The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU How to influence the VPA process effectively and contribute to its implementation Lessons learned 8 th FLEGT Coordination meeting 9 October 2013 Indra Van Gisbergen

Influencing the VPA process  Each phase = opportunity for civil society influence future of forests and communities  Challenge for civil society = get ready, get involved, and make the most of the opportunity  FERN supports national NGOs/platforms to participate effectively at the VPA process

Influencing = participating effectively Create Space & Take Place Find Allies Build strong Coalitions Own the process Ex. Community participation in Liberia Involvement Ex. Link with Communitiy’s rights Network (CRN) Ex. Platform in RoC fought GONGOs

Move up on the participation ladder

Participation at VPA negotiations An unprecedented experience Vietnam:  Vietnamese Governement aims to control process –CS had to define its own agenda  CS set up a ‘VNGO FLEGT network’, developed network modalities, consolidated its position and communicatedwith government  Outcomes of opening up space:  Improved communication with government  By actively following VPA negotiations CSO capacities has increased  Brought socio-economic issues to the attention of natnioal and international Participating changed attitudes

Participation at VPA negotiations  Ghana: Had already coalition « Forest Watch Ghana » in place – No intention of government to make it an inclusive process – Keys to success: threat of legal action + media attention  RoC: No CS participation history – strong independant platform with common agenda emerged rapidly  Liberia: Exceptional case – CS NGOs + local forest communities involved Participation changed policy- making

Including social dimensions in CAR’s VPA

Contributing to VPA implementation Consolidating created space, A challenge in Cameroon Reform of the Forest Code provided by VPA Government aims to control legal reform CS complains forest reform is not participatory Letter of UNCERD underlines right to participation of IPs Concerns about lack of participatory reform process discussed at CCS and Joint Implementation council (July 2013)

Contributing to VPA implementation VPA motor for legal reform in RoC The VPA provides reform of 18 legal texts (non exhaustive list) + participatory reform process Legal reform offers opportunity to strengthen substantial and procedural community rights, increase control over land CS complains about lack of participation violating the VPA CSOs now involved in process

Contributing to VPA implementation Using VPA to halt PUPs in Liberia Explosion of Private Use Permits Cover immense area - issued quickly - threat to forests + rights NGOs concerned: PUPs were exporting more logs than forestry concessions – launch of large campaign CSO complained about PUPs violating the VPA Moratorium on new PUPs + investigative committee All PUPs cancelled and Minister of agriculture suspended

Contributing to VPA implementation VPA a tool to address land grabbing & illegal forest conversion in Cameroon Cameroon: soon >30% of production will from illegal conversion for commercial agriculture (palm oil) – threat to forests + rights Show case: Herakles Farms case violates the VPA - (legality not respected + no consultations) CSO concerns shared by the EU – recognition that VPA is under threat Achievements: –Issues of illegal conversion and large scale land acquisitions are in the public and political domain –EU recently asked permission for an investigation in the HF case

Some conclusions 1.Participating at VPA negotiations = unprecedented experience in many countries 2.Creating space and maintaining place is challenging during the entire VPA life time 3. VPA is a useful entry point for dialogue with the EU, the Government and other stakeholders 4. VPA as a practical tool to be used creatively: - to secure tenure and community rights - to improve forest governance - to address underlying drivers of deforestation

Rue d’Edimbourg Bruxelles Belgique t e The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU