Briefing on Thailand-EU FLEGT VPA process between FAO-EU FLEGT Programme and the Director of the Royal Forest Department

On 29 October 2020, the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme team and partnered organizations visited the Royal Forest Department to brief Mr. Addisorn Noochanong, Director of the Royal Forest Department, about the FLEGT VPA process and ongoing projects under the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme.

Mr. Addisorn is committed to moving forward with the FLEGT VPA process and expressed hope that Thailand and the EU will reach the agreement signing stage as soon as possible.

Mr. Bruno Cammaert, Forestry Officer, EU-FAO FLEGT Programme, and Ms. Erica Pohnan, International Consultant, FAO-EU FLEGT Programme, briefly introduced the FLEGT VPA process. It is highlighted that FLEGT VPA is a long term cooperative process between the EU and partner countries to improve forest governance and strengthen legality and sustainability in the forest sector.

RECOFTC, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Reclaimed Timber Association, and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) are partner organizations supported by the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme to be part of the FLEGT VPA stakeholder process. Their projects help develop legal timber production and trade and improve forest law enforcement in Thailand and strengthen SMEs and MSMEs’ capacity to comply with regulations and participate in the national FLEGT VPA process fully and effectively. Representatives of the organizations presented the projects.

RECOFTC – Strengthening capacities of small‐scale timber operators (SSTO) to further enhance learning and policy advocacy for improving supply chain control (SCC) and TLAS development in promoting fair access to forest resources in public land
Technological Solutions for Harmonizing Existing Systems to Enhance Traceability of Timber in Thailand introduction: headed by AIT to improve the RFD Single Window system and design a web-based/mobile application for responsible government agencies to ensure timber supply chain control.
Promote Legality Verification and Enhanced Practice of New Reforms and Regulations Resulting from the FLEGT Process Among Upstream Operators: led by FTI to help stakeholders be part of the national FLEGT VPA drafting process. Currently, their work on supply chain control on private land is on track to finalizing. The project will hold stakeholder consultation to collect stakeholder feedback, which will help the FLEGT VPA working group review the product scope.
Reclaimed Timber Association project – Development of a system of Supply Chain Control for wood products derived from reclaimed timber in Thailand

A representative from the Sustainable Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong Region (SFT-LMR) project, UN-REDD Programme, introduced the project’s activities and goals that align with the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme. The SFT-LMR will find areas where the two projects can promote legality and sustainability in the forest trade, promote the national certification scheme, and increase smallholders’ access to sustainable and legal forest trading, including certification.

The FAO-EU FLEGT Programme discussed the way forward for the FLEGT VPA process with the Royal Forest Department. Both parties stressed the importance of the FLEGT VPA on the competitiveness and position of Thai timber products in the international market. Royal Forest Department related departments are committed to the FLEGT VPA. Next year, the Royal Forest Department with support from the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme, will step up the communication activities to engage stakeholders from all sectors and strengthen public awareness and work on any outstanding issues.