Latest news with #EUDR
DW
2 days ago
- General
- DW
Is the Philippines' reforestation drive coming up short? – DW – 05/31/2025
The Philippines launched one of the world's largest reforestation efforts. But satellite data and field reports raise questions: Is the program really restoring forests? Marlo Mendoza is the architect of one of the world's most ambitious regreening programs. His office at the University of the Philippines in Laguna is crammed with books about trees and nature conservation. Hunched over his desk, he flicks through a glossy government brochure praising his project's successes, with 1.8 billion seedlings planted over 2 million hectares (approximately 4.9 million acres) across the Philippines. Millions of native trees have been replanted and are now growing into forests, sequestering carbon and supporting wildlife. Indigenous and farming communities cultivate produce among the forests and former timber cutters now manage tree farms. Communities sidelined in reforestation effort This is what Mendoza dreamed of — however, he admits it is far from the reality on the ground. "We mobilized the entire citizenry to plant, but where are all the trees planted?" Mendoza told DW. "I made the manual; many provisions were not followed." The Philippines National Greening Program (NGP) was launched in 2011 as an ambitious response to decades of deforestation, which had become a huge issue during the 1970s and '80s. But the NGP struggled with natural resource plundering, which depleted the Philippines' forest cover and replaced community and indigenous forests with plantations of invasive exotic species. An analysis of millions of satellite images suggests that as many as one in every 25 hectares of NGP land experienced a major deforestation event: that is, instead of barren sites being reforested, the opposite occurs: forests are cleared right before or during regreening efforts. The sites are more often than not managed by communities with only short-term access to the land. They are required to grow single cash crops tied to the volatile global commodity markets, which do not provide a steady income. A group of environmental investigators that carried out the analysis said the results expose a new pattern of "greenwashing" — a marketing tactic used to make a product or service appear better for the environment than it is. The most common commodities grown on the sites, including timber and fruit, have a green stamp of approval, potentially eligible for export across the world. This includes the EU, despite the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires traders to prove that products do not come from land which was deforested after 2020. Much of the EUDR's attention has focused on small farmers' challenges with proving that their land has not been associated with previous deforestation. Investigators said the image analysis suggests commodities on these sites have been falsely grown under the sustainable banner. Native trees cleared to grow cash crops Additionally, the analysis suggested that forest loss on NGP sites may be more widespread than previously understood. The clearing of forests included communities trying to take advantage of NGP funds. Eduardo Corona, a forest ranger in Palawan, an area of the Philippines covered in re-greening program sites, said that one of the most frustrating parts of his job was seeing the NGP used to clear native forests and being powerless to stop it, despite trying to raise the alarm. Restoring sacred forests in India To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Corona was able to obtain one of the complaints he filed with his superiors, which relates to the UNESCO-recognized Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape. The DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) told investigators that some forest clearing occurred as part of site preparation, particularly in areas dominated by invasive species. They claimed the clearing was a necessary step taken under technical supervision to allow native species to thrive. The bureau also explained that the monitoring of the program beyond the three-year planting contracts is limited by the scale of the program and budget constraints, with site inspections done by sampling rather than full verification. In cases where sites failed to meet survival rates, they attributed the underutilized funds to community partners' non-compliance, rather than flaws in program design. The investigation said independent audits and field reports suggest that deeper issues — including poor site selection, limited community support, and weak long-term sustainability planning — remain unaddressed. A community regreening program 'too complex' for communities to secure tenure A major selling point of the re-greening program is that local communities would be given unused land to grow crops, so they would no longer need to chop down forests to survive. But the process for applying is so complicated that most communities give up seeking long-term tenure and only get access to the land for three years. Mendoza recounted cases where community groups were given access to land but not harvest rights. Many became overwhelmed with the application process and finally gave up on trying to get long-term access. This led to despair and sometimes illegal logging activities. "The [community group] may get frustrated then [they] enter into illegal selling transactions and [are] forced to cut trees illegally," he noted. Monoculture undermines sustainable livelihoods The regreening program was also designed so that communities would be able to grow local produce for their own consumption. Instead, most are forced to grow risky cash crops for export, including exports to the European Union. According to Mendoza, communities would need both time and choices to make NGP work as intended, to figure out a sustainable mix of crops to guarantee income for their families. They got neither. For those who did manage to secure tenure, which guarantees 25-year access to the land, the government's usual mandate for community groups to grow a single cash crop often precluded any hopes for successfully living off the land. Single crop sites — often fast-growing, cheap timber trees — are vulnerable to market crashes, disease and all the other problems that monoculture brings with it, including the loss of biodiversity. Just over half of the 1 million hectares of designated production sites are tenured. Six out of 10 hectares are monoculture — sites that are growing just one commodity crop — which is widely considered unsustainable for local communities. A third of land under the NGP is both untenured and growing a single commodity crop, the least sustainable combination of all. The forgotten native forests The regreening program was also intended to regrow and protect native rainforests. Of the 130,000 sites covering over 2 million hectares across the Philippines, some sites designated as protection areas — where indigenous rainforests and the biodiversity that accompanies them were meant to thrive — have little to no tree cover. According to the latest satellite imagery, over a third of those sites have no tree cover at all. Reporting supported by Journalismfund Europe and the Environmental Data Journalism Academy, a program of Internews' Earth Journalism Network and Thibi. This article is part of the Forest Fraud investigation, which uses remote sensing technology, global supply chain tracking, and ground reporting to expose the drivers of deforestation across protected areas in Southeast Asia. Edited by: Keith Walker
Nikkei Asia
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Nikkei Asia
Itochu to help Asian rubber farmers address EU deforestation law
TOKYO -- Japanese trading house Itochu plans to launch a tracking system to help Southeast Asia's rubber farmers cope with a European Union anti-deforestation law that will soon come into force, potentially easing the pressure on smallholder producers. Itochu will set up a new company, called Project Tree Indonesia, to deploy a track and trace system. This will allow manufacturers of tires, which use about 70% of the natural rubber produced worldwide, to determine whether the rubber used in their products is compliant with the EU's deforestation regulation (EUDR).
Agriland
4 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Data company claims material risk of deforestation from EUDR
A data analytics company believes that deforestation is no longer just a reputational concern, it is now a material risk with 'regulatory teeth'. GlobalData claims that with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) taking effect in December 2025, companies across different sectors must prove their supply chains are deforestation-free or face severe penalties. It believes that the shift demands urgent action on traceability, supplier engagement, and sustainability strategy to preserve access to critical markets. The upcoming EUDR is a commodity-based regulation, that requires companies importing deforestation-intensive commodities to the EU to provide evidence that these products' supply chains are deforestation-free. GlobalData claims that companies that fail to comply could face a fine of up to 4% of their EU revenue or a temporary suspension from the EU market. Deforestation Strategic intelligence analyst at GlobalData, Aoife McGuirk believes that for many years certain companies have faced 'operational regulatory risk' if their operations directly contribute to the problem. She also said that the introduction of the EUDR from December 2025 means far more companies will need to mitigate the supply chain regulatory risk they face. GlobalData has claimed that the agricultural sector faces the highest level of regulatory risk 'across the board', with the second most exposed sector being the consumer. McGuirk said: 'Every company needs a strategy to mitigate deforestation risk in its many forms. GlobalData has five key recommendations companies should follow when implementing such a strategy. 'One of the biggest challenges for EUDR compliance is ensuring that supply chains are fully transparent.' 'Artificial intelligence (AI) can support anti-deforestation efforts by monitoring forests and using predictive analytics to predict where deforestation will occur, allowing stakeholders to prevent it,' she added. GlobalData also highlighted that companies should set a robust no-deforestation target to signal to consumers and regulators that they are serious about their forestry efforts. It has encouraged companies to engage with suppliers throughout the value chain to strengthen accountability and explicitly integrate the risk into their business strategies.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
B20 biodiesel trial at KLIA may expand to ports nationwide
SEPANG: Malaysia aims to expand the use of B20 palm-based biodiesel to major ports across the country, building on a new pilot programme launched at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the initiative reflects the country's broader commitment to lowering carbon emissions and enhancing the sustainability of its palm oil industry. Currently, Malaysian airports operate using B10 biodiesel. The shift to B20, a blend containing 20 per cent palm-based methyl ester, represents a major step toward meeting Malaysia's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, he said. He added the trial phase at KLIA will require about 350,000 litres of B20 per month. If proven successful, the initiative will be extended to other key locations across the country. "This marks the beginning of our journey for airports, while we wait for a new mandate on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for jets. When jets begin using SAF, we will also use biodiesel for ground handling—making it a complete package for our airports. "Looking ahead, I also want to see similar implementations at our major ports—such as Northport, Westport, Tanjung Pelepas Port (PTP), Johor Port, and Kuantan Port. I want to see how the companies operating in these areas can start considering the use of B20," he said. Johari was speaking to reporters after the launch ceremony of the pilot project for the use of B20 palm biodiesel in ground service equipment (GSE) at KLIA. He said B20 has already been introduced in Langkawi, Labuan, and Sarawak, which have the necessary blending facilities. "For comparison, Indonesia is already at B40, while our industry is still at B7. So, this is part of the process we must go through to reach our net-zero carbon goal by 2050," he said. Johari also expressed hope that Malaysia, currently classified as a standard risk under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), will be reclassified as a low-risk country in the next review, which is expected to take place in 2026. "The statistics used to assign our current standard risk status were based on data from 2020. So the progress we made in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 wasn't taken into account. Many countries have taken major steps over the past five years, including ours," he added. He said that despite being classified as a standard risk, demand for Malaysian palm oil remains strong. The country produces about 19 million tonnes annually, with four million tonnes consumed locally and the remaining 15 million tonnes fully exported. "Countries like China, India, and even the European Union are still buying from us. I want to focus on improving our country's risk status. "If we can achieve a "low risk" classification, that would benefit us as well as other industries. To make that happen, we need to work closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources," he added.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Malaysia prioritising smaller plantations in green push
Published on: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 28, 2025 Text Size: Malaysian Palm Oil Council chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen previously likened the classification to 'getting slapped with a fine for speeding while you have been driving below the speed limit', calling it a blow to an industry that has significantly reduced its environmental footprint. - Pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Amid ongoing scrutiny over the European Union's decision to label Malaysia a 'standard risk' under its deforestation rules, the government is focusing on sustainability and support for smallholders in the shift towards greener practices. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said Malaysia is actively working to ensure that its sustainability certification systems, such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard, are accessible to and inclusive of small-scale farmers. 'What we want to do now is ensure the MSPO standards can also embrace smallholders. As of today, about 85% of our smallholders are able to comply. 'They do not have mills or refineries, but they produce the fruits. We help integrate them into the supply chain and justify their compliance,' he told reporters after launching the Malaysia International Cocoa Fair 2025 (MICF 2025) here yesterday. His remarks follow strong reactions from industry leaders, who have described the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) classification as 'unjust' and damaging to the livelihoods of Malaysian producers, especially smallholders. Malaysian Palm Oil Council chairman Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen previously likened the classification to 'getting slapped with a fine for speeding while you have been driving below the speed limit', calling it a blow to an industry that has significantly reduced its environmental footprint. Advertisement In acknowledging that Malaysia must still comply with EUDR, Johari said it needs to be done even if enforcement is not yet in effect. However, he stressed that many of Malaysia's major exporters already operate within a fully traceable and sustainable supply chain. 'A large portion of our products are exported to Europe because many of our players are large companies. These companies own the entire supply chain, from plantations, mills, and refineries to oleochemical plants, so they have full control and are able to meet export requirements,' he added. In addition to palm oil, he said, cocoa farmers are also being brought into the fold. 'I have instructed the Malaysian Cocoa Board to ensure all smallholders are registered. Every cocoa plantation must be certified. If they hold land grants from the state government, great; if not, they need to apply,' he said. Johari made it clear that the government is committed to halting deforestation, stating that any expansion in agriculture must take place on existing land. 'We must use existing land and increase yields through good agricultural practices and high-quality planting materials. That is the only way we can double our yield per hectare,' he said. Despite Malaysia's ongoing efforts, the EU's decision to classify the country as 'standard risk' has prompted questions about fairness and transparency, as the classification could result in greater scrutiny and higher compliance costs for exporters. Still, Johari remains optimistic, adding, 'Actually, our certification is already recognised. Currently, we are classified under 'standard risk', but we are working on improving this. We aim for recognition of our sustainability and traceability systems.' Earlier in his speech, he said representatives from the EU are expected to visit Malaysia in September or October to observe local practices and assess the country's regulatory readiness. 'I have also encouraged all commodity players in Malaysia, whether in palm oil, rubber or cocoa, to adopt sustainability practices if they wish to export,' he said. The push to improve sustainability systems, particularly for smallholders, is seen as essential not only for meeting international standards but also for protecting livelihoods and ensuring the long-term growth of Malaysia's commodity sectors. Also present were Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin and Malaysian Cocoa Board chairman Datuk Matbali Musah. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
