ENPI FLEG Program Improving Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in the European Neighborhood Policy East Countries and Russia The Program is implemented by the World Bank (WB), IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and WWF through a grant of the European Commission

More than 5 billion pounds of wood from Russia’s Primorski Krai region enters China every year (Zov Taigi, Pacific Environment, 2009)

What is FLEG? The Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) process was initiated by the World Bank to combat the threats posed to forests by illegal logging, trade, poaching and corruption. A series of Ministerial Conferences paved the way: East Asia and the Pacific (2001), Africa (2003), Europe and North Asia (2005).

Illegal Logging in Siberia (WWF, 2007)

Timber in the train station at Suifenhe, China. The country is now the world’s largest importer of logs and exporter of finished wood products, with much arriving from the Russian Far East (Lu Guang, 2009)

80 % of the forests that originally covered the earth have been cleared or otherwise degraded by logging, mining, clearance for agriculture or urbanization. Logging for wood products is responsible for about one- third of total global deforestation An estimated €10–15 billion are lost through illegal logging globally each year The European Union causes almost €3 billion of this loss due to its trade with countries in the Amazon Basin, the Baltic States, the Congo Basin, East Africa, Indonesia and Russia 25% of Russia's timber exports originate from illegal logging according to the World Bank Illegal Logging Facts

Illegal logged wood at rural homestead (Ekaterine Nakashidze - ENPI FLEG- Georgia)

ENPI FLEG Promoting regional and international cooperation, law enforcement, governance and transparency

Illegal Logging in Bikin Valley (Mareike Aden, Russia 2009)

Key Actions Promote effective national and regional FLEG action processes Increase national ownership and capacity Improve regional and national collaboration and knowledge sharing Promote effective engagement of key trading partners Strengthen continuation of the formal official FLEG process in the countries Foster sustainable forest management practices, and Increase awareness and commitment of key stakeholders on FLEG

Armenia Helping advance institutional and legal reforms; Building public awareness and support for forest law enforcement and governance; Promoting private sector inclusion in the FLEG processes Armenia, view of Koghb Community

Azerbaijan Improve knowledge of forest management; Increase awareness of forest practices and issues; Develop sustainable forest management methods. Azerbaijan, illegal logging in Lahij village

Belarus Improve FLEG regulatory framework and efficiency; Improve system of forest management, protection and utilization of forest products recording; Improve information transparency. Belarus, Yelnya wetland, Ramsar Site and Globally important bird areas

Georgia Raise awareness of FLEG; Increase national ownership and improve FLEG planning; Training and capacity building. Georgia, Journalist shooting during field trip

Moldova Training and capacity building; Legislative analysis; Analysis of socio-economic impacts of illegal logging. Moldova, illegally logged tree

Russia Increase efficiency of the forest legislation system; Increase transparency and improve coordination among forest governance governmental agencies; Support rural livelihoods in forest areas. Russian Federation, Abandoned timber in Buratia near Lake Baikal

Ukraine Develop test and introduce an effective mechanism for public participation; Increase awareness; Develop communications and information facilities. Ukraine, Carpathian Region

International Year of Forests The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

The International Year of Forests 2011 is designed to convey the theme of “Forests for People” celebrating the central role of people in the sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of our world’s forests. International Year of Forests