According to Dwi Sudharto, Director General of BPPHH-Ministry of Forestry: “SVLK is the solution, where the practice of illegal logging has indeed peaked in history in 2006, but since 2009 with the birth of P.38 / 2009, the practice has been decreasing. Although he admitted, in the practice field it is still often found. The decline in the case of illegal logging is also due to the role of the Forestry Independent Monitoring Network (JPIK) which plays its strategic role in the field, and this must be recognized because Independent Monitors are spread from Aceh to Papua.

The application of the Stantar Timber Legality Verification (SVLK) is recognized as not easy, but the Director General of BUK-Kemenhut has never stopped since the beginning of the Bali declaration on FLEGT in 2001. Until the latest developments, there are still many challenges, but in the context of full implementation of FLEGT-VPA Joint Assessment was conducted on the suitability of the SVLK with the EUTR (April-September 2013). The results of the Joint Assessment were then set forth in the EU-EU Action Plan on FLEGT-VPA in accordance with the agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the European Union at the Joint Preparatory Committee (JPC) and Joint Expert Meeting (JEM) on November 26-28, 2013. According to Dr. Dwi Sudharto, Director of BPPHH, this is an extraordinary progress.

SVLK is an initiative and commitment of the Government of Indonesia, not by encouragement or intervention from other countries in an effort to guarantee the legality of timber and Indonesian timber products marketed both domestically and export destinations (increasing competitiveness and opening market opportunities), suppressing illegal logging , towards achieving Sustainable Production Forest Management (PHPL), improving community welfare, increasing compliance with applicable regulations, building a culture of the use of legal products, and in order to improve the dignity of the nation. Thus said Director of BPPHH Ministry of Forestry-RI, DR. Dwi Sudharto on the occasion of a public consultation revision of Bali, NTB, NTT, Maluku, Papua and West Papua Regional SVLK regulations at Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Denpasar when giving directions on March 4, 2014.

In his direction Dwi Sudharto explained that the development and implementation of the SVLK had taken various stages in the past 14 years. This commitment has been established since the Bali Declaration on FLEGT. In 2002, bilateral cooperation was established with the United States, Japan, China, Britain and Australia. In 2003, the SVLK was developed jointly with multi-stakeholders to develop a rule that could be used as a guideline.

Chronologically it can be sorted as follows. In 2007, FLEGT-VPA negotiations began with the consequence that the SVLK rules would be issued according to the mandate of the Bali Declaration. In 2009, Minister of Forestry Decree No: P.38 / Menhut-II / 2009 was born regarding the Timber Legality Verification Standard (SVLK). In 2010, the European Union also issued its regulation namely EU-Timber Regulation No.995 / 2010. In 2011, the SVLK Regulation, P.38 / 2009 was revised to Minister of Forestry Regulation No: P.68 / Menhut-II / 2011. This change also involves all stakeholders, including Independent Monitors (PIs) from civil society and NGOs. In the same year, the FLEGT-VPA Joint Statement was implemented. In 2012, a Shipment Test was conducted to test the efficacy of the SVLK / FLEGT-VPA to the European Union. This year was also born Permendag No.64 / 2012 concerning the provisions of the export of forestry industry production. Still in the same year, P.38 / 2009, P.68 / 2011 was revised with P.45 / 2012. In 2013, the EUTR began, the signing of FLEGT-VPA (30/9) and its Ratification; SVLK implementation is valid since January 1; This 2014 Permendag, the Minister of Trade Regulation No.64 / 2012 was revised with Permendag No.81 / 2012. In the beginning of 2014, the Ratification of the EUTR (27/2) and the Joint Prepatory Committee (JPC) and Joint Expert Meeting (JEM).

According to Dwi, this is an extraordinary step forward in a very long and certainly tiring process. But on the other hand, Dwi acknowledged that Indonesia’s SVLK is the best in Asia and throughout the world. This is also recognized because indeed all stakeholders are fully involved from the start where there is a government in this case the RI Ministry of Forestry and forestry sector business people (IUPHHK-HA / HT / RE, IUPHHK-HTR / HKm / HD, IUIPHHK, IRT / Craftsmen), and PHPL Appraisal Institutions and VLK Appraisal Institutions, as well as Independent Monitors (PIs) which are the strategic roles of the community and NGOs as accommodated in the SVLK regulations.

Regarding the number of survey institutions, Dwi said that there were 14 LVLKs that were accredited according to the procedures in BUK-Kemenhut through the KAN-National Accreditation Committee, namely PT. BRIK, PT. Sucofindo, PT. Mutuagung Lestari, PT. Indonesian Green Quality, PT. TUV International Indonesia, PT. Equality Indonesia, PT. Sarbi Moerhani Lestari, PT. SGS Indonesia, PT. Transtra Permada, PT. Trustindo Primakarya, PT. Ayamaru Certification, PT. PCU Indonesia, PT. Global Resource Certification, PT. Scientific Certifiction System Indonesia. While LP-PHPL which is also accredited by KAN also amounts to 14 units, including: PT. Ayamaru Certification, PT. Sarbi International Certification, PT. Sucofindo SBU (SICS), PT. Almasentra Certification, PT. Rensa Global Trust, PT. Forescitra Sejahtera, PT. Mutuagung Lestari, PT. Nusa Bakti Mandiri, PT. Equality Indonesia, PT. Multima Krida Cipta, PT. TUV International Indonesia, PT. Global Resource Sertification, PT. Transtra Permada, PT. Primindo Trustindo.

Regarding the progress of certification, more or less in the period of 2009 – 2014 there were around 2 million hectares certified: PHPL-HT, 63 units (4,973,287 ha); PHPL-HA, 127 units (12,534,005 ha); PHPL-KPH, 8 units (249,227 ha); VLK-HT, 54 units (1,460,675 ha); VLK-HA, 23 units (1,658,060 ha); VLK-Forest Rights, 84 units (48,665 ha) and VLK-Industry, 944 units. The total certifications at least 198 PHPL units and 1105 VLK units. So that all certified 1,303 units of management.

This effort is also a strategic step to reduce the rate of forest destruction and the practice of illegal logging to illegal trading. So said Dwi Sudharto, General Director of BPPHH-Ministry of Forestry, SVLK is the solution, where is the practice of illegal logging in peaked history in 2006, but since 2009 with the birth of P.38 / 2009, the practice has been decreasing. Although he was admitted, the practice in the field is still often found. There could even be new modes created by entrepreneurs both upstream and downstream, even exporters. It also acknowledged that the role of illegal logging was also the role of the Independent Forest Monitoring Network (JPIK) which played its strategic role in the field, and this must be recognized because Independent Monitors spread from Aceh to Papua. It was also emphasized that there were not working based procedures, then his party would not be tolerant, and the proof was that the LP-PHPL had been revoked by KAN (National Accreditation Committee).

*** JASOIL Coordinator for Tanah Papua / JP Focalpoint West Papua – Pietsau Amafnini