CONCLUDING REMARKS
93. It is gratifying to find in this follow-up inquiry
that there has been some very significant progress on the issue
of timber since the EAC's predecessor Committee's Report in 2002.
Concerns about illegal logging and deforestation have risen rapidly
up the agenda both in the UK and within the EU in the last three
and a half years. However, a great deal still remains to be achieved
if forests worldwide are to have their long-term survival assured.
With this in mind it is clear to us that there are several areas
that it is vital are taken forward as a matter of urgency.
94. Social considerations are integral to whether
or not timber can be considered to be sustainably logged. DEFRA
must seek clarification on the EU position on these social considerations
as soon as possible and work towards removing any restrictions
on taking them into account as a matter of urgency. Every effort
must be made to assisting producer countries to be in a position
to enter into VPAs in sufficient numbers so as to create a significant
presence in the EU timber market. Likewise, the EU and UK Government
must endeavour to harmonise timber public procurement policy across
Europe to insure a significant market exists for sustainably felled
timber and timber products form VPA countries. This must also
be underpinned by effective legislation, preferably EU wide, which
addresses the issue of illegal timber imports, including circumvention
and illegal timber imports from non-partner countries. Furthermore
the difficult issue of the financing of illegal and destructive
forest activities based in the UK and EU must be addressed. Multinationals
and financial institutions must be made responsible for their
destructive activities abroad. Finally, those companies and organisations
that are working to increase the sustainability of timber worldwide
should work together to promote their activities and make consumers
aware that they have a simple choice to make every time they purchase
a piece of timber or a timber product: to help destroy the world's
forests or to help protect them.
95. In many of the areas covered by this report the
UK Government has proved to be an international leader: government
procurement, assessment of certification schemes, negotiation
of VPAs. Now its EU presidency is over it must not become complacent
and must continue in this role. It must lead by example. It must
push for EU wide legislation. If this fails it must implement
national legislation. It must also, very importantly, ensure that
companies based in the UK are not allowed to carry out or finance
destructive activities in other parts of the world that would
not be allowed in this country. Timber and sustainability is an
area in which we will watch to monitor progress, and which we
may wish to return to in the future.
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