Links between legality and sustainability

Alhassan Attah Executive Director,

TIDD, Forestry Commission

Outline of presentationBackground – Setting the contextSome reflections on certificationCertification experiences from other sectorsSome reflections on the VPAProposal for the way forwardConclusions

Background – Setting the context- ILack of progress for a global forest convention at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 and subsequent negotiations at IPF/IFF/UNFF processesContinued loss of forest cover, particularly in the tropics and relevant to the Ghana contextNGOs frustration on the lack of action by governments

Call for boycotts of tropical timber resulted in early engagement by Ghana in Nov 1995Forest certification seen as a means to achieve SFM at the FMU LevelVarious initiatives to promote certification and sustainable forest managementGrowth of certification still strongest in the temperate and boreal forests/developed countries

Background -Setting the context- II

The Linkages Conceptually

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Some reflections on certification (I)Voluntary market based mechanism that seeks to communicate environmental credentials of forests/timberLegality a pre-condition for certificationHowever questions raised in the robustness for verifying legality under certificationStrong social and environmental components in standards

Proven effective in plantations and boreal and temperate forestsNot effective in tropical forests – complex natureGrowth of certification has been extremely slow in Ghana (Form (Gh)- plantations & JCM, SAMARTEX- CoC natural forests)How should such companies be treated under the VPA? Exemptions?

Some reflections on certification (II)

Generally accepted that Phased approach – Legality as component 1 realisticThird party independent verificationIncreasing private sector supportRole of governments weak, particularly absent in the FSC – front runnerBut Lessons for VPA legality assurance systems

Some reflections on certification (III)

Certification experiences from other sectors

Draw lessons for other sectors such as: Kimberley process certification system CITES- an exemption under the Ghana – EU VPA will

have challenges for the forest sector and the VPA Fisheries Cocoa

In all these sectors Governments have a key role to play. Continued Government role critical for the promotion of VPA

Some reflections on the VPA-IA relevant and useful step towards sustainability – At the national levelGrowing trend to meeting market requirements and gaining market access (PPP)Working definition negotiated, particularly under the VPAs – Future management by EU to ensure level playing field?Perceived as a means of addressing illegal logging and associated trade – collective action

Negotiated by stakeholders based on national differences and therefore balance of interests taken into account and gains acceptance generallyGood forest management toolPotential MIS to enhance business decisionsEnhances better forest governanceBut may not deliver sustainability

Some reflections on the VPA-II

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?Can certification run parallel to the VPA national system?Should companies pursuing certification be given some exemptions?CITES certificates and recognition that its has complied with the VPA requirements? How should they be treated in producer countries?How should one handle other initiatives?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Reflections on VPA relations with certification Required documentation? exemptions Future role of governments in certification,

particularly for some major front runners in forest certification

Engaging key importers such as China on VPALOGS FROM THE VOLTA LAKE ???

The way forward A means for achieving forest certification First step towards forest certification Governments underwriting cost of first phase Certification bodies to be engaged strongly in the

VPA process

Existing companies pursuing forest certification must comply with VPA requirements

The Way ForwardFor Ghana Off reserve areas to come under VPA – verified

legal Forest reserve areas- VPA with the potential to full

certification

Engage non- VPA countries that a major importersDomestic market – a key to successful forest governance

ConclusionVPA A strong basis for improved forest governance VPA a means to achieving forest certification Encourage stakeholder consultations

Key element in both VPA & FC

Lessons to be drawn from other sectors Recognition of government as key stakeholder in

promoting forest certification

ConclusionVPA LAS a good forest management tool Potential for providing MIS to business and

governments, particularly market intelligence