Towards sustainable
and deforestation-
free value chains for
people and planet

Photo Credit: GIZ/Nyani Quarmyne

The expansion of agricultural areas drives up to 90% of deforestation worldwide. This poses an imminent threat to our planet’s biodiversity, climate, and the well-being of communities worldwide.

Mission

ZERO

DEFORESTATION

The mission for a world with zero deforestation requires a transdisciplinary approach. This can only be achieved sustainably and equitably if governments, the private sector, academia, civil society and local communities join forces.

Activities

There is no “silver bullet” to halt global deforestation but we consider these non-exhaustive activities as a feasible approach.

Given the global nature of deforestation, the European Union together with its partners aim to intensify the engagement with consumer and producer countries in an effort to jointly address the root causes of deforestation and safeguard the planet’s invaluable forests.

Commitment

Strengthening corporate commitments and implementation to minimise deforestation in agricultural value chains, i.e. through sustainability investments and proactive engagement with local stakeholders

Production

Developing and enforcing policies to incentivise sustainable production and contribute to deforestation-free land-use planning

Land-use

Promoting sustainable land-use practices

Research & Technology

Investing in research and technology, such as geolocation, as well as transparent and traceable value chains

Support Communities

Supporting Indigenous and local communities in their sustainable agricultural and forest management efforts

Strategy for this Team Europe Initiative

The Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-free Value Chains is a joint effort by the EU and its Member States designed to support global ambitions on decoupling agricultural production from deforestation in partnership with various stakeholders in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Through these activities and flagship projects, the EU and its Member States promote the inclusive and just transition of sustainable value chains, especially for smallholders and low-income countries. They do this by supporting partner governments with creating enabling framework conditions for corporate action to minimise deforestation, reducing risks in complex value chains and crowding-in private sector investments in sustainable agribusinesses. This initiative also supports smallholders with forest preservation and assists Indigenous peoples and local communities with protecting their rights.

This Hub for Deforestation-free Value Chains serves as a vital platform for improving outreach and coordination and disseminating knowledge to jointly tackle deforestation and forest degradation.

Overview of Projects

Click on the country to learn more about the flagship projects.
Zero Deforestation Hub Map VS 4.0 EN
Zambia Democratic Republic of Congo Nigeria Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Cameroon Indonesia Malaysia Vietnam Ecuador Brazil El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica Colombia Peru Bolivia Argentina Uruguay Paraguay Chile Rwanda Ethiopia Laos Thailand

Democratic Republic of Congo

El Salvador

Honduras

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Bolivia

Argentina

Uruguay

Paraguay

Rwanda

Ethiopia

Thailand

The positions of the southern and northern hemisphere are changed on this map to encourage a change in perspectives and to counteract potential biases in world views.

On the EU Deforestation Regulation

The European Union (EU) is an important market for agricultural commodities with a deforestation risk. EU citizens no longer want to contribute to deforestation through their consumption, instead they want to be part of sustainable and transformative change. 

As a contribution to the European Green Deal, the EU has adopted the new EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) that aims to minimise the Union’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, thereby contributing to a reduction in global deforestation.

 The new EU Deforestation Regulation is a milestone in the fight against deforestation and forest degradation. It focuses on the value chains of the seven commodities that have the biggest impact: palm oil, beef, soy, coffee, cocoa, natural rubber, and wood.



What smallholders need to know about the EUDR in 5 Minutes

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More Information

Operators established in the EU who place relevant products on the EU market will need to exercise strict due diligence to ensure that the products are:

Deforestation-free

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not produced on land that was degraded or deforested after 31 December 2020

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Legal

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produced in line with the relevant legislation of the country of production.

The Team Europe Initiative contributes to the achievement of these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):