JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT
ON
THE COOPERATION IN COMBATING ILLEGAL LOGGING
AND THE TRADE IN ILLEGALLY LOGGED TIMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Yoshiyuki Kamei, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan and Dr. Muhammad Prakosa, Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia,

Desiring to further promote the existing fruitful cooperation between the two countries through the bilateral schemes involving the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan International Forestry Promotion and Cooperation Center (JIFPRO), as well as multilateral frameworks such as the Asia Forest Partnership(AFP) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO),

Sharing concerns over the substantial economic, social and environmental damage resulting from illegal activities in the forestry sector,

Recalling the commitments made at the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance East Asia Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, in September 2001,

Confirming the commitment to involving stakeholders, including local communities, in the decision-making process in the forestry sector, thereby promoting transparency and ensuring greater equity,

Acknowledging the recent initiatives taken by the Government of Japan and by the Government of Indonesia to combat illegal logging,

Shared the views and intention to promote the cooperation between the two countries in combating illegal logging and the associated trade in illegally logged timber and wood　products as follows:

1. The cooperation will be conducted with the following objectives:
   
   1. Combating illegal trade of illegally logged timber and wood products by the efforts of both countries on the bases of a shared view that illegally harvested timber should not be used, the principles of equality, mutual respect and the mutual benefit and the utilization of cross-sector and wide-ranging means at all levels;
      
   2. Improving forest law enforcement for controlling the associated illegal trade and illegally harvested timber and wood products;
      
   3. Improving economic opportunities for the local communities in order to reduce associated illegal trade and the illegally harvested timber and wood products;
      
   4. Increasing awareness of the threats which forest crimes and forest destruction pose to our future environmental, economic and social well-being; and
      
   5. Promoting sound forest practices toward sustainable forest management.
      
2. The cooperation will focus on the following areas:
   
   1. Development, testing and implementation of the systems for verification of legal compliance in due course to be applied throughout Indonesia and Japan, in respect of timber and wood products imported directly or indirectly from Indonesia;
      
   2. Encouraging involvement of civil society in the effort to combat associated illegal trade and illegally harvested timber and wood products and particularly in monitoring the implementation of the systems for verification of legal compliance;
      
   3. Joint development of systems for the timely collection and exchange of data on timber and wood products trade between the two countries;
      
   4. Effective collaboration between enforcement agencies and the networks in the two countries, aiming to mutually provide information on the application of the relevant laws and regulations of the respective countries; and
      
   5. Human resources development including expert training as well as basic and higher education to strengthen the implementation of sustainable forest management.
      
3. The cooperation will be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations, and within the budgetary appropriations of the respective countries.
   
4. In order to guide the implementation of the contents of this Joint Announcement, both sides, when appropriate, will jointly establish an action plan including a timetable for the implementation of parts of the contents contained herein.
   
5. Both sides will jointly review the implementation of the contents of this Joint Announcement in due course.
   
6. The cooperation will be initiated on the date of signature and will continue until it is terminated either by joint decision of both sides or by either side by giving written notice to the other.
   
7. Any matters arising out of the interpretation　or implementation of this Joint Announcement will be settled amicably by consultation between both sides.

June 24, 2003, Tokyo