Effects of EU illegal logging policy on timber-supplying countries: A systematic review

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Fredy D. Polo Villanueva - , Chair of Tropical and International Forestry, European Forest Institute (Author)
  • Yitagesu T. Tegegne - , European Forest Institute (Author)
  • Georg Winkel - , European Forest Institute, Wageningen University & Research (WUR) (Author)
  • Paolo Omar Cerutti - , World Agroforestry Centre (Author)
  • Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen - , Luke Natural Resources Institute Finland (Author)
  • Constance L. McDermott - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Jonathan Zeitlin - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Metodi Sotirov - , University of Freiburg (Author)
  • Benjamin Cashore - , National University of Singapore (Author)
  • David Andrew Wardell - , Center for International Forestry Research - World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) (Author)
  • Andrew Haywood - , Bushfire Recovery Victoria (Author)
  • Lukas Giessen - , Chair of Tropical and International Forestry, European Forest Institute (Author)

Abstract

The EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT) adopted in 2003 includes bilateral trade agreements known as Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) signed between the EU and timber-supplying countries. The EU has invested more than 1.5 billion euros in VPAs; however, only one of the seven concerned countries has managed to complete all the necessary requirements to expire FLEGT licences. Since there is no research that comprehensively integrates the scientific evidence regarding the effects of this policy, this study systematically reviews all empirical scientific studies on the effects of VPAs. We found that almost all relevant studies are case reports that use qualitative data and focus on only one country at a time, mainly Ghana, Cameroon, or Indonesia. The evidence suggests that while VPAs have contributed to the establishment of governance structures, tools, and procedures they have not been able to solve social problems (i.e., inequality and injustice) and have potentially harmed the economies of EU timber suppliers. Evidence on the effects of VPAs on illegal logging and trade and the environment remains limited. Thus, future research should focus on more countries; use a greater range of methods, including comparative experimental designs; explore possible intended effects on under-researched categories; and systematically investigate unintended effects on other categories within and outside the forestry sector.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number116874
JournalJournal of environmental management
Volume327
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36446193

Keywords

Keywords

  • EU Trade policy, Forest governance, International forest policy, International regime, Regime effectiveness, Timber legality