A draft action plan aimed at reducing illegal logging and the international trade in unsustainable timber products has been produced following a week of meetings involving representatives from the UK and Indonesian governments, the timber industry and NGOs.
The action plan is designed to implement the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both governments on April 18, whereby both parties agreed to work together to clean up the trade.
The main features of the plan include: identification of forest reform needed to prevent harvesting, export and trade of illegally logged timber and wood products; the joint development of systems for collection and exchange of data on timber trade between the two governments; and the development of verification systems of legal compliance based on independently verified chain of custody tracking systems.
Indonesia is initially focusing on the 100 larger companies which supply 80% of the timber, with a consensus that a website would be the best method for monitoring the performance of logging companies. Also, the country will reduce harvesting level by 6-7million m3 in 2003.
UK timber companies involved in the discussions in London between August 5-9 included Montague L Meyer, Finnforest, CIPTA, Premier Forest Products and John (Panel Products) Wright Ltd.
