Collecting evidence of FLEGT VPA-impacts for improved FLEGT communication

Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing is one of the ultimate goals of a Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs), it requires the country to conduct thorough and lengthy reform processes in the forestry sector. These processes likely have brought about significant changes and impacts in the countries’ forestry sector, both positive and possibly also negative. These impacts have partly been analyzed and documented, e.g. through studies, preliminary impact monitoring frameworks and monitoring systems of international organizations supporting FLEGT. However, these are often scattered amongst various specific thematic and geographic areas and individual projects. Furthermore, there are likely many impacts of FLEGT VPAs that are not yet documented at all. Consequently, there is an immediate need to gather, assess and demonstrate impacts of FLEGT-VPAs in a comprehensive way, providing both quantitative and qualitative evidence

The objective of the research is to gather qualitative and quantitative evidence of impacts (both positive and negative) of the VPA process so far, that can be utilized by FLEGT stakeholders (EU, EU-Member States, VPA countries, EFI-FLEGT Facility, FAO-FLEGT etc.) for improved communication on achievements of the FLEGT Action Plan. Research Location are Cameroon, Ghana and Indonesia