FLEGT is an Action Programme of the European Union (EU) aims to prevent illegal logging and trade in timber and related timber products to the EU market.
In two days of 29 & 30 December, 2014, in Dong Hoi City, FLEGT Project – Central Region in collaboration with the Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD) and Forest Protection Department (FPD) of Quang Binh province held a training course on “FLEGT Action Programme; Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS); Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD +) and Skill of feedback policies” for almost 40 participants from woodworking enterprises and establishments in the area of Quang Binh province.
The objectives of the training course aims to (i) Providing information, basic knowledge about the FLEGT Action Plan, TLAS and REDD+ for wood processing enterprises; (ii) Capacity building and awareness raising for wood processing enterprises in order that they can participate in the activities of the process of negotiation and implementation of FLEGT-VPA Agreement; and (iii) Building skill of feedback policies for wood processing enterprises in the process of negotiation and implementation of VPA-FLEGT Agreement.
Mr. Pham Hong Thai – Head of FPD of Quang Binh province, gave an opening speech of the training course
Giving an opening speech of the training course, Mr. Pham Hong Thai – Head of FPD of Quang Binh province stressed the importance and benefits of the wood processing enterprises and establishments when participating in the VPA- FLEGT process; this is an inevitable international trend to ensure the timber legality system when exporting timber and timber products into the EU market. In addition, the enterprises will meet difficulties and challenges when VPA-FLEGT Agreement is signed and applied, especially small wood processing facilities would suffer a lot of impact in the VPA-FLEGT process.
To help wood processing enterprises and facilities to understand more the activities of the project, Mr. Truong Si Hoai Nhan – Project Manager introduced FLEGT Project – Central Region with the following contents: Activities of capacity building, awareness changing in EU-FLEGT Action Programme; Skill of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) on FLEGT; …, as well as provided information and policy data on FLEGT for VNFOREST in the following activities: Action research on the impacts of illegal logging; Round-table workshops on FLEGT program; Consultation workshop report draft suggestions for VPA-FLEGT negotiation process. and ongoing activities: Developing a model of community forest management, Establishing a network of forest dependent communities… and Impacts of the project on improving the livelihoods of forest dependent communities and reducing illegal logging, and improving efficiency of forest management in the localities.
Mr. Truong Si Hoai Nhan – Director Project introduced activities of FLEGT Project – Central Region
Through the training course, Dr. Truong Quang Hoang – Deputy Director of Centre for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD) presented and provided the basic knowledge related to the FLEGT Action Plan; Voluntary Partnership Agreement VPA; Timber legality definition (LD); Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS); Controlling the supply chain; Independent monitoring and auditing system; System and licensing process of the FLEGT; International Action Programme on REDD+; National Programme on REDD+ ; Introduction and definitions related to feedback policies and Skills in feedback policies. Basic training methods are applied: Presentation; Group discussions and film screenings about the process and the involvement of stakeholders in VPA-FLEGT negotiation in some countries in the world such as Indonesia, Ghana, Liberia, Congo, and Cameroon.
The training course equipped all wood processing enterprises and facilities in the area of Quang Binh province completely new and useful knowledge and really related to their work. Therefore, the learned knowledge has been contributed to raising awareness about how to produce and trade in legal timber and sustainable forest management and help the enterprises have better preparations to participate in VPA-FLEGT process in the future.
A commemorative picture between FLEGT Project and the participants of the training course
FLEGT Project