Carsten Brinkschulte’s Post

At Tropical Forest Alliance, we support the global transition to deforestation-free supply chains for tropical commodities including palm oil, soy, beef, and paper/pulp. Around 60% of tropical deforestation is driven by the expansion of commercial agriculture. But on the International Day Of Forests, I'd like to highlight another ecosystem that is just as important - tropical savannahs. Because deforestation and conversion is happening in these regions too. One such savannah is the Cerrado - the second-largest biome in Brazil after the Amazon rainforest. Covering 21% of Brazil, its extensive root systems and deep soils sequester around 1/6th of the country's total stored carbon. It's also home to 5% of the planet's biodiversity, making it vitally important that we protect this critical biome. This World Economic Forum agenda blog explains how ending deforestation and illegal conversion in the Cerrado, along with drastically reducing the speed of legal conversion and restoring millions of hectares of degraded land, could unlock unlock $72 billion for Brazil's economy: https://lnkd.in/eNRTvN-R #InternationalDayOfForests #Cerrado #TropicalForests #Emissions #Climate #Savannah #ForestDay #IntlForestDay

As global deforestation continues to grow at an alarming rate, the European Union (EU) has implemented Regulation 2023/1115 or the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a stringent measure mandating that all commodities such as soy, cocoa, coffee, beef, palm oil, rubber, or wood entering or leaving the EU must be certified as not contributing to recent deforestation or forest degradation. Enacted on June 29, 2023, this regulation is part of the EU's broader effort to combat biodiversity loss and climate change, reflecting its commitment to reducing its global environmental footprint. This article explores the development of this critical regulation, its current implications, and the forthcoming steps to ensure its effective implementation and extension. Read the complete article 'EU takes responsibility for deforestation with European Deforestation Regulation' from the recently released Agrospecial e-magazine by the Netherlands Agricultural Network in the link below. Here you can find other articles published in the Agrospecial 11: Impact of EU Deforestation Regulation worldwide: https://lnkd.in/e4YeQvZi #EUDR | #Deforestation | #agrospecial | Ministerie van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur | Netherlands | FAO | Permanent Representation of the Netherlands to the EU | European Commission | European Parliament | Council of the European Union| Anne-Margreet Sas | Carla Boonstra https://lnkd.in/eTQvbCvU

It is time for consumers and investors of agricultural commodities to step up and reassert their commitment to a healthy, just, and balanced climate, planet and society. We need to eradicate deforestation and conversion from our food systems, the same way we do not accept child labor or similar immoral practices. It is unacceptable to coexist with deforestation and conversion of native ecosystems in a planet heading towards +2 C degrees, where some 70% of biodiversity has been lost, in a country like Brazil where there are some 107 million hectares of degraded, abandoned, poorly utilised or simply wasted lands. We need to find other ways for those in the frontiers to thrive that is not linked to deforestation, we need to share more equally historical gains and responsibilities. We need to strengthen and expand measures such as the Amazon Soy Moratorium instead of dismantle it. Some recent coverage on the latest threats to initiatives seeking to make the world a better place for multiple people and generations: https://lnkd.in/ePWa5H9j https://lnkd.in/ecgp58bd

'Check-the-box' approach to EUDR fails the fight against deforestation Euronews, Rainforest Alliance While the EUDR aims to combat deforestation linked to agriculture and logging, there is the chance that companies will focus solely on compliance rather than supporting sustainable practices among producers, particularly smallholders. There is a pressing need for holistic solutions that include better economic incentives, long-term contracts, and investments in climate-smart agriculture. These measures can promote sustainability and resilience in supply chains. Ultimately, a shift towards addressing the economic and social factors driving deforestation is essential to ensure both environmental protection and the livelihoods of farmers. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4dMSIJz #eudr #smallholders #foodsupplychain #deforestation

On the International Day of Forests, I'm happy to share an article I drafted for the Tropical Forest Alliance that highlights the significance of the Cerrado - the largest biome in South America after the Amazon and the most biodiverse savanna in the world. Its trees, grasses and soils lock away one-sixth of all Brazil's stored carbon, but it is under great threat from industrialised agriculture. This article and the report on which it is based, which I also edited, explain how to save this precious ecosystem in a way that balances environmental protection with economic production. https://lnkd.in/esHYk_jY

Deforestation and Forest Loss: great visuals and explanations "It’s the foods and products we buy, not where we live, that have the biggest impact on global land use. 14% of deforestation is driven by consumers in the world’s richest countries — we import beef, vegetable oils, cocoa, coffee, and paper that has been produced on deforested land. That is why we should be focusing on tropical deforestation. Since agriculture is responsible for 60 to 80% of it, what we eat, where it’s sourced from, and how it is produced are our strongest levers to bring deforestation to an end." https://lnkd.in/g4sVfuvx

🌿 New analysis by Global Witness and Trase highlights palm oil as the top contributor to tropical forest loss among commodities consumed by Americans. This underscores the urgent need to address the environmental impact of palm oil production, which often involves clearing vast rainforests. Efforts to curb this footprint are gaining momentum, with importing nations like the EU enforcing regulations. However, tackling deforestation requires more than regulation – it demands rethinking farming practices for sustainable agriculture. Let's prioritize solutions that balance economic interests with environmental preservation. #Deforestation #PalmOil #Sustainability 🌴🌎 https://lnkd.in/exakvaKy.

🌳 Companies are ramping up efforts to address #deforestation in their supply chains, driven by incoming due diligence laws in the EU, UK and US. But traceability alone is not a silver bullet to end deforestation. Due diligence legislation focuses on the agricultural product directly expanding into forest. But as deforestation is driven by dynamic agricultural markets and competition between land uses, the indirect drivers of deforestation can be overlooked. Companies and governments must invest in landscape approaches to address the systemic drivers of deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss. Read the insight by Erasmus zu Ermgassen 👇 #EUDR #FORESTAct #ukenvironmentact

These recent proposed revisions to the Brazilian Soy Moratorium highlight a crucial lesson: monitoring mechanisms are just as critical as the agreements themselves. The issue is particularly relevant as we approach the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), where effective compliance monitoring will be essential for success. #sustainability #deforestation #EUDR #supplychain #commodities

Study supporting Fairtrade International approach. To be admired the consistent and great work you have done and are doing! "Through its pricing and premiums regulations, standards and tools, and producer support, the Fairtrade system is correlated with action on curbing deforestation and forest protection. (...) As Fairtrade farmers may be at a lower risk of deforestation than non-Fairtrade farmers, as they now must comply with EUDR regulation and are likely to conduct agroforestry, Fairtrade can be considered an important partner for any trader looking to demonstrate their own compliance with EUDR and other environmental best practices.” #EUDR #supplychain #sustainability #software Factlines https://lnkd.in/dnr6zme3