SVLK: Improving Forest Governance and Promoting Trade of Legal Timber Products from Indonesia
WHAT IS SVLK ? Indonesia initiates the development of its own timber legality assurance system, called the SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) since 2001 to complement the tough law enforcement policies to combat illegal logging. At the time SVLK, Indonesia was notorious as an ‘illegal logging’ country. Law enforcement alone could not stop the massive logging of the forests, especially in a decentralized state like Indonesia, where natural resources management are in the hands of local governments. SVLK therefore complements law enforcement measures in combatting illegal logging by utilizing market forces and providing incentives for the timber-based industry to trade their products in a sustainable manner. Sustainability of Indonesia’s forests, the primary source of the timber-based industry, is the key objective of SVLK. The system provides incentives for legality by promoting market access for verified legal products and blocking market access for illegal products. SVLK promotes broader governance reforms, such as improved information, transparency, and capacity and community rights. The system was developed through multi stakeholder consultations involving government agencies, the private sector and civil society organisations. It is the first system of its kind in Asia.