The Forestry Fee has issued the primary six certificates to 5 Ghanaian firms to export timber and timber merchandise to the European market beneath the Forest Regulation Enforcement, Governance, and Commerce (FLEGT) licensing regime.
The certificates, that are a part of the 131 timber utilisation contracts (TUCs) ratified by Parliament on June 24 this yr, had been offered to Samartex Timber and Plywood Co. Ltd, Logs and Lumber Ltd, JCM Firm Ltd, Mere Plantations Ltd, and West Coast Picket Merchandise Ghana Ltd.
Context
Also called the timber legality licence, the FLEGT licence is a doc issued by timber-producing international locations which have ratified a voluntary partnership settlement (VPA) with the EU.
The FLEGT confirms that shipments of timber or timber merchandise have been legally produced beneath the related legal guidelines of the nation of harvest. It additionally ensures that timber exported to the EU by companion international locations is harvested legally, thereby selling sustainable forest administration.
The Performing Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, offered the certificates to the businesses on the launch of the FLEGT licensing regime on the premises of the Forestry Fee in Accra yesterday.
The occasion introduced collectively policymakers, regulators, and different gamers within the forestry sector.
Key personalities on the occasion included the President of the Central Regional Home of Chiefs, Odeefou Amoakwa Buadu VIII; Ghana’s Ambassador to Togo, Capt. George Kofi Nfojoh, and the Deputy Head of Delegation, EU Delegation to Ghana, Jonas Claes.
Having acquired the certificates, the businesses have begun the method to export timber and timber merchandise to locations similar to Italy, Germany, and Tallinn, the capital metropolis of Estonia.
The issuance of the certificates makes Ghana the primary nation in Africa and second on the earth, solely after Indonesia, to export timber and timber merchandise to the EU market beneath the FLEGT licence regime
Worthy milestone
A speech delivered by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Harmless Haligah, on behalf of the Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, stated the launch of the FLEGT licence was a serious step in direction of the sustainable administration of the nation’s forest reserves.
He stated it was refreshing that the journey to buying a FLEGT licence, which began in 2009 with the signing of the voluntary partnership settlement (VPA), had seen the sunshine of day.
“This milestone has been achieved by means of collaborative efforts of each state and non-state establishments, together with civil society organisations, who’ve been following keenly and placing stress on responsibility bearers, and we are able to all be joyful now for a way far we’ve come,” he stated.
Mr. Buah stated the complete FLEGT licence course of, which spanned many political regimes, meant that by means of collaboration, the nation may obtain greatness.
He noticed that the licence was a chance to increase the timber market and be sure that timber sources had been sustainably harvested and managed properly.
Mr. Buah cautioned individuals who had been engaged in unlawful logging and unlawful mining to maneuver out of forest zones earlier than the legislation caught up with them.
“These folks ought to know that we’re coming for them. We’ll come exhausting at them; the sector day is over, and there’s no hideout for them,” he careworn.
The performing Chief Government of the Forestry Fee, Dr Hugh Brown, stated the issuance of the FLEGT licensing certificates was a name on firms within the forest sector to get their act collectively and function throughout the authorized framework.
He additionally urged all these engaged in unlawful logging, unlawful mining, and different crimes within the forest ecosystem to cease.
Solidarity
Whereas commending Ghana for chalking up a historic feat, Mr. Claes stated the EU was dedicated to supporting the nation to reach sustainably managing forest sources.
“At present is a giant day for EU-Ghana relations and sustainability, as we go dwell on the FLEGT licences, which marks a big step in Ghana’s dedication to commerce in authorized timber and wooden merchandise, combating unlawful logging and selling good forest governance,” he stated.
Mr. Claes added that the issuance of FLEGT licences mixed environmental and financial virtues, as it might facilitate and increase commerce in authorized timber merchandise whereas additionally selling sustainable forest administration.
The EU envoy added that the issuance of an FLEGT licence by Ghana was not the tip of the street however required the nation to play in response to the principles of engagement.
“The proof of the pudding is within the consuming, and finally, we should deal with growing commerce in authorized timber merchandise whereas tackling deforestation and biodiversity loss,” he stated.
Assist
He gave an assurance that the EU would help Ghana each step of the journey.
For example, he stated the EU was within the means of procuring IT tools value €400,000 for the Forestry Fee and its workplaces.
“Extra help is underway. We’re planning for a further €37 million in direction of the improved administration and conservation of pure sources—each land and forests.
“These funds will assist to mix built-in panorama approaches with help for worth chains (cocoa in central Ghana, cashew in northern Ghana),” he added.
Mr. Claes added that there was a necessity for a concerted effort to curb the devastating environmental results of unlawful gold mining, together with its impression on the nation’s forests.
Background
Initially, it was anticipated that starting June 15, this yr, all timber merchandise that will likely be exported from Ghana to the EU market would conform to the Forest Regulation Enforcement, Governance and Commerce (FLEGT) licence requirement, making the nation the primary African nation and the second on the earth to fulfill the requirement.
Nevertheless, the delayed ratification of the timber rights by Parliament made it not possible to fulfill that deadline.
Lastly, Parliament ratified 131 Timber Utilisation Contracts (TUCs), paving the best way for Ghana to difficulty the FLEGT licence for the export of timber and timber merchandise to the EU market.
The milestone, which was achieved on July 24 this yr, put the nation in an excellent place to fulfill the October 8, 2025, deadline set by the EU for commerce in timber beneath the Ghana-EU voluntary partnership settlement (VPA).
The ratification of the TUCs got here as an icing on the cake because the EU declared Ghana a low-risk nation beneath the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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