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This executive summary evaluates the progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 inception. It concludes that achieving the 2020 targets is nearly impossible, as tropical deforestation continues at unsustainable rates and restoration efforts are too slow and often occur outside natural forests. While some governments and companies have taken action, these efforts are described as isolated and insufficient to catalyze systemic change.

This executive summary evaluates the progress of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) five years after its 2014 inception. It concludes that the 2020 goals of halving tropical deforestation and restoring 150 million hectares of degraded landscapes are likely unattainable, as tropical deforestation continues at an unsustainable rate and restoration efforts have largely occurred outside natural forests.

A 2018 SEI scoping study found that FSC sustainability certification in Thailand's rubber sector often fails to benefit smallholders directly, with certificates primarily held by processing companies. The study highlights significant gender inequalities in governance and pay, as well as systemic barriers to certification caused by historical land tenure issues and the lack of formal contracts for migrant and seasonal workers.