGT: Case Study Analysis of Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and the Republic of Congo Summary: he report presents findings from an assessment study on the quality of participation of civil society actors in REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) and FLEGT VPA (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade – Voluntary Partnership Agreement) processes in four countries in Africa: Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and the Republic of Congo. The study was part of an EU funded project, coordinated by Fern on "Tackling Deforestation through Linking FLEGT and REDD+" for which the quality of participation in REDD+ and FLEGT was outlined as an indicator to assess one of the project’s objectives (i.e. key REDD+ safeguards are respected in practice). The focus of the assessment study on civil society participation is at national policy making level in FLEGT and REDD+ processes. Building on key literature on participation and research on civil society participation in REDD+ and FLEGT, a questionnaire tool was developed and applied in practical case studies in the four countries. The analysis is drawn from the interviews based on the questionnaire tool; some in-depth interviews and secondary research in these countries. Details: Norwich, UK: The School of International Development, 2017. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: DEV Reports and Policy Papers: Accessed January 25, 2017 at: http://pfbc-cbfp.org/news_en/items/Report-FLEGT.html Year: 2017 Country: Africa URL: http://pfbc-cbfp.org/news_en/items/Report-FLEGT.html Shelf Number: 145572 Keywords: DeforestationForest Law EnforcementForest ManagementForestsIllegal LoggingNatural Resources |