Improving Governance to Protect Forests: Empowering People and Communities, Strengthening Laws and Institutions

The document finds that while some countries have improved their legal frameworks to combat deforestation, implementation remains weak due to corruption, lack of resources, and a failure to recognize the land rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). It highlights a strong correlation between high corruption and forest loss, and notes that illegal conversion for commercial agriculture—specifically palm oil, soy, paper/timber, and cattle—drives much tropical deforestation. While demand-side measures for timber are increasing in the EU, US, and Asia, similar measures for other commodities remain largely voluntary. The report also emphasizes the critical role of IPLCs in carbon storage, noting they manage 17% of total carbon in 64 assessed countries, yet face increasing violence and land grabbing due to insecure tenure.

• There is a significant gap between the existence of forest laws and their actual implementation. While many countries have strengthened laws against illegal logging and deforestation, inconsistencies within legislation and a lack of political will, resources, and coordination hinder enforcement, particularly in developing countries.
• Corruption is a primary driver of forest loss, with a clear link between high perceived corruption levels and increased rates of primary forest cover change across 180 countries.
• Illegal conversion for commercial agriculture is a major cause of tropical deforestation, specifically for palm oil, soy, paper/timber, and cattle/beef. Brazil and Indonesia account for two-thirds of this illegal deforestation.
• Demand-side regulations to prohibit illegal timber are established in the US, EU, and Australia, and are being adopted by emerging Asian economies including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam, though enforcement in Asia remains a concern.
• Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) provide essential climate mitigation by managing 293 billion metric tons of carbon (17% of total carbon) across 64 assessed countries, which is 33 times the 2017 global energy emissions.
• IPLC land rights remain largely unrecognized or insecure. In 14 assessed countries, 33–39% of land used by IPLCs is not recognized by governments. Even where recognized, rights are often not enforced, leading to land grabbing and violence.
• Violence against forest defenders is increasing, with the highest number of killings recorded between 2015 and 2017. Brazil, the Philippines, and Colombia are identified as the deadliest countries for these defenders.
• Gender bias persists in forest governance, particularly regarding land tenure and decision-making. Only 8 of 25 assessed countries have or are developing laws to ensure the engagement of women in the sector.

APA

Forest Declaration Assessment (2018). Improving Governance to Protect Forests: Empowering People and Communities, Strengthening Laws and Institutions. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2018NYDFReport_Brief.pdf

Chicago

Forest Declaration Assessment. Improving Governance to Protect Forests: Empowering People and Communities, Strengthening Laws and Institutions. 2018. https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2018NYDFReport_Brief.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Forest Declaration Assessment |title=Improving Governance to Protect Forests: Empowering People and Communities, Strengthening Laws and Institutions |date=November 2018 |url=https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2018NYDFReport_Brief.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{forestdeclarationassessment2018improving, author = {{Forest Declaration Assessment}}, title = {{Improving Governance to Protect Forests: Empowering People and Communities, Strengthening Laws and Institutions}}, institution = {Forest Declaration Assessment}, year = {2018}, month = nov, url = {https://forestdeclaration.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2018NYDFReport_Brief.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }