News Selection – Tropical Forests

13/9/2018: More than a quarter of global tree cover loss between 2001 and 2015 was associated with commodity-driven deforestation, not likely to be forested again. Source: World Resources Institute

30/8/2018: Halting deforestation is critical for climate stability — this alone could reduce the world’s net carbon emissions by up to 30%. Furthermore, forests and land offer the most cost-effective way to store more carbon. Source: Mongabay

Tread Softly Comment: In an appeal to the influential Global Climate Action Summit starting this week, forest campaigners set out the basic case for allocating more resources to halt deforestation, especially in tropical regions. The argument that the current allocation of only 1% of global mitigation finance represents a missed opportunity is very strong but it's also very familiar. The writers don't offer explanations, nor why the San Francisco Summit agenda offers so little space to the topic. Relevant Briefing: Tropical Forests and Climate Change

14/8/2018: Indonesia must build on recent reductions in tree cover loss and protections for peatlands. To get there, they'll need more international support, innovative schemes such as peatland restoration and continued monitoring. Source: World Resources Institute

Tread Softly Comment: At last some positive news about reducing deforestation in vital countries such as Indonesia. Clearly defined quantitative data, involving a reliable source in Global Forest Watch, supports the government's own assertion that 2017 was an impressive year for restoring control of the country's forest inventory. The reduction in primary forest loss in protected peat is vertiginous. Relevant Briefing: Deforestation and Forest Degradation

13/8/2018: More than 90 institutional investors managing more than $6.7 trillion in assets have called on the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to strengthen its standards, including by banning deforestation. Source: Mongabay

Tread Softly Comment: The letter to the RSPO from major asset management companies (including CalPERS and M&G Prudential)  is an extraordinary document. Instead of the usual scenario of corporations fighting tooth and nail against higher environmental standards, here they are begging the certification body for much tougher conditions for palm oil plantations. This is the outcome of years of concern that the RSPO fails to keep pace with the escalating impact of the subject of its certification. Relevant Briefing: Consumer Solutions to Deforestation

30/7/2018: As Myanmar works to restructure to private sector management of the country’s forestry and timber resources, reports of illegal logging are surging. Source: Mongabay

Tread Softly Comment: An example of how difficult it is for a fragile state to get a grip on its natural resources. Broadly good intentions of central government stumble over its lack of authority over corrupt national and local officials, not helped by China's unprincipled scramble for rare commodities. Relevant Briefing: Causes of Deforestation

30/7/2018: Indonesia has released its inaugural report on the state of its forests, highlighting recent successes in conserving an ecological treasure trove that makes up the third-largest span of tropical rainforest in the world. Source: Mongabay

Tread Softly Comment: It's not easy to grasp what's happening to tropical forest resources in Indonesia. The vast geography embraces all the issues - virgin forest, peatlands, palm oil plantations, forest and peat fires, not forgetting corporate promises of zero deforestation. The crux of analysis often lies in the definition of forest cover and this important government report is no different. What is different is the report's total silence on China, whose role is known to be fundamental in logging activities in other countries in the region. Relevant Briefing: Causes of Deforestation

25/7/2018: Data from a Brazilian forest monitoring group suggests deforestation is surging in the world’s largest rainforest, with last month’s rate of forest loss in the Amazon hitting the highest level since monthly tracking began in 2007. Source: Mongabay

Tread Softly Comment: It's only a few weeks since Norway threatened to pull out of its exceptionally generous support for Brazil's Amazon fund, out of concerns that objectives to protect the rainforest are failing. Although this new data is only one of several relevant sources, the timing will reinforce evidence that environmental political will in Brazil has lapsed. Relevant briefing: Market-based solutions to deforestation

13/7/2018: The news that the DRC will allow oil drilling in two national parks, both UNESCO world heritage sites, was understandably met with great concern among environmentalists. Why is the Congolese government doing this? Source: African Arguments

Tread Softly Comment: Most of us despair at understanding DRC politics. Even the UN Secretary-General found himself cancelling a visit at the last moment during the week. This analysis is therefore doubly reassuring in its confident tone from the inside track. Many telling observations on corrupt governance, not least that DRC oil concessions are held mostly by small companies, the sort that slip under the radar of anti-bribery regulations. A useful cross-reference is a recent WWF report which finds that oil and gas concessions cover 8% of the world's tropical intact forest landscapes. Relevant Briefing: Causes of Deforestation

6/7/2018: Time is running out for the world's forests, whose total area is shrinking by the day, warns a new FAO report urging governments to foster an all-inclusive approach to benefit both trees and those who rely on them. Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Tread Softly Comment: The elephant in the room for the current bulge in forest reporting is Target 15.2 of the SDGs which demands: "By 2020.....halt deforestation." The indicators are fuzzy, ignoring the significance of tropical forests, and enabling these reviews to gloss over the looming failure. The 2018 FAO door-stopper is the grand-daddy of the reports but is no exception to the rule of obfuscation on the state of the world's tropical forests. Relevant Briefing: Deforestation and Forest Degradation

6/7/2018: Indigenous peoples and local communities conserve lands and forests for a quarter of the cost of public and private investments in protected areas, according to new findings. Interview with Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. Source: Devex

Tread Softly Comment: the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People presents familiar arguments in favour of community forest management. This is a proven model for controlling deforestation which may gain greater donor attention, as results of traditional protected areas remain disappointing. Relevant Briefing: Rights-based Solutions to Deforestation