COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests
Date: 2019-07-23
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: biodiversity, conservation of resources, deforestation, environmental cooperation, forest, forest conservation, international cooperation, sustainable development, sustainable forest management, wooded area

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 23.7.2019 SWD(2019) 307 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS  Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests   {COM(2019) 352 final}  
 
 
A.  SYNOPSIS REPORT OF CONSULTATION RESULTS AND FEEDBACK 

1.  Introduction  

The idea of a new EU initiative against deforestation and forest  degradation  was mooted in 
both  the 2013 EU Forest  Strategy1 and the 7th Environmental Action Programme2. Between 
2013  and  2019,  the  Commission  consulted  widely  with  various  stakeholders  including  the 
general public, public authorities, academia, environmental non-governmental organisations, 
businesses and the industry, certification bodies and others, including from third countries on 
the  subject.  This  document  summarizes  the  inputs  received  from  three  studies  (respectively 
released  in  2013,  2017,  2018)3,  two  conferences  (2014,  2017)4,  and  an  open  public 
consultation (2019).  

2.  Strengthening the knowledge base and consulting stakeholders 

Study on the impact of EU consumption on deforestation (2013) 

As  part  of  its  strategy  to  address  climate  change  and  global  biodiversity  loss,  the  European 
Commission  launched  a  comprehensive  study  to  assess  the  impact  of  EU  consumption  on 
forest  loss  at  a  global  scale  in  2011.  The  study,  carried  out  over  a  two  year  period,  was 
published in 2013.  

Part 15 of the study provided a comprehensive analysis of the impact of EU consumption on 
embodied  direct  deforestation.  It  found  that  the  majority  of  crops  and  livestock  products 
associated with deforestation were consumed at local or regional level. Of the portion of the 
embodied  direct  that  is  traded  internationally,  between  1990-2008  the  EU  27  imported  and 
consumed  36%  of  crops  and  livestock  products  associated  with  direct  deforestation  in  the 
countries  of  origin.  This  translated  into  a  deforested  land  area  of  7.3  million  ha  per  annum 
over the same period. 

Part 26 of the study identified critical areas where existing EU policies and legislation could 
be reviewed to  reduce the effect  on third country deforestation, which included climate and 
renewable  energy  policy,  the  Common  Agricultural  Policy,  the  Forest  Strategy,  the 
Biodiversity  Strategy  2020,  sustainable  production  and  consumption  policy,  trade  policy, 
investment policy, development cooperation policy, and research and innovation policy.  

1 COM(2013) 659 final 
2 Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General 
Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 ‘Living well, within the limits of our planet’ 
3 All study were funded by the European Commission: The impact of EU consumption on deforestation: 
Comprehensive analysis of the impact of EU consumption on deforestation, 2013; Study on the environmental 
impact of palm oil consumption and on existing sustainability standards, 2018; Feasibility study on options to 
step up EU action against deforestation, 2018. 
4 “Tackling deforestation and illegal logging conference: Progress made and opportunities for future action”, 21-
23 June 2017; “Conference on the Challenges of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the context of Climate 
Change, Development and Biodiversity Loss”, 26-27 May 2014 
5 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/1.%20Report%20analysis%20of%20impact.pdf  
6 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/2.%20Report%20policies%20identification.pdf  

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The  third  part7  of  the  study  proposed  specific  EU  actions  and  measures,  including  other 
initiatives for further consideration. These included regulatory measures, voluntary measures, 
market-based instruments, information and awareness raising, funding mechanisms, capacity 
building and technical assistance. The identified options were assessed and ranked according 
to  evaluation  criteria.  The  study  served  as  an  important  input  to  strengthen  the  knowledge 
base and better understand the EU’s impact on deforestation in the process of developing an 
EU initiative.  

Conference on the Challenges of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in the context of 
Climate Change, Development and Biodiversity Loss (2014) 

On  26  and  27  May  2014,  the  Commission  organised  a  conference  on  the  challenges  of 
deforestation  and  forest  degradation  in  the  context  of  climate  change,  development  and 
biodiversity loss. The conference aimed at launching a broad consultation process both inside 
and outside the EU to address deforestation and inform the development of future strategies. 
It  was  structured  around  four  topics:  i)  Planet,  ii)  Business,  iii)  People,  livelihood  and 
ecosystems, and iv) The way forward8. More than 120 representatives of EU Member States, 
third  countries,  international  organisations,  private  sector,  NGOs  and  research  organisations 
attended.  

The  conference  found  that  while  there  is  no  quick  fix  to  address  the  challenges  of 
deforestation  and  forest  degradation,  and  broad  and  comprehensive  approaches  are  needed, 
some existing EU initiatives could serve as a basis for future action. The EU Action Plan on 
Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT Action Plan9), the EU Biodiversity 
Strategy  202010,  sustainable  production  and  consumption  policies  and  other  initiatives  in 
which  the  EU  is  involved,  such  as  Reducing  Emissions  from  Deforestation  and  forest 
Degradation (REDD+)11, are important  examples. Other instruments  such as the responsible 
sourcing  of  minerals  from  conflict  areas,  international  negotiations  on  the  post  2015 
development  area  and  the  development  of  the  Sustainable  Development  Goals  were  also 
highlighted.  

The conference closed with a call for action at both individual and collective levels, addressed 
to all stakeholders at all governance levels, including beyond the EU.  

Conference  on  tackling  deforestation  and 
opportunities for future action (2017) 

illegal 

logging:  progress  made  and 

From  21  to  23  June  2017,  the  Commission  invited  stakeholders  to  take  stock  of  progress, 
achievements  and  challenges  as  well  as 
improving 
implementation  of  the  FLEGT  Action  Plan  and  exploring  further  EU  action  against 
deforestation. More than 250 participants from producer and consumer countries, the private 
sector, civil society, indigenous and local communities, EU Member States and international 
organisations attended the conference.  

to  explore  opportunities  for 

7 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/3.%20eport%20policies%20proposal.pdf  
8 A summary note can be found here: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf  
9 COM/2003/0251 final 
10 COM/2011/0244 final 
11 https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/environment/sustainable-forestry/reducing-emissions-deforestation-and-
forest-degradation_en  

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The first part of the conference12 focused on illegal logging, in particular the state of play of 
implementation  of  the  FLEGT  Action  Plan.  The  second  part  of  the  conference13  collected 
further  input  on  how  to  strengthen  EU  action  against  deforestation,  notably  by  stepping  up 
action on agricultural commodities, which are the major drivers of deforestation.  

As a follow up to the study on the impact of EU consumption on deforestation in 2013, the 
Commission launched a study to assess the feasibility of options to step up EU action against 
deforestation  in  2016.  The  contractor  presented  the  preliminary  findings  of  the  study,  and 
three  break  out  groups  discussed  potential  demand-side,  supply-side  and  investment  & 
finance measures. The conference also served as an opportunity to inform the discussion and 
gather input in view of future developments. 

In  closing  the  conference,  it  was  felt  that  there  is  a  strong  case  for  an  EU  action  plan  on 
deforestation  where  different  options  for  different  contexts  are  considered  and  a 
comprehensive approach is taken.  

Feasibility study on options to step up EU action against deforestation (2018) 

In 2018, the Commission published the outcomes of the study on the feasibility of options to 
step up EU action to combat deforestation and forest degradation launched in 2016. 

The study on the feasibility of options to step up EU action to combat deforestation and forest 
degradation  reviewed  relevant  EU  policies,  legislation  and  initiatives  as  well  as  ongoing 
international and regional efforts by the private sector, governments and civil society. It made 
suggestions  on  the  framing  of  possible  EU  action  to  tackle  deforestation  as  well  as  its  root 
causes and drivers.  

The  study  proposed  a  range  of  potential  EU  interventions  that  would  tackle  the  different 
drivers  and  dimension  of  the  problem  of  deforestation  and  forest  degradation  (supply  and 
demand  side  drivers,  as  well  as  the  role  of  finance  &  investments).  The  identified 
interventions  were  assessed  against  a  shared  set  of  assessment  criteria,  which  included 
feasibility and effectiveness, political acceptability, technical complexity, and administrative 
costs.  

A key conclusion of the study was that given the complexity of the problem, any potential EU 
initiative  should  consider  a  package  of  interventions  that  addresses  the  supply,  demand  and 
finance dimensions, building on and reinforcing existing EU action as well as government and 
private sector commitments on zero deforestation and other relevant international initiatives. 

Study  on  the  environmental  impact  of  palm  oil  consumption  and  on  existing 
sustainability standards (2018) 

The Commission also released in 2018 the report of a study on the environmental impact of 
palm  oil  consumption  and  on  existing  palm  oil  sustainability  standards  with  view  to 
strengthening the knowledge base on the subject. 

12 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_FLEGT_PART.pdf  
13 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf  

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In assessing the role and potential of existing palm oil sustainability certification schemes, the 
study concluded that the four main oil palm certification schemes (RSPO14, ISCC15, MSPO16, 
ISPO17)  differ  considerably  in  terms  of  their  requirements,  performance,  market  uptake  and 
transparency. Inconsistency in their implementation and enforcements were also found. None 
of the schemes were found to cover all of the environmental and social issues included in EU 
and UN policy objectives.  

Besides these four main certification schemes, several voluntary initiatives and commitments 
related  to  palm  oil  and driven  by  NGOs,  the  public  or  the  private  sector  were  assessed.  An 
evaluation of existing legislation and enforcement regimes affecting the sustainability of palm 
oil  showed  that  while  most  producer  countries  have  introduced  environmental  and  social 
regulations relating to palm oil, their enforcement is often selective, incomplete or ineffective. 

Open public consultation (2019) 

From  14  January  2019  until  25  February  2019,  the  Commission  published  an  open  public 
consultation  through  EU  survey  to  collect  the  views  of  all  interested  stakeholders  on  the 
problem  of  deforestation  and  forest  degradation,  and  how  the  EU  can  address  it.  The 
consultation  received  955  replies.  Most  respondents  to  the  survey  answered  as  private  EU-
citizens  (61%),  with  the  next  largest  respondent  categories  being  NGOs  (10%),  and 
businesses (7%).  

Almost  all respondents (98%) considered the problem of deforestation and forest degradation 
to be an alarming or serious threat. However, the degrees of perceived severity of the problem 
varied  to  some  extent  across  different  stakeholder  groups.  For  instance,  non-governmental 
organisations  and  EU  farmers  found  the  problem  much  more  alarming  than  companies  and 
business organisations. 

At the same time, most respondents  (73%) considered the current  EU policy and legislative 
framework  inadequate  for  tackling  deforestation  and  degradation.  While  it  was  mostly  EU 
citizens, followed by NGOs and companies, that considered the current EU framework to be 
inadequate, at least 50% of all stakeholder groups agreed.  

The main reasons to address deforestation and forest degradation were protecting biodiversity, 
ecosystems and their services according to 92% of all respondents followed by mitigation and 
adaptation measures for climate change (80%). 

Respondents  considered  the  most  important  direct  drivers  of  deforestation  and  forest 
degradation  to  be  the  expansion  of  large-scale  commercial  agriculture  (93%),  followed  by 
industrial logging/industrial forest products extraction (83%), and illegal logging (81%)18.  

Among  the  indirect  drivers,  more  than  90%  of  the  respondents  perceived  weak  forest 
protection  law  and  adequate  enforcement  as  the  most  important,  followed  by  weak 

14 Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil 
15 International Sustainability and Carbon Certification 
16 Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil 
17 Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil 
18 The other direct drivers considered in the open public consultation were (Quesiton 7a): mining, infrastructure 
development, urban expansion, fuelwood extraction, fuelwood extraction, natural causes (forest fires, climate 
change, pests and diseases) and expansion of small-scale and subsistence agriculture. 

4 

 
                                                 
governance of land and  weak  enforcement of law (92%). Poor forest  and land management 
practices were also considered as a very important driver by 85% of the respondents, followed 
by  the  high  consumption  levels  of  commodities  associated  with  deforestation  and  forest 
degradation together with increasing demand for these commodities due to population growth 
and increasing standards of living (83%)19.  

When  asked  about  which  commodities  associated  with  deforestation  and  forest  degradation 
should be addressed by an EU initiative, 80% of all respondents considered palm oil, followed 
by meat (54%), soy (53%), wood (52%) and bio-diesel (45%).  

3.  Stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation 

The studies, conferences and the open public consultation have shown that in particular five 
priorities  are  of  particular  relevance  when  tackling  the  problem  of  deforestation  and  forest 
degradation. These involve actions on the demand-side, supply-side, multilateral and bilateral 
cooperation, finance and investment, and research and innovation (including monitoring and 
transparency). The input provided by stakeholders is summarized below.  

Priority  1:  Leveraging  EU  demand  for  commodities  from  deforestation-free  supply 
chains 

Participants at the conferences20 stressed that demand-side action had the strongest potential 
to deliver on the EU’s international commitments and ensure sustainable supply practices. Of 
the proposed demand-side measures in the open public consultation, 91% of the respondents21 
considered  addressing  EU  consumption  of  unsustainably  produced  commodities  associated 
with  deforestation  and  forest  degradation  as  very  important  or  important.  88%  of  the 
respondents22  even  considered  the  discouragement  of  the  consumption  of  unsustainable  and 
non-deforestation-free  products  as  a  very  important  or  important  action.  Many  respondents 
also requested the promotion of healthy diets including less meat consumption. Participants at 
the  2017  conference23  also  stressed  the  need  to  encourage  lower  consumption  of  food 
products associated with deforestation and forest degradation, including in the context of the 
Common Agriculture Policy.  

19 The other indirect drivers considered in the open public consultation were (Question 7b): lack of public 
policies promoting commodities produced with less impact on forests, insufficient finance for investments in 
sustainable agriculture in producer countries, lack of private sector policies, commitments and engagements in 
deforestation-free supply chains, low consumer awareness of risks of deforestation related to commodities; lack 
of incentives for private sector to source commodities produced with less impact on forests, climate change, high 
consumer country dependency on feed imports, trade agreements, policy driven increase in demand for 
commodities, low social and economic development of large part of local population in producer countries, 
finance and investment flows from the EU and other countries, high dependence of countries on agriculture and 
forest sector, low resource efficiency resulting in waste and loss, and low productivity at farm, plot or plantation 
level or in the processing chains. 
20 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf  
21 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13b 
22 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13e 
23 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 

5 

 
                                                 
Participants  at  both  conferences24  highlighted  lack  of  transparency  and  traceability  in  the 
supply  chain  to  verify  third  party  commitments  as  an  issue.  In  this  process,  existing 
transparency  initiatives  should  be  promoted.  Similarly,  88%  of  respondents25  to  the  open 
public  consultation  indicated  that  the  consumption  of  sustainable  and  deforestation-free 
products  through  improved  transparency  and  information  would  be  a  very  important  or 
important action. At the conferences, participants stressed that consumers need better access 
to  information  in  order  to  address  the  production  of  unsustainably  produced  commodities26. 
They  proposed  to  establish  a  platform  for  regular  dialogue  between  producers,  buyers, 
monitoring-  and  enforcement  bodies  on  progress  and  issues,  and  to  seek  solutions. 
Furthermore,  83%  of  respondents27  to  the  open  public  consultation  considered  actions  to 
better  implement,  coordinate  and  communicate  actions  in  EU  Member  States  as  very 
important or important. 

87%  of  all  respondents28  strongly  supported  initiatives  to  promote  sustainable  and 
deforestation-free  products  on  the  EU  market.  Both  participants  at  the  conferences  and 
respondents  to  the  open  public  consultation  called  on  the  EU  to  establish  a  regulatory 
framework  to  ensure  deforestation-free  supply  chains29.  It  was  also  suggested  that  forest-
specific requirements should be included in EU trade and investment agreements, and that due 
diligence approaches should  be promoted  for  companies, including  the banking  and  finance 
sector,  to  address  environmental  and  social  concerns.  It  was  suggested  to  build  on  existing 
initiatives and lessons learnt from the timber and forestry sector (such as FLEGT Voluntary 
Partnership Agreements and the EU Timber Regulation30). 

62%  of  all  respondents31  considered  encouraging  the  use  of  voluntary  certification  to  be  a 
very  important  or  important  action.  Nonetheless,  at  the  conferences,  participants  expressed 
concerns about the weaknesses and limits of certification schemes, such as weak auditing and 
monitoring  processes,  and  the  absence  of  compliance  bodies.  It  was  also  stressed  that 
different  approaches  are  needed  for  different  commodities  and  that  these  need  to  be 
complemented  by  government,  jurisdictional  and  policy  support  to  help  achieve  results32. 
There  was  a  convergence  of  views  between  NGOs  calling  for  a  transformation  of  the 
mainstream  market,  where  as  the  private  sector  focussed  more  on  high  sustainability 
standards  for  niche  markets33.  While  both  respondents  to  the  public  consultation  and 

24 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf;  
25 European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf  
26 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13b 
27 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13e 
28 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13b 
29 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; Public consultation on stepping up 
EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13 
30 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down 
the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market 
31 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13b 
32 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf  
33 Ibid. 

6 

 
                                                 
participants at the conferences called for more robust and mandatory certification schemes, it 
was  also  argued  that  these  schemes  will  not  be  sufficient  to  reduce  deforestation  rates 
significantly and should be complemented by other actions34.  

At the 2017 conference, it was also stated that the private sector should be seen as part of the 
solution,  and  ongoing  efforts  and  commitments  should  be  recognized.  Similarly,  85%  of 
respondents35  to  the  questionnaire  indicated  that  support  to  deforestation  commitments  and 
national dialogues on deforestation-free commodities are very important or important.  

89%  of  all  respondents36  to  the  public  consultation  rated  better  integration  of  deforestation 
and  forest  degradation  considerations  through  relevant  public  policies,  such  as  public 
procurement and corporate social responsibility, as very important or important. Participants 
at  the  conferences37  also  stressed  the  need  for  monitoring  implementation  of  public 
procurement  policies  and  the  essential  role  of  governments  in  changing  their  own 
procurement policies towards deforestation-free supply chains.  

Participants38 at  the 2017  conference also  discussed the interplay between  deforestation  and 
the EU policy on biofuels, as well as possible measures to decouple biofuels production from 
deforestation. Some respondents to the public consultation also proposed to reduce the import 
of soy-based animal feeds into the EU.  

Priority 2: Strengthening partnerships with producing countries to reduce pressure on 
forests  

Regarding potential supply-side actions, 91% of the respondents to the public consultation39 
strongly  supported  working  in  partnership  with  producer  countries  to  increase  the  share  of 
sustainably  produced  commodities.  Similarly,  experts  at  the  2014  and  2017  conferences 
stressed that the EU should work in partnership with commodity producer countries through 
for  example  political  dialogue,  cooperation,  partnership  instruments,  free  trade  agreements 
etc.  Some  participants  at  the  conferences  stressed  the  importance  of  recognizing  producer 
countries’ needs to use forest resources for their future development40.  

34 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf;  
 European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; Public consultation on stepping up 
EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13 
35 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13b 
36 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13e 
37 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 
38 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
39 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 
40 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 

7 

 
                                                 
92%  of  the  respondents  to  the  public  consultation41  considered  support  to  the  uptake  of 
sustainable and deforestation-free practices by stakeholders in tropical forest countries as very 
important or important. This was also stressed at the conferences42, where participants called 
for a policy package for phasing out illegally produced agricultural commodities along with 
the need to increase productivity and promote sustainable agricultural intensification. 

Participants  at  the  conferences  also  highlighted  the  important  role  of  small-scale  forest  and 
farm producers, who represent by far the largest private sector group but are often overlooked 
by  global  initiatives,  national  policies,  development  funding  and  the  large  industrial  scale 
private  sector.  It  was  stressed  that  the  EU  should  provide  better  market  access  and 
opportunities as incentives for sustainably produced commodities43.  

Participants  at  the  conferences  stated  that,  as  one  of  the  main  importers  of  commodities 
associated with deforestation, the EU ought to provide more financial and technical assistance 
to  producer  countries  to  protect  and  restore  forests  and  support  livelihoods  of  local  and 
indigenous communities. The important role of communities in protecting forests and the risk 
of  neglecting  forest  degradation,  ecosystem  fragmentation  and  land  grabbing  was  also 
highlighted44.  

Several  speakers  at  the  conferences  also  stressed  the  issue  of  land-use  planning,  insecure 
tenure and more effective land governance45. In this context, the need to work at jurisdictional 
level  where  land  use  decisions  are  taken  was  also  emphasized.  At  the  same  time,  the 
limitations  of  these  approaches  were  also  discussed,  as  tenure  issues  cannot  always  be 
addressed  at  jurisdictional  level  and  there  may  be  risks  of  leakage  across  borders  to  other 
jurisdictions. The results of the open public consultation showed that 94% of the respondents 
supported the promotion of better forest protection and land use planning, governance and law 
enforcement46.  

Participants  at  the  conferences  requested  the  EU  to  not  only  address  supply  chains  but  also 
forest  protection  and  biodiversity  conservation  needs.  Similarly,  95%  of  the  respondents  to 
the public consultation47 considered support to forest policies, sustainable forest management, 
better protection, conservation and restoration of ecosystems as very important or important.  

41 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 
42 European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 
43 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 
44 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
45 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 
46 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 
47 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 

8 

 
                                                 
Priority  3:  Strengthen  multilateral  and  bilateral  cooperation  to  halt  deforestation  and 
forest degradation 

83%  of  the  respondents  to  the  public  consultation48  considered  working  in  partnership  with 
other key consumer countries to step up action as very important or important. Speakers at the 
2017 conference also emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships between the public 
and  private  sector.  These  partnerships  should  ensure  transparency  and  accountability  and 
should help stimulate private sector actions. The important role of international organisations 
and  certification  bodies,  in  particular  those  with  a  focus  on  agricultural  and  forest 
commodities  associated  with  deforestation  and  forest  degradation,  was  also  stressed  by  the 
participants49.  

82%  of  the  respondents  to  the  public  consultation50  supported  working  on  an  ambitious 
multilateral  agreement  that  could  focus  on  or  integrate  deforestation  and  forest  degradation 
considerations into e.g. a Convention of the Parties. Several respondents also proposed to use 
the EU’s environmental diplomacy to improve international cooperation and work towards an 
international treaty with binding targets, as well as promote measures to avoid deforestation in 
other multilateral agreements. 

Free  trade  agreements  were  also  mentioned  as  a  tool  to  prevent  trade  in  illegally  sourced 
commodities.  A  majority  of  95%  of  respondents  to  the  public  consultation51  considered  the 
inclusion  of  deforestation  and  forest  degradation  measures  in  EU  trade  agreements  signed 
with tropical countries as a very important or important action. Similarly, several participants 
at the conferences called on the EU to introduce forest-specific requirements in EU trade and 
investment  agreements  to  underpin  the  EU’s  international  commitments  and  to  mainstream 
deforestation considerations throughout EU policies. Some experts also suggested to increase 
trade  tariffs  or  to  attach  sustainability  criteria  to  the  import  of  commodities  associated  with 
deforestation  and  forest  degradation,  and  some  argued  for  a  complete  import  ban  on  those 
commodities52.  A  number  of  respondents  to  the  public  consultation  also  proposed  to  make 
trade in these commodities conditional on rigorous forest protection measures. 

Priority 4: Redirecting finance in support of more sustainable land-use practices 

80%  of  all  respondents  to  the  public  consultation53  considered  measures  to  increase  of  the 
sustainability, availability and access to finance (including to smallholders) as very important 
or important. Similarly, at the 2017 conference, it was stressed that besides the need to raise 
green finance, measures are also required to ensure that conventional investments do not have 
adverse impacts on deforestation and forest degradation54.  

48 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13d 
49 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf  
50 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13d 
51 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13e 
52 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf  
53 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13c 
54 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 

9 

 
                                                 
89% of the respondents to the public consultation55 rated the action to increase sustainability 
and transparency in financing of high deforestation and forest degradation risk sectors as very 
important  or  important.  At  the  2017  conference,  participants  highlighted  that  the  financial 
sector has a key role to play in eradicating deforestation from its activities but that it needed 
technical and regulatory support. It was suggested that the EU could help to identify and map 
financial sector actors and mechanisms, and set up a regulatory framework for the disclosure 
of investments that risk contributing to deforestation56. The latter was supported by 87% of all 
respondents57  who  considered  measures  to  improve  the  disclosure  of  information  on 
deforestation proofing in financial investments to be very important or important.  

A large majority of 93% of all respondents58 considered actions to ensure that the EU or the 
European  Investment  Bank  do  not,  even  indirectly,  finance  projects  contributing  to 
deforestation  as  very  important  or  important.  Participants  at  the  2017  conference  also 
suggested  that  the  European  Investment  Bank  could  provide  investments  needed  to  reduce 
deforestation and assist in unlocking private sector finance59. 

Finally, participants at the 2017 conference suggested the EU could provide guidelines for the 
financial  industry  to  apply  in  their  investments,  offering  clarity  and  a  level  playing  field60. 
Respondents to the public consultation proposed mandatory transparent and verifiable forest-
risk  and  human  rights-risk  due  diligence  obligations  for  EU  financiers  and  investors 
participating in forest risk sectors. The option of de-investing in forest-risk activities was also 
discussed at the 2017 conference61.  

Priority  5:  Support  research  and  innovation,  availability,  quality  and  access  to 
information on forests and commodity supply chains 

More  than  80%  of  respondents  to  the  public  consultation62  considered  the  promotion  of 
research  and  innovation  activities,  and  knowledge  sharing  as  a  very  important  or  important 
action.  Respondents  also  called  for  more  -  international  -  collaboration  among  research  and 
training bodies to increase understanding and awareness of the problem and to find solutions 
together. 

In addition, respondents requested the EU to establish clear indicators on how to monitor the 
implementation  of  international  commitments,  including  its  impact  abroad.  93%  of  all 
respondents63 ranked the strengthening of forest monitoring and improvement of transparency 
and  traceability  in  the  supply  chain  as  a  very  important  or  important  action.  Respondents 
emphasised  that  traceability  is  key  and  proposed  legislation  on  transparency.  At  the 

55 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13c 
56 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
57 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13c 
58 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13c 
59 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
60 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
61 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf 
62 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 
63 Public consultation on stepping up EU action against deforestation and forest degradation: Question 13a 

10 

 
                                                 
conferences,  it  was  argued  that  if  certification  systems  are  given  recognition,  they  should 
include more robust auditing and monitoring system, and effective complaints mechanisms64. 

Many  stakeholders  suggested  to  develop  a  large-scale  transparent  and  verifiable  forest 
monitoring  and  reporting  system  to  help  business  restructure  their  supply  chains  to  avoid 
deforestation  and  forest  degradation  and  sourcing  in  areas  subject  to  a  high  risk  of 
deforestation65.  

64 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 
65 European Commission Conference on Illegal Logging and Deforestation 21-23 June 2017 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_21_06_2017/TDIL_FINAL_REPORT_DEF_PART.pdf; 
European Commission Conference on The challenges of deforestation and forest degradation in the context of 
climate change, development and biodiversity loss 26-27 May 2014 Summary report: 
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/forests/pdf/conf_26_05_2014/summary.pdf; 

11