Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission

Forest law enforcement and governance:
Progress in Asia and the Pacific


Edited by

M.J. Pescott, P.B. Durst, D.V. Johnson, and R.N. Leslie




RAP PUBLICATION 2010/05

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific





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ISBN 978-92-5-106565-5


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©FAO 2010


Cover design: Chanida Chavanich

For copies, write to:
Patrick B. Durst
Senior Forestry Officer
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200
Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 697 4000
Fax: (66-2) 697 4445
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

At the twenty-second session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission in 2008, leading forestry officials from across the Asia-Pacific region reiterated their commitment to combating illegal logging and other forms of forest crime. They collectively agreed to review ongoing efforts and recent progress towards strengthening forest law enforcement and governance. This publication reports on the ensuing comprehensive review covering 16 countries in the region. Forest law enforcement and governance: progress in Asia and the Pacific provides an overview of the key initiatives and activities in sixteen forest-rich countries of the region, highlighting the achievements and the foundations established for moving forward. This review comes at a time when the region's forestry sector is undergoing extremely rapid change, driven in large measure by increasing demands for forest products and environmental services. To fully capitalize on these emerging opportunities, effective forest law enforcement and governance will be needed to demonstrate that real progress is being made towards managing forests sustainably. These efforts will not only help forest owners and managers realize the potential of sustainable forest management in contributing to socio-economic development, but will also help to protect our planet's remaining natural assets for future generations.