Publications

Beyond commitments: How can Nationally Determined Contributions contribute to forest governance and resilient local communities?

In 2018, Fern and our partners revealed that many African states’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) pledges were not considering the need to improve forest governance. As countries are now preparing and communicating new...

22/12/2020

Reports

How to ensure FLEGT is a success: Make sure we stay the course

This January 2020 Fern and LoggingOff's update on FLEGT VPAs shows the support the process is still receiving from civil society, governments and the private sector. It is written by Civil Society leaders across Africa, Asia and Latin America and shows their enthusiasm for the process despite the multiple challenges. 

20/01/2020

Briefing Notes

Healthy forests = equitable livelihoods, inclusive development and a resilient climate

This briefing endorsed by Client Earth, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Fern, Forest Peoples Programme, and Transparency International details what the EU can do to ensure that healthy forests contribute to local...

04/09/2019

Reports

Deepening and expanding multi-stakeholder participation in VPAs to achieve greater impact

VPA update, June 2019

One of the unique features of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) – which form a key part of the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan – is that they allow a variety of actors (government, private sector, civil society and forest communities) to discuss how forests should be managed.

10/07/2019

Reports

Community forestry: Opportunity or mirage for women in the Congo Basin?

In the Congo Basin, women play an important role in forest management by either practicing traditional agroforestry or collecting fuelwood and non-timber forest products for food, livestock, and health care or income generation....

07/03/2019

Trade agreements and transparency: under construction – VPA update, December 2018

Illegal logging and the illicit timber trade thrive when legal frameworks, rights and benefits are unclear and complex to enforce. Transparency is therefore at the heart of Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and over the last...

04/12/2018

Rooting for change - VPA Update, June 2018

One year ago, forests and their crucial ecological and economic role were again at the forefront of the EU’s policy agenda. In June 2017, at the EU conference on illegal logging and deforestation, EU Commissioner for International...

10/06/2018

Voices from the forest

At a time when the space for civil society is shrinking, the need for people to be able to influence the powers that control their lives, and have the freedom to work together to tackle the challenges they face, is more critical...

28/03/2018

VPAs and NDCs: Sharing the Toolbox? – How lessons learned from EU FLEGT can be put to work for the Paris Agreement

As the Paris Agreement is ratified by each of its signatory states, they commit to put into action their specific national plans to combat climate change. These plans are called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Fern...

14/03/2018

Reports

CoNGOs project : Discussion of a new paradigm for community forestry

The CoNGOs project partners discuss a new paradigm for community forestry at the meeting of the CBFP parties in Douala.

At the 17th annual Meeting of Parties of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) in Douala, Cameroon, Fern...

15/12/2017