
The FLEGT Africa and Latin America (ALA) Facility assists partner countries in implementing roadmaps or joint implementation frameworks in line with their agreements with the EU towards VPA implementation, with the ultimate objective of supporting the improvement of forest sector governance.
The Facility is part of a larger programme managed by Agence Française de Développement which seeks to improve forest governance and law enforcement in VPA implementing countries in order to limit any illegal logging of forest resources and promote sustainable forest management. As requested, FAO support promotes the agreed principles of national stakeholder participation in the implementation and monitoring of the national TLAS and other VPA commitments, such as public disclosure of forest sector information, impact or safeguards monitoring, complaints mechanisms, and independent system evaluation in line with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) norms and international best practices.
The FLEGT-ALA Facility supports forest governance and FLEGT processes through activities such as roadmap development, regulatory guidance, TLAS design, and stakeholder engagement. It enhances transparency, monitoring, and decision-making by providing analyses, facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue, and organizing meetings and exchanges. The Facility also conducts socio-economic and legal studies, supports south-south collaboration, coordinates with partners, and raises awareness of good forest governance while contributing to program monitoring and reporting.
Context
Illegal logging significantly impacts global forest trade and undermines consumer confidence in wood products, especially from tropical forests. It also affects sustainable livelihoods for the rural poor. In response to these challenges, the EU adopted the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan in 2003, which includes the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA). This agreement between the EU and timber-exporting countries incentivizes compliance with a National Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), aimed at improving governance and stakeholder participation. Once fully operational, this process allows the issuance of FLEGT licences for timber consignments, providing evidence of legality to access to the EU market
However, VPA implementation is challenging. So far, only one country has established a fully functional TLAS with FLEGT licensing. Other countries are advancing towards the operationalisation of their TLAS. Other countries are at various development stages, facing constraints that typically involve operationalizing a reliable chain of custody. These challenges are not only technical but also financial, organizational, and cultural, necessitating substantial investments and ongoing support. The program aims to assist nine countries recognised by the EU as committed partners in combating illegal logging.
In collaboration with
