The Voluntary Partnership Agreement with Indonesia, the world`s third-largest tropical forest nation, is the most ambitious yet of the EU`s bi-lateral pacts aimed at slowing the destruction of tropical forests, according to the European Forest Institute (EFI) in a press statement.
Illegal timber until recently had represented approximately 50% of timber exported from Indonesia and 20% of timber products imported into the EU, according to various estimates.
In less than 50 years, Indonesia has gone from being 82% forest to only 49% today, a trend that has led to social problems, environmental degradation and a loss of economic opportunities on a massive scale, according to studies of the impact of deforestation on the nation of 245 million people.
In 2007, a UN report estimated that 73 to 88 percent of timber logged in Indonesia was illegally sourced.
Between 1990 and 2005, Indonesia lost 28 million hectares of forest, almost enough to cover the landmass of the Philippines.
Indonesia has boosted efforts over the past years to combat illegal logging.
In fact, a recent Chatham House study reports log smuggling from Indonesia to China has fallen by 92% since 2004, and illegal logging in the forest nation has dropped 75 percent in the last decade, although some 40% of timber production remains illegal.
In concluding their negotiations, the leadership of the EU and the Government of Indonesia made clear their commitment to jointly respond to the problem of illegal logging and related international trade; they also linked the implementation of a new Indonesian system for ensuring that timber has been legally harvested to recent legislation that will prohibit the importation into the EU of illegal timber and timber products.
In a congratulatory speech following the signing ceremony in Jakarta today, Commissioner Karel de Gucht noted, "Not only is Indonesia the first Asian country to conclude VPA negotiations with the EU, it is also by far the largest timber exporter to enter into such an agreement."
Indonesian Forestry Minister Zulkifli called the agreement a significant breakthrough, the culmination of four years of negotiations.
Two new laws recently enacted in the US and the EU?thought to affect approximately one- third of Indonesia?s forest exports?have been key drivers in the government?s decision to adhere to the strict auditing scheme to ensure legality.
Ss of March 2013, the new EU Timber Regulation will prohibit the selling of illegal timber in the EU. Furthermore, all first-time sellers must ensure that the wood in the products they import has been legally harvested.
The EU imports US$ 1.2 billion in timber and paper from Indonesia, or 15% of the nation`s exports, but the national auditing scheme will cover all exports, regardless of destination.
A major exporter of timber and timber products globally, Indonesia exports furniture, plywood and pulp and paper products to Japan, the United States and the nations of the European Union, in particular Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy. (*)
HAJM/F001
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
