of global
deforestation is driven by Agricultural Expansion
deforestation is driven by Agricultural Expansion
The Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project is dedicated to the preservation of forests through the promotion of sustainable agri-food systems. It supports the transition to deforestation-free, sustainable, and legal value chains.
SAFE aligns with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) by empowering smallholders, incentivising deforestation reduction, and strengthening local capabilities for sustainable land use and agriculture. It also promotes international knowledge exchange, transparency in value chains, and civil society engagement to support forest preservation and gender-transformative approaches.
The project is co-funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ).
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.
Foster partnerships at local, national and regional levels
Expand traceability systems
Build capacity
Enhance technical knowledge
The project aims to preserve
forest
(on and off agricultural land)
in the intervention areas of the project.
Forests are determined both by the presence of trees and the absence of other predominant land uses. The trees should be able to reach a minimum height of 5 meters in situ. Areas under reforestation which have yet to reach a crown density of 10 percent or tree height of 5 m are included, as are temporarily unstocked areas, resulting from human intervention or natural causes, that are expected to regenerate. The term specifically includes: forest nurseries and seed orchards that constitute an integral part of the forest; forest roads, firebreaks and other small open areas; forest in national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas such as those of specific scientific, historical, cultural or spiritual interest; windbreaks and shelterbelts of trees with an area of more than 0.5 ha and width of more than 20 m; plantations primarily used for forestry purposes, including rubberwood plantations and cork oak stands. The term specifically excludes trees planted primarily for agricultural production, for example in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems.
The SAFE project aims to support
smallholder farmers
40% of whom are women, confirm an improvement in their knowledge of sustainable production practices as a result of SAFE training measures
SAFE is co-funded by the European Union (EU), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (BZ). It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag).
(Lower) Kafue Catchment Ecosystem
Farmers and community forest management groups
Lampung, West Kalimantan, and Central Sulawesi
Smallholder farmers, private sector, and civil society organizations along the value chains
Son La, Gia Lai
Smallholder farmers and marginalized groups
Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, Salonga National Park North, Salonga National Park South, Virunga National Park, Kahuzi-Biéga National Park
Public and private sector
Provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos
Smallholder farmers, women, indigenous people and youth
Xingu territory, State of Pará
Family farmers
