Indonesian wood products exports can now get instant access to European Union markets after the country became the world’s first to receive a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) license.
Indonesia has been operating under a FLEGT voluntary partnership agreement for nine years. The VPA meant the EU accepted wood products from Indonesia, but only after considerable due diligence to prove legal origin. As a FLEGT licensee, Indonesian wood products no longer have to undergo due diligence to enter the EU market.
“This progress must be appreciated and taken as proof of serious commitment from various stakeholders in Indonesia in an effort to reform the forestry sector formerly rife with illegality and corruption,” said Muhamad Kosar, the national coordinator of Indonesia’s Independent Forest Monitoring Network, in a statement. “This initiative has forced various stakeholders to improve and demonstrate their accountability, which in the long term will improve forest governance.”
