Last week NGOs launched a EU Forest Manifesto calling for political groups, candidates for the European elections and EU leaders to support forests and forest peoples in their work.

This summer, the European Parliament passed a promising resolution intended to better protect the rights of the world's Indigenous peoples from the actions of private companies; it calls for an EU Action Plan on responsible business conduct and increased vigilance regarding funding by financial institutions.

“The village women taking on the palm oil giant,” is a story taken from Fern’s new briefing, reveals the gulf between company promises and reality on the ground, highlighting the urgent need to adopt binding measures as voluntary commitments have proved inadequate.

Fern’s new briefing highlights how Japan-EU Free Trade Agreement is likely to boost incentives for illegal or unsustainable practices in many countries where Japan sources its timber and wood products. It could also sabotage the EU’s own fight against illegal timber.

Save the date: On 29 November 2018, at the European Parliament, Fern and the FAO host “The new EU multi-financial financial framework (MFF): what’s in it for forests and community livelihoods?” exploring community forestry, sustainable forest management and the impact of EU aid funding with EU and Central African experts.

The Liberian Legislature has passed a game-changing Land Rights Bill, 4 September 2018, which facilitates proof of customary ownership of land, and includes important provisions on Free Prior and Informed Consent and women’s ownership and management roles; the Bill may yet be tripped up by administrative hoops.

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