The FINANCIAL — The EU-funded forestry programme FLEG II has held a round table in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, looking at what needs to be done to improve the law to better tackle infringements of forest legislation. The meeting – attended by representatives from relevant ministries and other key stakeholders – centred around the presentation and discussion of a FLEG report on the issue.
The study says a number of related bills have been brought to Parliament in recent years, but offered only superficial changes in administrative and criminal penalties for violations. A press release from the FLEG project said the work conducted by its experts, as well as the proposals made during the round table, could be used as a basis for drafting amendments to the law.
The round table also discussed a second report on preparing an Interagency Action Plan for the prevention of illegal logging and timber trafficking, and preventing corruption in the forestry sector in Ukraine. FLEG says most forest countries have such plans by now, and that Ukraine committed itself to draw one up a decade ago. Participants urged the Ukrainian government to start preparing it as soon as possible, according to EU Neighbourhood Info.
The EUR 9 million FLEG II programme aims to improve forest law enforcement in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. It also helps ensure the contribution of the region’s forests to climate change adaptation and mitigation, to ecosystems and biodiversity protection, and to sustainable livelihoods and income sources for local populations and national economies. FLEG II carries out pilot projects and addresses forest fire and climate issues, building upon the achievements of its predecessor, the FLEG I programme.
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