Civil society sees the VPA process as being about governance (G) rather than just trade (T) or law enforcement (E). A good VPA process requires including all stakeholders, building trust over time, and addressing the real causes of problems like illegal logging rather than just the symptoms. The process is as important as the outcome and needs to ensure the voices of weaker stakeholders are heard.

1. How does civil society see the VPA process? Iola Leal FLEGT Training course for EC delegations Brussels, 16-18 November 2009 The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU

2. Bad forest governance is the result of a variety of complex issues. Any process aiming to successfully reform governance must address these complexities. ‘ The process’ is THE KEY to success

5. Illegal logging is not a cause, but a symptom of other problems. To address illegal logging, the real causes need to be addressed

6. The process is as important as the outcome [and arguably more]