5 reasons to be optimistic about reducing - and reversing - deforestation

The document outlines five reasons for optimism regarding the fight against deforestation: strengthening market demands for sustainability, improved supply chain transparency, the adoption of holistic landscape approaches, the emergence of large-scale green finance, and the increased recognition of forests' role in carbon sequestration. While acknowledging that the 2020 zero net deforestation target will not be met, the author emphasizes the need to shift focus toward long-term restoration and the engagement of emerging economies, particularly China, to accelerate progress.

• Market forces are increasingly driving sustainability, with more players demanding the removal of deforestation from supply chains. Examples include the Cerrado Manifesto in Brazil, which saw signatories exceed 70 global brands in 2018, the Amsterdam Declaration, and a European Union roadmap to reduce deforestation.
• Transparency and monitoring are improving, making it easier to identify deforestation in supply chains. Notable 2018 developments include Wilmar's commitment to full supply chain transparency and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) agreeing to a new certification standard.
• There is a shift toward holistic landscape approaches where companies look beyond immediate supply chains to support rural economic viability, with 2018 highlights including announcements from Unilever, Walmart, and Olam.
• Innovative, larger-scale, and longer-term green finance mechanisms are emerging to incentivize sustainable farming. A specific example is a 2018 initiative by Bunge and Santander in Brazil to incentivize sustainable soybean production.
• Forests are increasingly recognized as central to climate change mitigation, as highlighted by the IPCC 1.5 C Special Report, which stated that more forests must be protected and restored to address global warming.

APA

World Economic Forum (2019). 5 reasons to be optimistic about reducing - and reversing - deforestation. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/5-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-reducing-and-reversing-deforestation-tfa/

Chicago

World Economic Forum. 5 reasons to be optimistic about reducing - and reversing - deforestation. 2019. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/5-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-reducing-and-reversing-deforestation-tfa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Economic Forum |title=5 reasons to be optimistic about reducing - and reversing - deforestation |date=22 January 2019 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/5-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-reducing-and-reversing-deforestation-tfa/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldeconomicforum2019reasons, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{5 reasons to be optimistic about reducing - and reversing - deforestation}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/5-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-reducing-and-reversing-deforestation-tfa/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }