Forests and forest resources provide critical economic, social, and environmental benefits for APEC economies and the world as a whole. The United Nations estimates that over 1.6 billion people worldwide depend directly on forests for food, clothing and shelter.
Importantly, APEC economies account for approximately 53 percent of the world’s forests, 60 percent of global production of forest products, and 80 percent of global trade in forest products, according to data provided by the
UN Food and Agriculture Organization. APEC forest products trade was valued at over $150 billion in 2010.
Forest resources are therefore important to APEC economies, businesses and citizens. Illegal logging and associated trade, however, have brought about adverse economic, environmental, and social impacts and is a significant problem facing the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2011, APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade directed officials to establish an experts group in order to promote trade in legally harvested forest products, combat illegal logging and associated trade, and build capacity. In Honolulu, Hawaii in 2011, APEC Leaders committed to work to implement appropriate measures to prohibit trade in illegally harvested forest products and undertake additional activities in APEC to combat illegal logging and associated trade.
Thus in 2011, the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade was created to enhance the efforts of member economies to take concrete steps to combat illegal logging and associated trade, promote trade in legally harvested forest products, and support capacity building activities in member economies.
The Experts Group directly supports the overarching goals envisaged by APEC Leaders and Ministers. Specifically, in Yokohama, Japan in 2010, APEC Leaders pledged to seek growth that is compatible with global efforts for protection of the environment and to transition to a green economy. APEC Leaders further agreed to enhance cooperation to address concerns with illegal logging and associated trade and to promote sustainable forest management and rehabilitation. APEC Leaders reaffirmed this commitment in Vladivostok, Russia in 2012.
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The 3rd Meeting of the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade took place on 29-21 January, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The members endorsed a multi-year Strategic Plan which strives to:
- Strengthen policy dialogue on combating illegal logging and promoting trade in legally harvested forest products, with an emphasis on timber and timber products;
- Increase knowledge on technical matters related to combating illegal logging and associated trade, including: developments in laws, regulations and other measures; new technologies; data and other information on production, processing, exports, imports and consumption of forest products;
- Increase member economies’ capacity to address illegal logging and associated trade;
- Increase law enforcement cooperation and information sharing related to combating illegal logging and associated trade;
- Collaborate with international and regional organizations involved in promoting sustainable forest management and forest rehabilitation; and
- Collaborate with industry and civil society to raise awareness and contribute to national and regional efforts to combat illegal logging and associated trade, and to promote trade in legally harvested forest products, with an emphasis on timber and timber products.
The 4th Meeting of the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade is planned for June 2013 in Medan, Indonesia.
A Ministers Responsible for Forestry Meeting is planned for August 14-16, 2013 in Cusco, Peru.
The 2nd Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade Meeting took place on 21-23 May 2012, in Kazan, Russia. The members endorsed an annual Work Plan which included activities aimed at:
- Strengthening the dialogue and increasing knowledge and awareness among APEC economies regarding approaches to combating illegal logging and associated trade and promoting trade in legally harvested forest products.
- Continuing engagement of APEC members and establishing links with relevant outside organizations and other APEC fora.
- Identifying capacity building needs and developing project proposals.
APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade held its first meeting in February 2012 in Moscow, Russia.
The Experts Group affirmed its members' commitment to:
- Serve as a platform for member economies to strengthen policy dialogue on combating illegal logging and associated trade and promoting trade in legally harvested forest products;
- Consider and share information on policies that combat illegal logging and associated trade and promote trade in legally harvested forest products, and exchange views on how to learn from successful policies;
- Provide member economies with opportunities to exchange information, views, experiences, and analyses on relevant matters, including on developments in laws, regulations, and other measures relating to combating illegal logging and associated trade; new technologies designed to assist efforts to combat illegal logging and associated trade and promote trade in legally harvested forest products; and data and other information on production, processing, exports, imports, and consumption of forest products;
- Assist member economies in identifying capacity building needs and developing targeted capacity building assistance;
- Facilitate law enforcement cooperation and information sharing related to combating illegal logging and associated trade, consistent with domestic law and in accordance with applicable international agreements;
- Recognize APEC’s commitment and activities relating to sustainable forest management and rehabilitation, as well as work on these topics with international and regional forestry organizations, collaborate with these organizations as appropriate, and endeavor to ensure that APEC activities complement and do not duplicate activities being carried out by the above organizations; and
- Collaborate with industry and civil society to raise awareness and contribute to national and regional efforts to combat illegal logging and associated trade and promote trade in legally harvested forest products.
The work of the EGILAT builds upon the first-ever APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry which was held in Beijing, China in September 2011. At the meeting, APEC’s forestry ministers reinforced the 2007 Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration to increase forest cover in the region by 20 million hectares of all types of forest by 2020.
Ministers also recognized that forestry, with its unique roles and contribution to sustainable development, has the potential to be a leading sector in achieving green growth.
In particular, Ministers committed to the following forestry goals:
- Strengthening political commitment in support of sustainable forest management, forest conservation and forest rehabilitation;
- Facilitating the implementation of forest-related agreements and fostering a common understanding on sustainable forest management;
- Strengthening international cooperation on sustainable forest management;
- Strengthening the coordination and cooperation among APEC economies on forest policies and management;
- Enhancing practical cooperation to conserve, rehabilitate and sustainably utilize forest resources;
- Encouraging APEC economies to enhance afforestation, reforestation and tree planting programs and avoid further deforestation and forest degradation;
- Promoting the development of forest-related industries, create employment, and build the capacity of indigenous and rural communities to manage forests sustainably.
Also in 2011, APEC officials endorsed the Terms of Reference for APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade.
Dr Dato' Hj. Abd. Rahman B. Hj. Abd. Rahim (Mr)
Chair
Director General of Forestry
Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin
50660 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-26164488 / 26164400 / 26164405
Fax: +603-26925697
Email:
Jeffri Bin Abd. Rasid (Mr)
Chair’s Office
Director of International Affairs
Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia
Email:
Natalie NII (Ms)
Program Director
APEC Secretariat
Email: