Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains

The program targets the global supply chains of palm oil, soy, and beef, which are identified as primary drivers of approximately 80% of worldwide deforestation. It employs a 'whole of supply chain' theory of change, arguing that deforestation can be eliminated if production is localized in the right areas (avoiding natural forests) and follows sustainable practices. The program is structured into four child projects: Support to Production, Generating Responsible Demand, Enable Transactions, and Adaptive Management and Learning. Key geographic focuses include the Amazon and Cerrado in Brazil, the Chaco in Paraguay, and palm oil production in Indonesia and Liberia. The program seeks to leverage a total cost of $443.2 million, including $40.3 million from the GEF Trust Fund, to shift the market from voluntary niche sustainability to a mainstream norm.

• Agricultural commodity expansion is the primary driver of roughly 80% of global deforestation, contributing between 12-15% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• The program's theory of change posits that deforestation can be removed from supply chains if production is localized in appropriate areas—such as degraded lands—and if forest lands are made inaccessible for agricultural expansion.
• The program is divided into four interconnected child projects: 'Support to Production' to enable sustainable supply in targeted landscapes; 'Generating Responsible Demand' to increase buyer uptake of reduced-deforestation commodities; 'Enable Transactions' to pilot financial instruments that incentivize sustainable practices; and 'Adaptive Management and Learning' for global coordination.
• In Brazil, the Cerrado biome is being deforested at twice the rate of the Amazon, primarily for agriculture, cattle, and charcoal production, with 48.2% of its vegetation cover already lost.
• Paraguay faces extreme deforestation driven by the agriculture sector, with 90% of the Atlantic Forest converted to agriculture and approximately 300,000 hectares of the Chaco forest lost annually due to beef production.
• Indonesia's palm oil sector is characterized by a high percentage of smallholders (40% of area) and significant deforestation, with 40% of primary forest loss over the last decade occurring in protected areas and national parks.
• Liberia is identified as a new frontier for palm oil, with four international companies granted concessions over 620,000 hectares, posing a risk of fragmented landscapes and conflicts over land rights with forest-dependent communities.
• The program aims to move beyond voluntary market-based certifications, which have shown limited results, by integrating policy, producer engagement, and market demand to mainstream sustainability.
• The total program cost is estimated at $443,200,000, with $40,332,518 provided by the GEF Trust Fund and significant co-financing from the private sector, including $280 million in equity from production and demand companies.

APA

WWF International (2015). Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1002/437p8qz5w3_04_01_15_PFD_Document_Revised.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains. 2015. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1002/437p8qz5w3_04_01_15_PFD_Document_Revised.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains |date=1 April 2015 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1002/437p8qz5w3_04_01_15_PFD_Document_Revised.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2015taking, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1002/437p8qz5w3_04_01_15_PFD_Document_Revised.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }