Launch of the French National Strategy against Imported Deforestation (SNDI) within the framework of the GNFT

Brune Poirson, Secretary of State to the Minister of State, Minister for the Ecological and Solidarity Transition, launched the implementation of the SNDI during GNFT meeting, February 14, 2018. The flagship and priority SNDI measures were presented to initiate its implementation.

The National Group on Tropical Forests (GNFT), an informal consultative body whose objective is to discuss the French doctrine and guidelines on tropical forests, met on 14 February to present the implementation of the French National Strategy against Imported Deforestation (SNDI).

Adopted in November 2018 (see article), this strategy (available here in French), aims to implement starting from 2018 actions aiming to end in 2030 the importation of non-durable forest or agricultural products contributing to deforestation. Through 5 orientations, it is listened into 17 objectives and associated measures.

During this meeting, the flagship measures identified to start the implementation of the SNDI were presented by the pilot ministries (MTES, French ministry of environment, and MEAE, French ministry of agriculture and forest):

develop by the end of 2019 a roadmap for each exporting country or exporting region (Obj 2): these roadmaps, developed on the basis of a partnership approach and a constructive dialogue with producer countries and stakeholders, will include an institutional component and an operational component. In parallel with the dialogue with the producing countries, a dialogue will be initiated with other consumer countries such as China and India, in order to collectively work to improve the sustainability of supply chains for hazardous raw materials and create commitments.
Set up the Platform to fight Imported Deforestation (Obj.16), which will be multi-sectoral, aimed at public-private rapprochements and information sharing. This platform will offer 3 main types of functionalities: mobilization of actors, information system, import and risk alert monitoring system, and development of a « zero deforestation » label. This last point is at the beginning, and should be the subject of participatory reflection (invitations planned for next spring) and a first online version is scheduled for the fall.
Publish the « zero deforestation » public purchasing policy (Obj 8): the » zero deforestation Public order » pedagogical guide for public purchasers was presented. It will raise public buyers’ awareness of risky purchases of imported deforestation and suggest ways of avoiding or limiting them, with a goal of zero imported deforestation in 2022.

A call for applications has been launched to integrate the SNDI Monitoring Committee, which will include representatives of the private sector, administration, NGOs, experts, and research organizations.

The ATIBT, during the discussions that followed the presentations, was asked to share the experiences of the tropical timber industry in forest preservation, through the certification process and the FLEGT mechanism, but also on its management experience and promotion of the Fair&Precious label to extend the reflection on the creation of a « Zero deforestation » label.

Through its commissions, ATIBT will therefore be involved in the implementation of this strategy, notably by applying to integrate the SNDI Monitoring Committee.

In addition, France’s initiative against imported deforestation is fully in line with the initiative that the EU will publish on imported deforestation and degradation by June 2019. Each of us can participate in the EU public consultation (available in all EU official languages) on stepping up action against deforestation and forest degradation, which will end on 25 February 2019.