1. Project financed by the European Union
Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in Central Asia FLERMONECA regional staff meeting Bishkek
Project financed by the European Union

2. What is FELG about?
FLEG stands for Forest Law Enforcement and Governance;
is an international, participatory process initiated by the European Union, World Bank and other international organisations to elaborate and implement policies and practices aiming
to ensure sustainable forest management; and
to combat illegal activities and associated timber trade.
Aim => Promotion of legal and sustainable forest management and utilisation practices strengthening the rule of law, tackling the growing problem of illegal forest activities and enhancing local livelihoods. 2

3. Backgrounds: National Forest Programme (NFP, IPF 1995-97)
=> serves as framework to put international agreements into praxis for the promotion of SFM as country-driven implementation of SFM and forest-related contribution to sustainable development, support by multilateral and bilateral cooperation and donor support
EU FLEGT Action Plan (May 2003)
=> develop and implement measures to address illegal logging and related trade (primarily through Voluntary Partnership Agreements with timber producing countries)
ENA FLEG (St. Petersburg Declaration, November 2005)
=> nearly 300 participants representing 43 governments, the private sector, civil society and international organisations agreed to the Saint Petersburg Declaration on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance in Europe and North Asia (ENA) (includes an indicative list of actions) 3

4. How do we proceed?
Intensive structural analysis of the forest admin, forest code, laws and regulations, evaluation of FLEG C&I
Development of improvement recommendations
Establishment of and support to FLEG working groups and focal points
Provision of specific support on HCD and development of “best-practise” examples
Support on a regional exchange and the development of FLEG APs
Expected Results:
Improved capacities of forest ministries/ agencies for the implementation of effective forest governance
Recommendations for the improvement of the legal framework are developed
Development of national FLEG action plans is supported 4

5. Overview: Results and Activities per updated DoA, changes
1) Improved capacities of forest ministries/ agencies for the implementation of effective forest governance
1.1
Assessment of capacities and organisational development needs of responsible forest ministries or agencies and elaboration of capacity building plans
1.2
Implementation of capacity building and organisational development plans where possible in synergy with FLEG East, EFI. FAO, IUCN, WB and others
1.3
Definition and implementation of mechanisms to strengthen regional and sub-regional collaboration and exchange of experiences between Central Asia and the EU through exchange visits an on-site support
1.4
Definition of mechanisms to strengthen transparency of forest administration (e.g. audits)
2) Recommendations for the improvement of the legal framework are developed
2.1
Analysis of illegal forest activities and their causes and definition of mechanisms for improved monitoring structural conditions that affect the implementation of effective forest administration
2.2
Analysis of relevant legal framework, policies and working procedures identifying perverse incentives and potential for improvement
2.3
Elaboration of proposals for improvement of legal framework including by-law and inter-sector policies
3) Development of national FLEG action plans are developed is supported
3.1
Support and facilitate dialogue in the countries on FLEG related issues in accordance with the St. Petersburg Declaration and in the spirit of the respective national forest program principles
3.2
Establish and facilitate FLEG national and regional working groups and facilitate the nomination of National Focal Points; support the systematic cooperation and dialogue among forest authorities at all levels
3.3
Definition of functions of Focal Points and country teams and development of baselines for FLEG and FLEG action plans
3.4
Identification of mechanisms to promote participation of private sectors and civil society in the FLEG activities 5

6. Forest code and forest sector strategy, NFP forest administration
Regional overview: implementation focus
For all: FLEG awareness-rising measures during missions
Forest code and forest sector strategy, NFP
forest administration
FLEG AP
regional cooperation
Tajikistan
Focussed support of existing working groups on forest policy & strategy and structural amendments
Facilitate implementation of NFP
Support for by-laws and legislation
Assessment of HCD needs and development of best-practise example procedures
Drafting FLEG AP
Exchange in concern of the KYR FLEG AP and forest strategy development in KYR
Kyrgyzstan
Support for a consolidation of national forest strategy and revision of FC (=> NFP)
Facilitate activation of FLEG AP
Development of best-practise example procedures and practical guidelines for field implementation
Further development of by-laws & legislation
Review existing FLEG AP
Strengthen participation of civil/communal stakeholder
I.e. for FLEG as guiding example
Facilitate regional involvement of NGOs
Turkmenistan
Support on by-laws & legislation
St. Petersburg Declaration not yet signed, FLEG rather unknown
Regional exchange desired
Uzbekistan
Clarification on responsibility and objectives => NFP
Focussed support of existing WGs on forest policy & strategy and on by-laws & legislation
Support for FLEG AP
Stimulation for regional cooperation required
Kazakhstan
Support for NFP development
High expectation on regional cooperation exists beyond FLEG 6

7. FLEG Criteria & Indicators (C&I), an example
Administration of forest resources
LEGAL FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT LAND TENURE, OWNERSHIP AND USE RIGHTS 7

8. 8

9. Time-bound Action Plan (TAP) and Operational Plan (OP)
Roadmaps
(examples:) 9

10. Impact and visibility Regional impact:
Connecting partner countries indirectly by streamlining our input
Connecting partner countries directly by bringing them together for specific tasks (=> FLEP AP): regional meetings and exchange visits
synergies with FLEG East, EFI. FAO, IUCN, WB etc.
Visibility:
High-level entrance (entry-point as well as experts)
Following the structure of EU FLEG (NFP, EU FLEGT; ENA FLEG, St. P’burg Declaration), indicating related backgrounds
EU-Visibility also by material used and distributed 10

11. FLEG in Tajikistan: Country Specifics and Key Aspects11

12. forests in Tajikistan occupy an area of 410 thousand hectares.
Country Specifics:
Forests in Tajikistan are State property referred to as “first group forests:
total area of the state forest reserves is 1.8 million hectares; some 23% of them are under tree plantations.
forests in Tajikistan occupy an area of 410 thousand hectares.
the annual precipitation in lowland hot deserts of Northern Tajikistan and cold mountain deserts of East Pamir averages from 70 to 160 mm, while in Central Tajikistan precipitation can exceed 1,800 mm a year.
increment of the forests  in average around 3000 m3/y   12

13. Policy and legislation: Law on Nature Protection; (1992)
State Program for Development of Protected Areas; (2005)
Law on Biological Safety (2005)
National Forestry Program ( )
Forestry Code adopted (2011)
International obligations
Sankt-Petersburg Declaration signed; (2005)
FLEG Action Plan is being drafted (2013) 13

14. National legislation does not fully cover policy directions;
TAJIKISTAN
Challenges/Issues
National legislation does not fully cover policy directions;
National Forest Development Strategy is missing;
Legal framework envisaged but the roles and responsibilities of national and local forest authorities are remain unclear;
Relevant bylaws are missing to activate the Forest Code adopted in 2011;
Rehabilitation and management of the remaining forest associations;
Preparation of a comprehensive afforestation program to include fuelwood plantations and refinement of forest management schemes like the JFM that are suitable for community and smallholder forestry. 14

15. Perspectives and potential for promotion of FLEG
TAJIKISTAN
Perspectives and potential for promotion of FLEG
Development of FLEG National Action Plan;
Improvement of legal framework; (development of bylaws)
Support for improving capacity and institutional set up;
(organizational analysis of the national and local forest management authorities)
Support for clarification  of roles and responsibilities;
Support and guidance for developing of management instruments;
(document management, development of business and management plans)   15

16. FLEG in Kyrgyzstan: Key Aspects

17. Kyrgyzstan joined to FLEG in 2005 (Sankt-Petersburg Declaration)
Background
Kyrgyzstan joined to FLEG in 2005 (Sankt-Petersburg Declaration)
FLEG Action Plan was developed and approved by the Kyrgyz Government in 2009
Barriers
National policy documents exist yet their implementation is weak (including FLEG AP)
National legislation does not fully represent Policy directions
Forest management system which may not prevent illegal actions
Weak incentives to sustainable forest management among forest users
Lack of inter-sectoral dialogue which sometimes lead to conflicts for resources at a local level 17

18. Potential for FLEG promotion in Kyrgyzstan
To start implementation of some actions indicated in the FLEG AP approved by the Kyrgyz Government
To link FLEG activities to Forestry Reform aimed at sustainable forest management
To build a policy dialogue to promote FLEG and sustainable forest management
To promote regional cooperation on forest management, especially with Tajikistan
To promote an inter-sectoral dialogue with stakeholders from pasture, water, wild-life and other natural resources sectors
To coordinate activities with other partners (FAO/GEF 5, World Bank and others) 18

19. Forest cover in Turkmenistan
Forest cover is 8.8% (4.1 million hectares)
Saxaul (Haloxylon spp.) considered as dominant forest species
Juniper turkomanica
Tugai forests 19

20. Forest Management and national peculiarities
Turkmenistan is not a party to the St. Petersburg Declaration
The new Forest Code is ratified in 2011 and National Forest Program 2020 adopted in 2012
National afforestation program in place since 1998
Forest Administration is under the Ministry of Nature Protection
Missing by-laws to the Forest Code
Lengthy process of ratification of by-laws
Forest inventory ( )
Limited expertise and lack of up-to-date methodologies 20

21. Background in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has signed Saint-Petersburg Declaration in 2005
No formalized structure on FLEG exists
No FLEG action plan developed
Logging ban in 2003 (saxaul and conifers), export ban in 2004
No forest policy
Legislation is mainly targeting forest protection, not management
Private forest plantations promoted (50% co-funding from the Gov.)
Poor funding of scientific base, declined quality of forestry education
Forest sector has the lowest salaries in the country
Development projects decided without involvement of public and PAs 21

22. FLEG actions in Kazakhstan
Support the Forest Policy development;
Support development of the FLEG Action Plan;
Link Forest Policy and FLEG objectives and activities;
Identify the challenges for sustainable forest management and provide specific support; 22

23. Thank you Спасибо за внимание Bunyod Sabzaliev
FLEG National Coordinator Tajikistan
Sulaiman Berdikeev
FLEG National Coordinator Kyrgyzstan
Dana Yermolyonok
FLEG National Coordinator Kazakhstan
Gulbahar Abdulasurova
FLEG National Coordinator
Turkmenistan
Grigoriy Samoylov
Uzbekistan
Dr. Joachim Krug
FLEG Component Coordinator
Hessen-Forst International Consulting Services 23