This synthesis report provides the results of an FAO and ASEAN Secretariat commissioned review of the development and implementation of codes of practice for forest harvesting in ASEAN Member Countries.
The USDA Forest Service, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok and the ASEAN Secretariat provided financial and in-kind support for the review.
Thanks are due particularly to the two main authors of the report, Mr Elias of Indonesia and Mr Lic Vuthy of Cambodia. Their patience and support throughout the long process of finalising this document are much appreciated.
Throughout the review, valuable support was provided by the ASEAN Secretariat and the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Special thanks go to Mr Rony Soerakoesoemah, Senior Resource Officer of Free Trade Agreement Unit and Mr Htain Lin, Senior Officer of Natural Resources Unit, ASEAN Secretariat; Mr Patrick B. Durst, FAO Senior Forestry Officer for Asia and the Pacific; Mr Thomas Enters, National Forest Programme Facilitator, and Ms Supaporn Daophises, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
Appreciation is extended to all the ASEAN Member Countries for their cooperation with the review, especially Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Myanmar. Representatives of these four countries visited during the review provided logistical support and valuable information.
Special thanks are due to Mr Soetrisno, Director of Natural Forest Development and Ms Lasmini, Head of Section, Directorate of Natural Forest Division, Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia; Mr Zulkefli bin Mokhtar, Director of International Affairs and Secretariat of Forest Department Peninsular Malaysia, and Mr Ali B. Yusop, Senior Assistant Director of Forest Department Sarawak Malaysia; Mr Vongxay Manivong, Head of Planning and Cooperation Division, Department of Forestry Lao PDR; and Mr Khin Zaw, Deputy General Manager (Planning) of Myanma Timber Enterprise of Myanmar.
Sincere gratitude is extended to the many forestry officials, forest industry personnel, researchers, reduced impact logging (RIL) trainers, non-government organisation personnel, and forest-harvesting specialists of ASEAN Member Countries, particularly in Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Myanmar. All contributed generously with their inputs to the findings and the recommendations presented in this document.