What were the goals of the FLEG II Program?
- Continue implementation of the 2005 St. Petersburg FLEG Ministerial Declaration, an expression of commitment by 44 governments from the Europe and North Asia region and other participating countries to take action against illegal logging and associated forest crimes, as well as the scaling up of successes from the first FLEG Program (2008-2012).
- Formulate and implement sustainable forest policies, including legal and administrative reforms for sustainable forest management and protection as well as increased capacity.
- Demonstrate the best sustainable forest management practices in targeted areas that can be further replicated.
What were the typical activities supported by the FLEG II Program?
- Updating and harmonizing national forestry legislation.
- Introducing sound forestry management practices for forest practitioners and managers.
- Assisting timber companies to harvest timber legally and opening up new markets to them in EU Member States.
- Advocating that local communities abandon illegal logging and instead embark on sustainable forest practices to make their living.
- Assisting with the introduction of forestry education in schools and universities, through the creation of young foresters activities and forest management courses.
What were some of the achievements of FLEG II?
- Regionally, the Program has supported dialogue and action through its steering committee meetings and roundtables that involve government officials, forest experts and NGOs from each country.
- An ongoing benefit of the FLEG program has been the re-establishment of forestry professional networks with in the region, which were lost during the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
- Activities in one country such as training youth or developing log tracking systems can be of direct benefit to other participating countries through the exchange of best practices and experiences.
More information on FLEG II achievements.