Latest news with #EUDeforestationRegulation
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
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.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Danish government in collaboration with Preferred by Nature, Ferrero, SAN, Agriterra, and Musim Mas for Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Indonesia
The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative drives sustainability and smallholder engagement JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new partnership is set to advance palm oil production in Indonesia to make it more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative brings together global integrated palm oil group Musim Mas, sweet-packaged food company Ferrero, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Preferred by Nature, Agriterra, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). Funded by the Danish government's Danida Green Business Partnerships (DGBP) programme, this initiative aims to enhance independent smallholder livelihoods, protect the environment, and promote sustainable palm oil production in line with global sustainability standards and regulatory frameworks, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative This five-year project focuses on implementing scalable solutions for sustainable palm oil production. Its aim is to support 5,400 independent smallholders in adopting regenerative agricultural practices that improve farming conditions, reduce synthetic inputs, and strengthen climate resilience. The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative will also strengthen two farmer organisations and help 2,500 farmers achieve certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards. Additionally, it aims to create diversified income opportunities for 2,000 community members—60 percent of whom will be women—while implementing measures to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate deforestation risks. A key element of the initiative is establishing a multi-stakeholder jurisdictional alliance to promote ecosystem restoration and ensure alignment with sustainability standards. Preferred by Nature, an international NGO headquartered in Denmark with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture and forestry projects, will lead project coordination, capacity building, and training in sustainable practices. Dutch agri-agency Stichting Agriterra will focus on strengthening farmer organisations, enabling financial sustainability, and fostering cooperative business models, while international NGO SAN will provide expertise in regenerative agriculture and deliver on-ground support through its Indonesian partners Kaleka and Setara Jambi. Both Musim Mas and Ferrero have a shared interest in securing a sustainable and traceable palm oil supply chain that complies with regulatory standards and meets voluntary commitments. Addressing Systemic Challenges in Palm Oil Supply Chains This project aligns the shared objectives of Ferrero and Musim Mas with development goals by addressing systemic challenges within independent smallholder supply chains. These challenges include low productivity, varying levels of familiarity with sustainable farming practices, and environmental degradation, such as declining soil health. Independent smallholders, who manage over 40 percent of Indonesia's planted palm oil, often encounter barriers to meeting RSPO and ISPO standards, including resource constraints, uneven access to knowledge, and land tenure issues. This initiative seeks to tackle these barriers by equipping farmers with the necessary tools and training to adopt sustainable practices, achieve certifications, and improve market access. At the landscape level, the project fosters a multi-stakeholder alliance involving corporate, governmental, and civil society actors to strengthen ecosystem protection. These efforts safeguard biodiversity and support alignment with global sustainability standards like the EUDR. A Model for Sustainable Palm Oil Production By combining private sector commitments with nonprofit expertise, the Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative sets a benchmark for sustainable palm oil production and creates a win-win scenario for all stakeholders. Farmers can benefit from increased productivity, improved market access, and diversified incomes. Meanwhile, partners like Ferrero and Musim Mas can secure a reliable, sustainable, and traceable palm oil supply chain. This project also generates long-term economic benefits for rural communities, contributes to global climate goals, and positions the Rokan Hulu region as a leading example of sustainable palm oil production. This transformative initiative sets the stage for a more sustainable and inclusive palm oil industry. By addressing systemic challenges and fostering collaboration, the project paves the way for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that benefits all stakeholders. Mr Olivier Tichit, Director of Communications and Sustainability at Musim Mas, said: "Empowering smallholders through training and support is key to building a resilient and sustainable palm oil supply chain. Musim Mas takes a landscape-based approach to sustainability. Across the Smallholder Hubs we operate, we work with governments, suppliers, smallholders, NGOs, and other players in the landscape to achieve sustainability transformation. This project will enable us to contribute in a new dimension with our new partners." Mr Nicola Somenzi, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Ferrero, said: "We aim to create a thriving supply chain which benefits farmers' livelihoods and communities, protecting people and nature. Beyond sourcing RSPO segregated palm oil for our products, our active participation in initiatives like this strengthens the foundation for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that creates long-term value for all." Mr Jakob Ryding, Senior Director of Projects at Preferred by Nature, said: "At Preferred by Nature, we believe that sustainable palm oil production is only possible when smallholders are equipped with the right knowledge, resources and market access. This project demonstrates how collaboration between businesses and NGOs can address systemic challenges, empower farmers, and protect vital ecosystems. We are delighted to be part of this initiative." Mr Jose Joaquín Campos, Executive Director at SAN, said: "By integrating regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions, this initiative demonstrates how sustainable farming can simultaneously revive ecosystems and enhance farmer livelihoods." Mr Marco Schouten, CEO of Stichting Agriterra, said: "Strengthening farmer organisations is at the heart of what we do. This project provides the tools needed to empower farmer organisations and their members, enabling them to cooperate to achieve financial sustainability and seize new market opportunities."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Danish government in collaboration with Preferred by Nature, Ferrero, SAN, Agriterra, and Musim Mas for Sustainable Palm Oil Production in Indonesia
The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative drives sustainability and smallholder engagement JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new partnership is set to advance palm oil production in Indonesia to make it more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative brings together global integrated palm oil group Musim Mas, sweet-packaged food company Ferrero, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Preferred by Nature, Agriterra, and the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). Funded by the Danish government's Danida Green Business Partnerships (DGBP) programme, this initiative aims to enhance independent smallholder livelihoods, protect the environment, and promote sustainable palm oil production in line with global sustainability standards and regulatory frameworks, including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods InitiativeThis five-year project focuses on implementing scalable solutions for sustainable palm oil production. Its aim is to support 5,400 independent smallholders in adopting regenerative agricultural practices that improve farming conditions, reduce synthetic inputs, and strengthen climate resilience. The Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative will also strengthen two farmer organisations and help 2,500 farmers achieve certification under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards. Additionally, it aims to create diversified income opportunities for 2,000 community members—60 percent of whom will be women—while implementing measures to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate deforestation risks. A key element of the initiative is establishing a multi-stakeholder jurisdictional alliance to promote ecosystem restoration and ensure alignment with sustainability standards. Preferred by Nature, an international NGO headquartered in Denmark with extensive experience in sustainable agriculture and forestry projects, will lead project coordination, capacity building, and training in sustainable practices. Dutch agri-agency Stichting Agriterra will focus on strengthening farmer organisations, enabling financial sustainability, and fostering cooperative business models, while international NGO SAN will provide expertise in regenerative agriculture and deliver on-ground support through its Indonesian partners Kaleka and Setara Jambi. Both Musim Mas and Ferrero have a shared interest in securing a sustainable and traceable palm oil supply chain that complies with regulatory standards and meets voluntary commitments. Addressing Systemic Challenges in Palm Oil Supply ChainsThis project aligns the shared objectives of Ferrero and Musim Mas with development goals by addressing systemic challenges within independent smallholder supply chains. These challenges include low productivity, varying levels of familiarity with sustainable farming practices, and environmental degradation, such as declining soil health. Independent smallholders, who manage over 40 percent of Indonesia's planted palm oil, often encounter barriers to meeting RSPO and ISPO standards, including resource constraints, uneven access to knowledge, and land tenure issues. This initiative seeks to tackle these barriers by equipping farmers with the necessary tools and training to adopt sustainable practices, achieve certifications, and improve market access. At the landscape level, the project fosters a multi-stakeholder alliance involving corporate, governmental, and civil society actors to strengthen ecosystem protection. These efforts safeguard biodiversity and support alignment with global sustainability standards like the EUDR. A Model for Sustainable Palm Oil ProductionBy combining private sector commitments with nonprofit expertise, the Rokan Hulu Landscape and Livelihoods Initiative sets a benchmark for sustainable palm oil production and creates a win-win scenario for all stakeholders. Farmers can benefit from increased productivity, improved market access, and diversified incomes. Meanwhile, partners like Ferrero and Musim Mas can secure a reliable, sustainable, and traceable palm oil supply chain. This project also generates long-term economic benefits for rural communities, contributes to global climate goals, and positions the Rokan Hulu region as a leading example of sustainable palm oil production. This transformative initiative sets the stage for a more sustainable and inclusive palm oil industry. By addressing systemic challenges and fostering collaboration, the project paves the way for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that benefits all stakeholders. Mr Olivier Tichit, Director of Communications and Sustainability at Musim Mas, said: "Empowering smallholders through training and support is key to building a resilient and sustainable palm oil supply chain. Musim Mas takes a landscape-based approach to sustainability. Across the Smallholder Hubs we operate, we work with governments, suppliers, smallholders, NGOs, and other players in the landscape to achieve sustainability transformation. This project will enable us to contribute in a new dimension with our new partners." Mr Nicola Somenzi, Head of Responsible Sourcing at Ferrero, said: "We aim to create a thriving supply chain which benefits farmers' livelihoods and communities, protecting people and nature. Beyond sourcing RSPO segregated palm oil for our products, our active participation in initiatives like this strengthens the foundation for a resilient and environmentally responsible supply chain that creates long-term value for all." Mr Jakob Ryding, Senior Director of Projects at Preferred by Nature, said: "At Preferred by Nature, we believe that sustainable palm oil production is only possible when smallholders are equipped with the right knowledge, resources and market access. This project demonstrates how collaboration between businesses and NGOs can address systemic challenges, empower farmers, and protect vital ecosystems. We are delighted to be part of this initiative." Mr Jose Joaquín Campos, Executive Director at SAN, said: "By integrating regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions, this initiative demonstrates how sustainable farming can simultaneously revive ecosystems and enhance farmer livelihoods." Mr Marco Schouten, CEO of Stichting Agriterra, said: "Strengthening farmer organisations is at the heart of what we do. This project provides the tools needed to empower farmer organisations and their members, enabling them to cooperate to achieve financial sustainability and seize new market opportunities." Devane Sharma Musim Mas Corporate Communicationsmedia@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Musim Mas Holdings Sign in to access your portfolio
Agriland
23-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
EU Commission reveals ‘high risk' countries for deforestation
The European Commission has published the first benchmarking list, which classifies countries according to their 'low', 'standard', or 'high' risk of deforestation. This country classification takes into account the production of the seven commodities covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), including cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. The commission said that these commodities have been chosen 'on the basis of a thorough impact assessment identifying them as the main driver of deforestation due to agricultural expansion'. The publication of the benchmarking list follows a positive opinion by consensus of all EU Member States, the commission added. Deforestation The aim of the EU Deforestation Regulation, according to the European Commission, is to ensure that goods in the EU market do not contribute to deforestation and forest degradation, both within the EU and globally. The new regulation means that companies will only be allowed to sell products in the EU if the supplier provides a 'due diligence' statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation. The regulation was set to come into effect at the end of 2024. However, this was deferred until the end of 2025, and mid-2026 for smaller businesses. The new classification defines the extent of compliance checks that authorities in Member States' authorities have to apply for a country (1% for 'low risk', 3% for 'standard' and 9% for 'high risk'). 'Sourcing from low-risk countries entails simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders. 'Concretely, this means that they need to collect information, but not assess and mitigate risks,' the commission said. High risk The EU Commission confirmed that countries which are identified in the high-risk category in this first country benchmarking list are subject to sanctions from the UN Security Council or the Council of the EU on imports or exports of the relevant commodities and relevant products. There are four countries deemed to fall into this high-risk category: Russia; Belarus; North Korea and Myanmar. Around 140 countries, including Ireland, the other 27 EU member states, the UK and the US, have been classed as being of low-risk. The Mercosur countries of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay are all classed as standard-risk, while Uruguay is low-risk. The EU Commission said that the country benchmarking will 'ensure a simple, fair and cost-efficient implementation of the EUDR'. It claimed that the new regulation 'is already delivering positive developments on the ground to fight deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss'.
