Indonesia: MEPs to back deal to combat rainforest destruction
MEPs plan to approve a deal that will help combat deforestation in Indonesia, which has the world’s third-largest area of rainforest but it also its third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The deal will oblige Indonesia to prove that all the timber it exports to the EU has been harvested legally.
The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between Indonesia and the EU was concluded on 30 September 2013, as part of the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) action plan. But to take legal effect, it needs the European Parliament’s consent.
A 2007 United Nations Environment Programme report estimated that 73-88% of timber logged in Indonesia is illegally sourced.
Debate: Wednesday, 26 February
Vote: Thursday, 27 February
Procedure: Consent, Commission statement followed by debate, non-legislative resolution
#deforestation #Indonesia #timbertrade # FLEGT