The document discusses the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument East Countries Forest Law Enforcement and Governance II Program (FLEG II Program). It is funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Bank in partnership with WWF and IUCN. The summary highlights some of the program's activities over the last few months, including establishing young forester unions in Azerbaijan to promote forest conservation, a forest festival held in Moldova celebrating the country's beech forest heritage, and a survey assessing forest dependency conducted across seven countries in Eastern Europe. The program aims to support sustainable forest management and improve forest governance.

1. w w w. e n p i - f l e g. o r g
T h e Pr o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d i m p l e m e n t e d
b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h W W F a n d I U C N
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D
A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T
E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L AW
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G OV E R N A N C E
I I P R O G R A M
Regional Bulletin
Autumn 2014
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The content, findings, interpretations, and conclusions of this publication are the sole responsibili ty of the FLEG II (ENPI East)
Program Team (www.enpi- fleg.org) and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Implementing Organizations.

2. www.enpi-fleg.org
A note on the Donors and Implementers of FLEG II Program can be found at the foot of this newsletter
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Welcome to the second FLEG II Program Regional Newsletter, which
gives you a taste of the activities of the last three months of the Program.
In this issue, we inform you about the FLEG II Program activities in Azer-
baijan, Armenia, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine from July to mid-October
2014. In future additions of the newsletter, we intend to keep you abreast
of the Program progress in each of the seven countries, including the
ongoing work in Russia and Belarus.
Since the first newsletter the development of the FLEG II website has
begun in earnest and further details on all the articles below can be
found at www.enpi-fleg.org.
Many activities within the Country Work Plans at this stage of the
FLEG II Program are related to research, analysis and consultations.
A new Documents section has been added to the website and when
the results of all these studies become available they will be posted on
the FLEG II Program website. Similarly, when new regulations reach the
statute book, they will be added to the website for your reference.
WELCOME!
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
YOUNG FORESTERS
CORNER
Young Foresters of Azerbaijan initiate new era
in the preservation of country’s forests
The FLEG II Program initiated
the young forester movement in
Azerbaijan to promote knowledge
of forestry and sustainable forest
management.
Azerbaijan is a beautiful country featuring
diverse landscapes and a home to rich bio-
diversity. Although the forests amount only
11% of Azerbaijani land, many communities
heavily depend on them.
The Republican Center on Ecological Ed-
ucation and Practice under the Ministry of
Education, along with the FLEG II Program,
has been able to mobilize youth, as well as
educational and forestry specialists in the
forest-dependent communities. The Ministry
of Ecology and Natural Resources provided
support through its affiliated forestry enter-
prises on the ground.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
There was a high interest to the formation of "school-based young forester unions". The
first brigades were established in the secondary schools of Gakh, Gusari, Ismailli and a
number of other forest regions of Azerbaijan. More requests have been received from Astara,
Lankaran and many other districts. This led to creation of a tutorial "School of the Young
Foresters" followed by trainings and round tables for the teachers and school students,
which revived public interest in forest preservation.
The FLEG II Program has been able to involve major ecological organizations, such as IDEA
(International Dialogue for Environmental Action), to support initiatives of young foresters
of Azerbaijan.
More information on young forester activities in Azerbaijan is available at www.enpi-fleg.az.
Young Forester from Azerbaijan wins at
International Junior Forest Contest
Vusala Suleymanova won the 3rd place at the International
Junior Forest Contest in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Earlier, the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan launched nation-wide Young Forester Con-
tests. The winners, young foresters from the Gakh city secondary school, became the first
participants from Azerbaijan to take part in international junior forestry contests held in
the Russian Federation. Passionate and dedicated students impressed both the jury and
international participants with their academic knowledge and practical skills.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
After winning Vusula said that
she would like to initiate an inter-
national young forester event in
Azerbaijan. This event would com-
plement the international summer
camp for young foresters, which
the FLEG II Program together with
the Republican Center of Ecolog-
ical Education and Practice have
already agreed to organize in Gakh
district of Azerbaijan in 2015.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Hundreds come out to Celebrate Moldova’s
Beech Forest Heritage
In Ungheni District, Moldova,
hundreds of people came
together to celebrate Moldova’s
valuable natural heritage,
Beech Forest Nature Reserve,
during the annual Beech
Festival, Culture and Tourism
Event.
Attendees enjoyed local food, arts, music,
and educational events promoting the forest
and the culture and folklore of the people
who live there.
"It was amazing to see so many people celebrating the forest heritage and all that it means
to them," said Aurel Lozan, the FLEG II national coordinator and program consultant. "This
forest is a hot-spot for biodiversity and one of the eastern-most stands of the beech, a sym-
bolic species of the area."
Local craftsmen showcased wood carving and other wood works and artists exhibited a va-
riety of artwork at the festival. FLEG sponsored an art contest and joined with the nature
reserve to sponsor a food contest of dishes prepared from local non-timber forest products
such as mushrooms, fruits, honey, and medicinal herbs.
"The event is another occasion for local communities to promote their traditions," said Gali-
na Norocea, a senior consultant with the Moldova Ministry of Environment. Norocea went
on to explain how the festival can help the conservation of the beech tree "through better
promotion of the beech in the culture of locals as well as of the ecological significance of
it as species."
The FLEG II Program also helped organize a number of events to educate participants and
local leaders on the value of forests, challenges facing them, and economic opportunities
that come from sustainable healthy forests. FLEG II took part in a field discussion with the
main stakeholders gathered in the area, including representatives from the Ministry of En-
vironment, Agency Moldsilva, Nature Reserve, local public administrations of surrounding
villages and communities, and members of the media.
6

7. Assessing Forest
Dependency in
Eastern Europe
www.enpi-fleg.org
Belarus basket
Consultant M.S.Lazareva holds a hand-made wicker basket
given to her by this couple in Belarus after she surveyed
them for the forest dependency study. The forest provides
this community with heating, mushrooms, berries and other
forest products and is also a source of raw materials for
making wicker and other goods, mainly for personal use.
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
In a land with communities
as diverse as its politics and
landscapes, FLEG II Program
undertook a survey that
attempts to quantify human
dependency on forests.
Over the last four months, consultants have
walked from house to house in rural areas
of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine, to complete
surveys of over 1250 households in forest
communities. The goal of the study is not
only to quantify how people rely on forests,
but also to help determine whether that reli-
ance is sustainable into the future, and why.
FORESTRY
CONSULTATION
7

8. "People in Eastern Europe have been
living in and around forests for count-
less generations and have their own
unique relationship with the forest,"
said Richard Aishton, FLEG II Program
Coordinator for the International Un-
ion for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
www.enpi-fleg.org
Tatev Village Armenia
The village of Tatev is surrounded by forest in
the high plains of south eastern Armenia, 1610
meters above sea level. Pensioners make up
one-third of the population, and residents of all
ages make use of the forest for fuel wood, wild
vegetables, carnelian cherry, walnut, blackberry,
wild rose berry, strawberry and medical plants.
Under direction from Bakkegaard and FLEG II country program coordinators,
consultants in the seven countries carried out the surveys between May and
August of 2014. With the ground work complete, Bakkegaard and other con-
sultants are compiling and analysing the results of the survey now and expect
to release them at the FLEG II Forest Dependency Workshop October 28-30,
2014. The final report will be available for peer review in the following months.
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
"We hope this study will be valuable
not only to the local and national of-
ficials as they set and enforce forest
policy that directly impacts these peo-
ple, but also to larger efforts to better
understand the human dependency on
nature, no matter where we live."
"We worked hard to prepare and im-
plement this work, and the sample has
already given us very useful results,"
said Riyong Kim Bakkegaard, IUCN
Consultant coordinating work on the
survey.
By compiling the data from the seven countries, FLEG II hopes to answer many
questions, among them:
• What value does the forest have to these communities?
• What forest-related products are significant?
• Who in particular is most dependent on the forest?
• How do these communities use the forest? For example, as a safety net?
For current consumption?
• Why do they use the forest?
• What are the implications of their relationship with the forest?
• How does this relationship factor in or relate to national and regional forest
policy? To climate resilient development?
8

9. Are Azerbaijan’s Ancient Forest Communities
Ready for Climate Change?
www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
While ancient culture still
thrives in Lahij, Azerbaijan, the
forests around the village have
been degraded and the effects
of climate change are becoming
more evident. FLEG II is
assessing these impacts and
how ready the village is to
adapt to the changing climate.
Stepping past the wood-fired bread oven in the sandstone courtyard into the
cool shade of one of the many generations-old coppersmith workshops in Lahij,
Azerbaijan, you are likely to find museum-quality copper goblets sitting alongside
dozens more on shelves and in well-worn niches in the stone walls. In these
ground floor workshops under thousand-year-old homes, villagers still speak
the local Lahiji language, a version of Tati, spoken by only a few thousand
people, and proudly trace their connections to the court of the legendary Shah
Kay Khosrow who vacationed in the village a millennium ago.
Its ancient language and medieval streets, arts, and even sewers have withstood
the test of time, but how ready is the village to adapt to a changing climate?
Until recently, little has been done to understand the impacts of climate change
on Azerbaijan’s forest communities such as Lahij. Like in many other forest
communities in Eastern Europe, unregulated tourism, illegal grazing and logging,
and a warming climate have taken a toll on the resources Lahij’s residents use
for food, medicine and firewood.
What impacts of climate change are already evident? How ready are these com-
munities to adapt? What can local residents and governments do to mitigate the
impacts on their communities? Those are some of the questions Bariz Mehdiyev
is trying to answer for the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance program
(FLEG II) through a series of surveys in forest communities in Azerbaijan.
"We are working to get an idea of how local authorities and local communities
understand climate change, its negative impact to forest areas, and climate
change adaptation and mitigation," said Mehdiyev.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
"Forest communities and forest beneficiaries should understand both the economic and social
aspects of climate change impacts such as how long lasting hot days during the summer
season can lead to ‘heat stresses’ and increased fire cases," said Azer Garayev, ENPI East
FLEG II Country Program Coordinator for the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN), a FLEG II project partner organization. "We hope this project will give us a better
understanding of what people in Azerbaijan’s forest communities know and don’t yet know
about how climate change could impact them and what they can do about it."
For more details go to enpi-fleg.org
A tourist destination in Azerbaijan welcomes
sustainable recreation in its forest territories
Zitta Hasanova, FLEG II Program’s Forestry Recreation
Research Consultant in Azerbaijan, researched into opportunities
of ecological tourism in one of the hottest touristic spots in
Azerbaijan — Gusar district.
Eco Tourism Meeting in Gusar
Gusar district is distinguished by its fascinating
forest landscapes, abundance of pure springs and
beneficial climate. Gusar is also of a high historical
value; there are many historical monuments in the
villages including old mosques and museums.
During her trip to the pilot regions in August 2014,
Zitta Hasanova met with a wide spectrum of stake-
holders from the state Forest Rehabilitation and
Protection Enterprise (FRPE), state Tourist and
Culture department, local executive authorities and
forest-dependent communities.
The concluding roundtable held in the Museum of
the Local History of Gusari city revealed a high
stakeholder interest towards the development of
ecological tourism. Participants reaffirmed their
readiness to be active in implementation of re-
spective activities.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Stakeholders discussed progress of TEEB Scoping
Study and FSC’s potential in Azerbaijan
TEEB Scoping Study Meeting
At a recent meeting, Rovshan
Abbasov, FLEG II Program’s WWF
Consultant on TEEB scoping study,
presented preliminary outcomes
of his study to the stakeholders to
obtain their feedback.
"Forests of Azerbaijan have significant ecosystem services and it is very important to evaluate
their economic, social and cultural services", said Mr. Abbasov. Experts concluded that the
major threats of sustainable forests are illegal timber production, non-sustainable tourism
and overgrazing which could be solved by improving forest governance.
The second part of the meeting was dedicated to the Voluntary Forest Certification and the
Principles and Criteria of FSC potential in Azerbaijan, which were presented by an FSC
expert Mr. Vasili Gerasimov. Participants finalized the discussions with the FSC-certification
prospective for Azerbaijani forestry sector.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a worldwide initiative aimed to draw
attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity including the growing cost of biodiversity
loss and ecosystem degradation. TEEB presents an approach that can help decision-makers
recognize, demonstrate and capture the values of ecosystem services and biodiversity.
The meeting brought together governmen-
tal officials, leading ecological NGOs and
scholars as well as international organiza-
tions. The comments and suggestions of the
participants will be incorporated into the final
report of the TEEB study.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Round tables in pilot regions helped outline
forest rehabilitation techniques
Allahverdi Dolkhanov, FLEG II Program IUCN Tugay forest
rehabilitation Consultant in Azerbaijan, held meetings and
roundtables in the 8 districts located in Kura-Araz lowland
and Ganja-Gazakh regions in August 2014.
These districts used to have vast areas of valuable riparian Tugay forests.
These forests are highly sensitive to changes in water supply and rapidly
decline under anthropogenic pressure.
In the past exactly this zone was a home to the large Tugay forestland
in the country. The aim of the meetings was to assess the current status
of Tugay forests and discuss with the participants existing and possible
Tugay forest rehabilitation techniques.
Participants representing local foresters, forestry enterprises, authorities,
local communities and media elaborated on the effectiveness of past and
present methods and approaches applied for restoration of former Tugay
forests. Out of various ideas proposed by the stakeholders, the most
popular one was to plant mixed forests, which would meet economic and
social demands of local population in collection of wild fruits and berries
as well as medicinal plants.
Tugay Forest Rehabilitation Meeting
12

13. Home at Last: Tusheti
Protected Landscape
Officially Under Local
Control
www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
For the first time since before
the Soviet era, local officials
can manage and protect the
forest based on local needs.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
COLUMN
In September of 2014, the Georgian Gov-
ernment officially transferred control of the
Tusheti Protected Landscape to the Akhmeta
municipality. It is the first case of decentral-
izing forest management in Georgia and the
first time forests in Tusheti have been under
local control since the beginning of the So-
viet period in Georgia in 1921.
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Tusheti Protected Landscape is
an ecological wonder located on
the Northern slopes of the Greater
Caucasus Mountains in Georgia.
It is classified as a category V pro-
tected area by IUCN, which means
it is a unique place "where the in-
teraction of people and nature over
time has produced an area of dis-
tinct character with significant eco-
logical, biological, cultural and sce-
nic value; and where safeguarding
the integrity of this interaction is
vital to protecting and sustaining
the area and its associated nature
conservation and other values."
With the centralized and uncertain authority over the forest during much of the last 100 years,
the forests in the Tusheti Protected Landscape were not receiving the management or sil-
vicultural attention they needed. Local people were unable to get clear direction on how to
legally and sustainably meet their local forest needs, especially with regard to obtaining
legal firewood and timber.
"Local control in Tusheti forests is a way to sustainably meet local forest needs and provide
employment for local people in forest management, tourism, and recreation," said Merab
Matchavariani, National Forestry Consultant for FLEG II program in Georgia who is develop-
ing the methodology for forest management in the Tusheti Protected Landscape. "The local
administration is working hard to undertake all the necessary measures to establish proper
forest management so it will be able to meet the primary objectives of ensuring the integrity
of forest ecosystems and their ecological stability over the long run."
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E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
With the legal transfer of authority now in place, the Tusheti Protected Landscape Admin-
istration can enhance forestry personnel, undertake forest inventory, elaborate a forest
management plan, and establish a transparent and sustainable system of harvesting and
supply of forest products to meet local needs. The Administration will also be responsible
for undertaking all the necessary measures in consideration of its Protected Area status,
including forest fire control and proper management of pests and diseases.
This year in Georgia, FLEG II is working across three main pillars of work: assessing forest management in protected
areas, supporting locally controlled forestry, and assessing the extent of human dependency on nature (HDN) in forested
landscapes. For more information please, contact Marika Kavtarishvili from IUCN Caucasus Cooperation Center at:
marika.kavtarishvili@iucn.org
"Tusheti is both a beautiful place with tremen-
dous natural value and a place where peo-
ple depend on the land for their livelihoods,"
said Marika Kavtarishvili, FLEG II country
program coordinator for IUCN Georgia and a
native of the Tusheti region. "This transition
to local control can help both the forest and
the people living there, and a lot of work has
gone into it from both the national and local
levels to make sure it does."
The FLEG II Program has been working with
all parties to provide the technical expertise
required at various stages of the process.
Until recently, the goal was to register the
Tusheti Protected Landscape as a ‘Forest of
Local Significance’ to complete the transi-
tion to local control (see "Preparing the final
mile in historic handover of Georgian for-
est protection to local control" on the FLEG
website), but over the summer authorities
identified a more direct way. The Georgian
Government amended two forest laws al-
lowing the Tusheti Protected Landscape
to remain within the government controlled
forest system, called the State Forest Fund,
but under the management of the Akhmeta
municipality through its Tusheti Protected
Landscape Administration.
15

16. ENPI East and Central
Asian Countries
Regional Conference
www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
EVENTS
Senior-level participants from
the ENPI East and Central Asian
regions met in Tbilisi, Georgia,
on 9 July, 2014, to discuss
progress in implementing the
Saint Petersburg Declaration on
Forest Law Enforcement and
Governance in Europe and North
Asia (ENA-FLEG Declaration,
November 25, 2005).
Ten of the forty-four signatories to the Declaration were present. The meeting was organized
by the FLEG II Program, which is funded by the EU and implemented by the World Bank,
WWF and IUCN. The meeting was co-chaired by Mathieu Bousquet from the European
Commission and Tuukka Castrén from the World Bank.
16

17. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
During the meeting, nine years of progress and substantive achieve-
ments in fulfilling the ENA-FLEG Declaration commitments at national
and regional levels were reviewed. Recommendations for future action
were also developed, focusing in particular on opportunities for regional
and international cooperation.
Participants recognized that the is-
sues and challenges identified in
the ENA-FLEG Declaration are still
relevant. At the same time, the en-
vironment we work in has changed.
Issues such as climate change;
higher demand for wood energy,
wood products, and forest services;
inter-sectoral linkages; and recog-
nition of the green economy have
modified the landscape. Initiatives
such as the EU Timber regulation
(EUTR), the Lacey Act, the Russian
Roundwood Act, Forest Europe and
a number of revised forest codes
in signatory countries have signif-
icantly changed institutional and
legal frameworks at international
and national levels.
For futher details (photos, presentations) see FLEG II Program website www.enpi-fleg.org
17

18. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Celebrating FSC Friday
in Georgia
In the framework of celebrating
FSC Friday in Georgia on
September 26, Ilia Osepashvili,
FLEG II Country Program
Coordinator for WWF in Georgia,
presented existing perspectives,
challenges and solutions on the
way towards forest certification.
WWF-Caucasus Programme Office in Tbilisi
organized the meeting aiming to highlight
the importance of FSC-based voluntary for-
est certification and relevant perspectives
in Georgia. The meeting was attended by
representatives of WWF offices in Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Germany and Russia.
More information about FSC Friday can be found here:
www.fscfriday.org
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an in-
ternational non-profit organization dedicated
to promoting responsible forestry. FSC certi-
fies forests all over the world to ensure they
meet the highest environmental and social
standards. FSC Friday is a global celebration
of the world's forests and aims to highlight
the importance of responsible forest man-
agement. Every year, schools, businesses,
individuals, forest owners/managers and
other organizations around the world get
involved in spreading the word about FSC
and responsible forestry.
18

19. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
On July 3, the Telekritika, a
popular Ukranian website about
media, announced the results
of the competition sponsored by
FLEG II.
Olena Sereda, journalist of the newspaper
"Business", won the highest award in the
competition for her article that focused on
issues that affect the development of the
Ukrainian forest industry. It also covered
the roundtables conducted by the FLEG II
program with the new leadership of the state
forest agency. Olena Sereda
Mykhail Popkov, Yulia Zelinska, Iryna Fedoriv
Iryna Fedoriv, who was a winner in 2011 for a series of stories on protection of the forest
on the border of the town of Kotsyubynske and Kyiv, was given a special award — for five
years of social work directed to returning the forest to the community and for her important
contribution to the creation of the branch of Holosyivsky National Park "Bilychansky Forest".
Other winners included an article about financial irregularities in the State Forestry Agency
and two journalistic investigations into corruption schemes concerning communal and state
forests in Mykolayiv Oblast and near Kyiv (the journalists are still investigating) .
The competition lasted from February to May 2014. Each judge of the competition, all well-
known journalists and foresters, allotted the marks on their own. Ratings of participants
were then determined based on the total score. Those rated first received top prizes.
Yuri Rybachuk, Inna Kuznetsova
Ukraine Journalists win prizes in Forestry
Media Competition
19

20. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
The jury received some 100 materials aired or published between
July 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014 in Ukrainian media. The 25 most
exciting works were posted on the Telekritika website, with the
payment of fees to the authors, and all works without exception
were posted for general access on the site of FLEG II program.
Foresters gain insight and confidence
on Round Timber Regulations!
FLEG II organized a training on the
implementation of "Wood Tracking
System through Supply Chain".
The first training on the "Round Timber Reg-
ulations and Manual" was organized on 4 and
5 October in Goris, Armenia, with participants
from Vayots Dzor, Sisian, Kapan and Goris
Forest Enterprises.
Mykhail Popkov
As envisaged in the FLEG II Program Arme-
nia Country Workplan, the training covered
the theory and practical implementation of
the new timber regulations.
Competition judges Inna Kuznetsova, editor of the Kyiv office of Ra-
dio Liberty, and Yuri Rybachuk, editor of the weekly Comments, said:
"We are journalists and therefore our prime interest is journalistic
investigations as the most dangerous genre, so we opted for them."
Mykhailo Popkov, an expert of program FLEG II (EІSP/Skhid 2), and editor of Ukranian For-
ester website, suggested that next year, the contest should include a special nomination for
foresters who alongside with journalists communicate and explain forest issues to the public.
20

21. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
They were drafted in 2011, and recently ap-
proved by the state authorities and made
mandatory for application. The regulations
cover using wood marking hammers, per-
sonal stamps, numbered labels, and staplers
with needles and tapes in order to monitor
wood movement in the supply chain.
The training was delivered over two days,
in three groups, each comprising of up to
20 participants. The first day of the training
was dedicated exploring and explaining the
Regulation and the Manual through Power
Point Presentations, lively discussions and
Q/A sessions. At the end of the day the par-
ticipants completed a test on the obtained
knowledge.
The second day of the training was a prac-
tical, hands on implementation of the re-
quirements of the Regulation in the forest.
The trainer demonstrated the technique, ex-
plained the procedures and asked each of
the participants to perform different elements
of the process.
The foresters involved were given the op-
portunity to raise all kinds of questions of
concern during the practical application and
received guidance on further steps.
"It’s always better to see, rather than read
and try to make your own assumptions. Now
that both the theoretical and practical parts
of the process are learned, we are more
confident with the new system", one of the
participants said after the training.
21

22. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Day of Forester in Georgia
This year, Georgia revived the
tradition of celebrating annual
Day of Forester. FLEG II
Program took part in the event.
The Day of Forester was established in
Georgia in 1999. Foresters from all over the
country used to gather on 10th of October to
celebrate their professional day. However, it
has not been observed for many years.
This fall, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
Protection of Georgia (MENRP), together with National Forest
Agency (NFA), revived the tradition and organized a special
event for marking the professional day of Georgian foresters. It
was touching not only for the foresters, but for everybody who
cares for the environment. MENRP hosted a reception and an
award ceremony. About hundred participants attended the event
including donors, NGOs, academia, media and foresters from
all over the country.
Elguja Khokrishvili, Minister of Environment made opening re-
marks, followed by a brief presentation on key achievement
in forestry sector. Levan Tabutsidze, Head of NFA, expressed
special gratitude to the international donor community and civil
society for valuable support provided for forestry sector develop-
ment in Georgia. He delivered an overview of ongoing projects
and programs, including FLEG II.
Fourteen foresters from various regions of Georgia were awarded for their valuable con-
tribution to the development of forestry sector. The Minister handed over certificates and
souvenirs crafted for the occasion. A special prize for the Best Forester of the Year was
awarded to Marine Sujashvili, Deputy Head, Department of Forest Maintenance of and
Restoration, NFA.
October 10, 2014 was a remarkable day encouraging foresters, supporting their professional
growth and raising public awareness.
22

23. What is FLEG II?
How did FLEG come about?
www.enpi-fleg.org
FLEG II is the regional "European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) East
Countries Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) II Program." Its objective is to
promote sustainable forest governance, management, and protection of forests in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. The program’s work helps to
promote the contribution of the region’s forests to climate change adaptation and mitiga-
tion, to ecosystems and biodiversity protection, and to sustainable livelihoods and income
sources for local populations and national economies.
In 2005, representatives of 44 governments signed the St. Petersburg Declaration, com-
mitting themselves to address illegal logging and improve forest governance. Momentum
towards strengthening forest law enforcement and governance in the ENPI region grew
when, in 2008, the EC, the World Bank, WWF and IUCN teamed up to implement the first
ENPI FLEG Program (2008–2012, 6 million EUR).
The ENPI Forest Law Enforcement and Governance II (FLEG II) Program (2012–2016,
9 million EUR) builds on the first ENPI FLEG I Program to support good forest governance,
sustainable forest management and forest protection in the ENPI East region.
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
YOUR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED
23

24. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
Which Organisations are the FLEG II
Program’s Donors and Implementers?
FLEG II is funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Bank, WWF and
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) .
What are the Specific Objectives of
the FLEG II Project?
The FLEG II Program has three specific Program Development Objectives:
• make progress implementing the 2005 St. Petersburg FLEG Ministerial Declaration in the
participating countries and support the participating countries commit to a time-bound
action plan to ensure its implementation and follow-up activities (regional level);
• review or revise (or establish a time-bound action plan to review or revise) forest sector
policies and legal and administrative structures; improve knowledge of and support for
sustainable forest management and good forest governance (including the impact of
related EU regulations) in the participating countries (national level); and,
• test and demonstrate best practices for sustainable forest management and the feasibility
of improved forest governance practices at the field-level on a pilot basis in all partici-
pating countries (sub-national level) .
How FLEG II Program is implemented?
Within the FLEG II Program there is an overall Program Management Team (PMT) consist-
ing of one member from each of the three Implementing Organizations (IOs). The PMT is
responsible for the overall planning, guidance, and implementation of the Program.
The Steering Committee (SC) includes a representative from each Participating Country,
the World Bank (WB), IUCN, WWF, and the European Commission. The SC meets at least
annually to discuss the Program’s progress and approve country workplans and it is re-
sponsible for providing advice on policy and strategic directions of the Program. The World
Bank and EC co- chair the SC and decisions are taken by consensus.
24

25. www.enpi-fleg.org
E U R O P E A N N E I G H B O R H O O D A N D PA R T N E R S H I P I N S T R U M E N T E A S T C O U N T R I E S F O R E S T L A W
E N F O R C E M E N T A N D G O V E R N A N C E I I P R O G R A M
T h e P r o g r a m i s f u n d e d b y t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n a n d
i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e Wo r l d B a n k i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h
W W F a n d I U C N
At the country level each country has a Country Program Coordination Team (PCT) which
is made up of one member from each of the three IOs.
Also each country has a National Program Advisory Committee (NPAC) which provides
guidance to the PCT. The NPACs generally consist of eight members (1 FLEG National
Focal Point, 2 representatives from key government institutions, 3 representatives from key
NGOs, 1 representative from the European Commission and 1 representative of the country
PCT). The NPAC’s role is to provide guidance to the IO’s on the development, planning,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Program activities at the national and
sub-national levels in each participating country.
If you would like any more information or have
any comments on any aspect of the FLEG II
Program, please send them by e-mail to the
Communication Team,
Feedback
Mark Gnadt mark.gnadt@iucn.org,
Gera Voskanyan, gvoskanyan@wwfcaucasus.org,
Carol Howard carol.howard@enpi-fleg.org.
25

26. EUROPEAN COMMISSION
The European Union is the world’s largest donor of official development assistance. EuropeAid
Development and Cooperation, a Directorate General of the European Commission, is
responsible for designing European development policy and delivering aid throughout
the world. EuropeAid delivers aid through a set of financial instruments with a focus on
ensuring the quality of EU aid and its effectiveness. An active and proactive player in the
development field, EuropeAid promotes good governance, human and economic development
and tackle universal issues, such as fighting hunger and preserving natural resources.
http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
WORLD BANK
The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of knowledge and funding for
its 188 member-countries. The organizations that make up the World Bank Group are owned
by the governments of member nations, which have the ultimate decision-making power
within the organizations on all matters, including policy, financial or membership issues.
The World Bank Group comprises five closely associated institutions: the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association
(IDA), which together form the World Bank; the International Finance Corporation (IFC);
the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Each institution plays a distinct role in the
World Bank Group’s mission to end extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of
people living on less than $1.25 a day to no more than 3 percent, and promote shared
prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40 percent for every country. For
additional information please visit:
http://www.worldbank.org, http://www.ifc.org, http://www.miga.org
IUCN
IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic
solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work
focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance
of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and
development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world,
and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws
and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation,
with more than 1,200 government and NGO members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts
in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and
hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world.
www.iucn.org
WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations,
with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s
mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future
in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity,
ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the
reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
www.panda.org
About ENPI FLEG Program
Project Partners
The Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) II European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument
(ENPI) East Countries Program supports participating countries’ forest governance. At the regional level, the
Program aims to implement the 2005 St. Petersburg FLEG Ministerial Declaration and support countries to commit
to a time-bound action plan; at the national level the Program will review or revise forest sector policies and
legal and administrative structures; and improve knowledge of and support for sustainable forest management
and good forest governance in the participating countries, and at the sub-national (local) level the Program will
test and demonstrate best practices for sustainable forest management and the feasibility of improved forest
governance practices at the field-level on a pilot basis. Participating countries include Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. The Program is funded by the European Union.
http://www.enpi-fleg.org
www.enpi-fleg.org 26