Tiago Reis’ 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

Pledges and voluntary action alone are not enough to tackle global deforestation. The EU is taking a historic step with EUDR to verify that certain products are not sourced from recently converted forest land, a move essential to curb deforestation driven by agriculture. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), only seven commodities, including wood, rubber, cattle, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and soy, contributed to 57% of tree cover loss linked to agriculture from 2001 to 2015. This loss replaced forests equivalent to more than twice the size of Germany. The EU, as the second-largest market for these commodities after China, is witnessing a rise in demand. The requirement for manufacturers to demonstrate that their products are not linked to recent deforestation is a crucial step towards preserving global forests. Read more about this significant initiative here: https://lnkd.in/dr_Jwiw9

Here's some sobering deforestation facts to start off the week: Did you know that 420 million hectares of forest have been cut down since 1990, releasing on average 5 billion tonnes of CO2 into the air. This is equivalent to nearly 10% of global emissions. 1. We lose around 10 million hectares of forest every single year 2. Deforestation contributes about 4.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year 3. Beef is responsible for 41% of global deforestation 4. Chocolate and biscuits are major contributors to deforestation 5. Brazil and Indonesia account for almost Half of tropical deforestation 6. Soy plays a big role in deforestation 7. Deforestation has turned the Amazon Rainforest into a carbon source 8. No company in the world achieved its net-zero deforestation commitment  9. Leading banks financed $119 billion to companies linked to deforestation 10. More than 100 countries have pledged to end deforestation by 2030 Source: https://lnkd.in/eBF5KAZp Have you thought about how you as an individual, community member, family member, employee, business owner, friend or voting member of the public can have an impact on any of the above? #deforestation #climateaction #biodiversity #climatechange

Some #goodnews ahead of the weekend 🌳 Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is down by almost half, according to the latest government data reported by The Associated Press’s Fabiano Maisonnave. 🪵The #Amazon rainforest lost 4,300 square kilometres last year - an almost 46% dip compared to the previous period. 📑 President Lula has committed to zero #deforestation by 2030 - but to achieve that we need tougher action to crack down on the leading drivers of deforestation - cattle and soy. Total deforestation and conversion of native vegetation across Brazil rose from 1.6 million hectares in 2018 to 1.83 Mha in 2020, as per Trase - Intelligence for sustainable trade. 🌎 The preliminary stats come ahead of the much anticipated 2025 #COP30 in Belem where Brazil has the opportunity to lobby for #sustainable and deforestation-free agriculture. https://lnkd.in/ebk95iDS

Dbytes #636 (4 September 2024) Info, news & views for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation and good environmental decision making “For every pound or dollar spent on persuasion by an environmental charity or newspaper, the oil, chemicals, automotive, livestock and mining sectors will spend a thousand. They snap up the cleverest and most devious communicators to craft their messages, offering salaries no one else can afford.” George Monbiot [see item 4] -~<>~- In this issue of Dbytes 1. Balancing livestock production and environmental outcomes in northern Australia's tropical savanna under global change 2. Life in a freshwater rock pool: Use of eDNA to survey gnamma biodiversity 3. Opportunities for meaningful climate change engagement in vulnerable nature settings 4. Nationalise Us 5. Mangrove ecology guiding the use of mangroves as nature-based solutions 6. A Stable Planet is a Prerequisite for Development: Sustainable or Otherwise 7. Reconnecting with nature: The role of outdoor activities in promoting sustainability 8. ‘Everything, everywhere, all at once’: Australia’s survival in a warmer world will be a mammoth multi-tasking effort https://lnkd.in/gRWTD5Pm

The declining resilience of Australia's landscape as our globally significant rates of deforestation and world record rates of mammal extinction has led thousands of Aussie farmers to manage their land in a way that ensures balance and conservation of existing on-farm forests. Protecting on-farm biodiversity can help sustain farms during climate extremes, retain water, stabilise soils and protect the populations of pollinators and invertebrates that are essential for food production. Yet as farmers, supermarkets, banks and international customer markets like the European Union start to tackle deforestation, a relatively new organisation that purports to represent northern grassfed cattle businesses (that tend to export to international markets where standards are lower) has decided to respond not by promoting transformation towards a more sustainable cattle industry, but instead by attempting to redefine deforestation. This even excludes clearing of tall and biodiverse 35-year-old regrowth forests and creates enormous carve-outs for agricultural land that would essentially normalise business-as-usual. While Cattle Australia may not be representative of all in the beef sector, they certainly are vocal, and there is a risk of banks and supermarkets adopting a self-regulated definition rather than scientifically accepted definitions of forests. The below chart from the State of the Environment report neatly illustrates why we need to act: it is in everybody's interests that we do not put short term capital gains above our ability to continue to grow food and maintain and restore biodiversity for generations to come. https://lnkd.in/gRhGNcua

Hurray! Today is #WorldFisheriesDay. Being a descendent of a fishing tribe and someone who has enjoyed differs kind of fishes and aquaculture makes this day very special to me. The impact of climate change and urbanization has restricted us to a particular kind of fishes/aquaculture over time, as most of the varieties has gone under or too expensive to purchase. As an educated elite, drawing your attention to overfishing, habitat destruction and other serious threats to the sustainability of marine and freshwater resources should not be ignored. The blue economy, which is the sustainable management of the ocean and its resources, is estimated to be worth between $1.5 trillion and $6 trillion per year. The blue economy provides income to approximately 820 million people worldwide, ecosystem services, and cultural services. It also supports sustainable economic growth and human well-being. The biggest threats to the sustainability of global fishery resources is illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) points out that almost 90% of global marine fish populations have been fully exploited, overfished, or depleted to the point where recovery may not be biologically possible. Aquatic life suffers greatly when toxic materials, including plastics and other garbage, are dumped into bodies of water. According to recent studies, more than half of the plastic garbage found in the oceans, including waste from industrial fishing, has numerous detrimental effects, such as the potential for marine species to be harmed or killed and the discharge of microplastic particles. Simple action such as the ban on solid waste disposal, industrial chemicals and sewages into rivers; the planting of mangroves, and the enforcement of laws regulating fishing activities will aid to stem the challenges. OKOJOBEN NIGERIA LIMITED FAO UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria Ministry of Edu, Rivers State Rivers State Government Eferebo I. Sylvanus Okoseimiema Ibifubara Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

🌍 What if the Amazon’s destruction is costing farmers more than they realize? Deforestation isn’t just an environmental tragedy—it’s an economic disaster. As the Amazon’s ancient forests vanish, Brazilian farmers are facing hotter, drier conditions that are slashing crop yields and revenues. 🌡️ In some regions, rainfall during crop seasons has dropped by up to 40%, and temperatures have soared by 2.5°C, leading to devastating financial losses. Without trees, the natural moisture cycle collapses. Rainy seasons are delayed by months, harvests shrink, and profits evaporate. If deforestation continues, farmers could lose up to $1 billion annually by 2050. But here’s the real question: Can we afford to ignore the science that shows reforestation as a pathway to recovery? Replanting in key regions could bring rain back, stabilize the climate, and restore farming potential. The stakes are clear: sustainable farming practices aren’t just a choice—they’re essential for survival. 💡 How can agriculture evolve to balance productivity with preservation? Is it time to rethink the way we grow? #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Agriculture #Deforestation

Healthy soils are more than just the foundation of food production; they play critical roles in filtering water, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate change. Yet, farmers are often not compensated for these vital ecosystem services, leading to hidden costs in our agrifood system estimated at $10 trillion. As we face the challenge of feeding a growing population on limited land while combating climate change, it's clear that our current farming approach needs rethinking. #Sustainability #Agriculture #ClimateChange #SoilHealth #FutureOfFarming

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