EC holds conference on deforestation challenges and solutions

On 26-27 May 2014 the Environment Directorate, the Development Directorate and the Climate Directorate of the European Commission jointly hosted a high-level international meeting on solutions to global deforestation and forest degradation and their implications for climate change, development and biodiversity loss. The meeting was attended by EC policy makers from Directorate General (DG)-Environment, DG-Trade and DG-Development as well as other DGs and involved key note speeches from EU Commissioners, Non Governmental Organisations, national development and environmental agencies, charitable donors, companies and academics followed by panel discussions. Southern NGOs present included Sustainable Development Institute from Liberia and Forêts et Développement Rurale (FODER) from Cameroon, though participation of other forest peoples and organisations was limited.

Growing pressures on forest peoples and their forests:

The EC Joint Research Centre reported that the world’s population is becoming ‘greedier’ and more ‘land hungry’. Global food demand is projected to increase by at least 154% by 2050 and some estimates put the increase at 203%, largely driven by increased demand for meat products. At the same time, participants heard how rapid urban growth is putting more pressures on forests and rural resources in tropical countries. FPP shared the statement from the March 2014 meeting of forest peoples in Palangka Raya in order to highlight that deforestation is linked to systematic violation of human rights, displacement and land theft and called for zero tolerance of land grabbing by EU, forest nations and big business. NGOs from Indonesia highlighted the role of corruption and weak governance as a major underlying driver of forest destruction, land grabbing and land use change.

Imported deforestation:

EC officials acknowledged that the EU has a major forest footprint, and imports millions of hectares of deforestation (60% of which is linked to the food sector). EC policy makers noted that both regulatory and voluntary measures by governments and the private sector have a key role to play in tackling forest loss. Company participants stressed the value of zero deforestation pledges of large trading, processing agribusiness interests, while NGOs and non-governmental donors called for much stronger compliance and complaints mechanisms to ensure commitments on the environmental and social issues are put into practice. Academics and scientists at the meeting urged governments to take legislative steps towards greater “systemic change” to eliminate illegal land acquisition and deforestation from global supply chains affecting forests and communities.

Community and rights-based solutions:

 NGOs participants stressed the need for solutions based on clear actions to secure the customary collective lands and territories of forest peoples and uphold FPIC (Free Prior Informed Consent) in order to comply with international obligations, slow forest loss and prevent land grabbing. FPP and others presented empirical evidence to demonstrate the close correspondence between legally secure community lands and intact forests (e.g. in Latin America and Asia). A general consensus emerged in the conference; that measures to clarify and secure land tenure rights are vital to ensure commodity supply chains are legal and sustainable. EC commissioners stressed the need for an integrated landscape approach; improved forest governance and actions to address land tenure based on ‘sound knowledge and planning, broad participation’ and attention to ‘customary landowners, women and local resource users.’

Possible EU policy on deforestation?

NGOs attending the meeting including FERN, Greenpeace, and Global Witness called on EU/EC to stop contributing to the land theft problem and to address illegally sourced commodities (see also link to NGO statement below). In closing remarks at the end of the conference, EC officials informed participants that the EC is still open to an EU Action Plan on Deforestation and Degradation, but the final decision to develop such a plan will be with the new Commissioners and EU Council in next twelve months.

Further information:

• EC Conference on the Challenges of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the context of Climate Change, Development and Biodiversity Loss 

• Joint NGO statement

• Palangka Raya Declaration