1. Environment and Security Initiative - ENVSEC -
The work of the ENVSEC Initiative is based on recognition of indisputable links between peacebuilding, governance, development and environment. We could also say that ENVSEC is an ‘Environmental Peacebuilding’ programme. As said in the recent evaluation report, ENVSEC is a rare upshot of the implementation of the 2005 Paris Declaration with regard to harmonization of action and local ownership. The Initiative follows these principles, and it provides a window for National Focal Points and other stakeholders to shape the program and ensure its responsiveness to local priorities in coordinated fashion.
The Environment and Security partners believe that there is some potential for environmental peacemaking in every region. What is needed is adequate, factual information about environmental condition and risk for constructively reviewing development needs and opportunities for cooperation. With their inter-organizational and coordinated action, combination of skills, experiences, and networks, the six ENVSEC partners contribute to integrated approach on conflict prevention and environmental management.
It was the increased call for environmental issues to be tackled with in the security context that in the 2002 led to the development of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC), then with the primary aim of increasing knowledge and improving understanding and management of environmental and security risks.
The Initiative was established by OSCE, UNEP and UNDP in 2003 and further strengthened by the UNECE and REC in NATO has joint the Initiative in 2004 as an associate member through its Science for Peace and Security Committee.
The overall goal of the Initiative is to contribute to reduction of environment and security risks, and strengthened cooperation between and within countries that are vulnerable to environmental damage and competition over natural resources. The ENVSEC partners provide multistakeholder based analysis of environment and security risks and support a process whereby the identified risks are systematically addressed through stregthening policies, institutions and capacities.

2. Project on Combating illegal logging in the SEE
Implemented under the ENVSEC Initiative
Aniko Nemeth (REC)

3. Main drivers of illegal logging
Underlying causes are usually complex, and often lie outside the forestry sector
Poverty;
Commercial exploitation of timber;
General failure of governance and corruption;
Unclear, controversial or nonexistent policies and legislation governing the use of forest resources;
Weak institutional structures;
Inability to monitor and enforce the regulations;
Interest groups benefiting from a status quo and actively resist change.

4. Consequences of Illegal logging
Environmental implications: loss of biodiversity, deforestation/forest degradation, desertification, climate change;
Economic and social consequences: revenue loss for the government, corruption, undermining rule of law and good governance, contributing to organized crimes, weakening the fabric of society.
Cross-border impacts: tensions, hindering regional sustainable development
In Central Asia, the Southern Caucasus, Eastern and South Eastern Europe countries experiencing an economic transition or political stress are particularly vulnerable to environmental damage and competition over resources. Since 2003, the ENVSEC Initiative has been helping the governments of these countries in their efforts to assess and address environmental and security risks through international dialogue and regional cooperation. OSCE, UNEP, UNDP, UNECE, REC and NATO - are committed to continue their joint efforts on identifying environment and security hotspots, confronting challenges, and facilitating regional cooperation during the second ENVSEC programming period from 2007 to 2009.
Supported by field presences of OSCE, UNDP, and REC, ENVSEC operates in 20 countries, from the Balkans to Central Asia, in close cooperation with national experts from various ministries and national agencies as well as NGOs and research institutes.
As of September 2006, the Initiative has launched or implemented over 50 projects in Eastern and South Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. These activities are all financed by contributions from donors and partner organizations. To date the Initiative has received generous financial contributions from Austria, Belgium Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.
In Central Asia the Initiative focuses on the Ferghana valley, which straddles Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This highly fertile region of 10 million people is threatened by abandoned Soviet-era uranium mines and pesticide dumps. With the support of the Italian government, UNEP is analyzing environmental and health risks at four industrial hot spots. NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme is cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help local partners conduct in-depth assessments of uranium and other mines.
 Other projects seek to improve preparedness for earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts and other natural disasters. UNDP is assisting local communities to work together to prepare for such emergencies. Supported by the OSCE, the Aarhus Centres in Osh and Khudjand are promoting public participation in environmental decision-making, particularly regarding the threats identified in ENVSEC assessments.
 Most recently, the Initiative has launched assessments in the East Caspian region and the Amu-Darya river basin to determine the threats to environment and security there and ways to diminish them. The project funds for Central Asia to date total US$3.6 million for 15 projects.
In South Eastern Europe, the Initiative seeks to improve cooperation on managing pollution “hotspots” created by improper mining methods. Based on the “Mining for Closure” concept, five demonstration projects are being carried out to rehabilitate the Tepca complex in Kosovo and other legacies of the past.
 Another key area of cooperation involves protecting natural resources and biological diversity. Activities include creating an Adriatic Sea Partnership, reducing pesticides in agriculture and preparing for a possible convention on the conservation and sustainable development of the Balkans’ mountainous areas. The project funds to date for South Eastern Europe total $1.7 million for 10 projects.
Human security and the natural environment in the Southern Caucasus are under pressure due to recent conflicts in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Large tracts of land remain unsafe for use by local communities, while urban population pressures and the extraction of natural resources are stressing the region’s ecosystems. The Kura-Araks river basin provides fresh water for the three neighbors, and a cooperative management scheme for this shared natural resource is urgently needed.
 The Initiative is conducting in-depth environmental risk assessments in the conflict areas of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to generate reliable information about local conditions. Small-scale environmental awareness projects and local environmental information centres have been established in border districts. The Initiative is also supporting the recycling, disposal and cleanup of rocket fuel and other toxic substances left by the Soviet army. The project funds for the Southern Caucasus to date total $1.9 million for 10 projects.
Recently UNEP received financial support (EUR ) from DG Environment for the “Caucasus Convention for Mountain Protection” -project. The project aims at assessing environment and security priorities as well as strengthening the legal basis, capacities and cooperation on protection of mountainous regions. The activities will be implemented in September 2006 – May 2007.
The Initiative’s work in Eastern Europe has thus far focused on initial assessments of environmental risks. These assessments have been carried out in consultation with national counterparts in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. The Initiative is also supporting the cleanup of chemical dumps in Moldova and the creation of monitoring systems on the Nistru and Prut rivers. Additional activities are planned for The project funds for Eastern Europe to date total $2.1 million for six projects.

5. Illegal logging project by REC: Background
Budget: EUR
Duration: January June 2011
Donor: Federal Belgian Government through the ENVSEC Initiative
Geographical scope: South Eastern Europe
(Albania, BiH, FYRoM, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/1999)
with links to Ukraine covered by another project implemented by REC (CIDA)
website for the project:

6. Illegal logging project by REC: Phases
Fact-finding report concerning the magnitude, severity, practices and consequences of illegal logging in selected countries
Diagnostic audits to evaluate the policy, institutional and legal set-up and capacities to address the issue of illegal logging according to international standards.
Establishment of recommendations/ regional roadmap.
Conferences and events to bring attention to the problem of illegal logging (links to other projects: ECENA)

7. Illegal logging project: state of play
Fact-finding studies are completed in BiH, Serbia, FYRoM, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/1999 (Albania and Montenegro: World Bank fact-finding study)
Diagnostic audit reports completed in Serbia, Montenegro, Albania
Regional report is being prepared

8. Next steps Regional report to be finalized and published
Organization of a regional conference to share conclusions and recommendations and to establish a regional roadmap
Future activities:
Envisaging a larger platform for cooperation in the countries: seeking for endorsement by the beneficiary countries.
SEE Regional Action Plan; focus on cross border aspects
Establishment of a informal network on illegal logging including the responsible authorities in the focus countries, allowing for better regional cooperation/ coordination
Capacity building: trainings and information exchange on environmental crime

9. Role of the network for illegal logging
Informal network on illegal logging:
Coordination mechanism
Regional platform for cooperation
Secretariat support
Coherence with other instruments
Focus on shared natural resource management and combating environmental crimes/ illegal logging

10. Thank you for your kind attention! Mrs. Aniko Nemeth anemeth@rec.org