New EU deforestation regulation is a win for forest protection
On June 29, 2023, a fresh legislation within the European Union (EU) concerning products that are devoid of deforestation has become effective. Being a prominent player in the global market, the consumption within the EU plays a vital role in causing substantial deforestation worldwide. Hence, the implementation of this new regulation is certainly a commendable and significant measure towards rectifying this issue.
Forest ecosystems are incredibly valuable. They provide habitats for 80% of the land-dwelling creatures on Earth and absorb roughly 15.6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from 2001 to 2019. Approximately 1.6 billion individuals depend on forests to sustain their livelihoods. However, deforestation remains an alarming issue. In 2022, an area equivalent to the size of 11 football fields of tropical primary forest vanished every minute.
The consequences of this extend well beyond the forests' boundaries. The act of clearing forests, known as deforestation, is responsible for 12% of the world's yearly greenhouse gas emissions. This worsens the climate emergency at a time when forests should play a crucial role in fighting it. Over the past two decades, the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has transformed into a carbon emitter, surpassing its ability to absorb carbon dioxide by an astonishing 3.6 billion metric tons.
Due to the fact that most of the land-dwelling animals on our planet reside in forests, any harmful act that leads to their destruction or decline also results in the destruction of vital living spaces. The act of deforestation has significantly raised the chances of more than 19,000 species of vertebrates being labeled as endangered on the widely recognized International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.
The primary cause of deforestation is the increase in agricultural land. Specifically, the extensive cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock, such as beef farming and the growth of soybeans and oil palms, contributed to 40% of tropical deforestation from 2000 to 2010. Moreover, in the short span of 2017 to 2022, a staggering 800 million trees were mercilessly felled in the Amazon rainforest solely for the purpose of establishing cattle ranches.
Nestlé and the German firm Tönnies, providers to well-known supermarkets Lidl and Aldi, are among the corporations that have purchased meat from these meat factories linked to the destruction of forests. Shoppers have unknowingly filled their fridges with items that contribute to deforestation. Efforts to put an end to this situation deserve appreciation.
The EU, which is the biggest market worldwide, has a significant influence on the destiny of forests. At present, due to the consumption patterns of the EU and the hidden chains of supply, approximately 10% of deforestation worldwide takes place. Nevertheless, starting from 29th June 2023, the EU regulation concerning products that are free from deforestation has been effective. This allows operators and traders a period of 18 months to enforce its regulations.
Companies will need to actively assess their supply chains to make sure that their products are not connected to the destruction of forests or the decline in their health. This action will contribute to the preservation of forests and aid the EU in fulfilling its obligations under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework aims to safeguard and rehabilitate 30% of degraded ecosystems by the year 2030.
Moving forward, it is essential to extend these rules to safeguard additional invaluable ecosystems, such as wetlands like the Pantanal. Similar to forests, the Pantanal faces significant danger from the expansion of cattle ranching and large-scale farming. In fact, the area of pasture in the Pantanal has increased by a staggering 210% from 1985 to 2018. In the year 2020 alone, an alarming 29% of this entire ecosystem, an area larger than Belgium, was ravaged by unprecedented wildfires, with many of these fires intentionally ignited by cattle ranchers and soybean farmers. If we continue to witness the current rate of destruction, the Pantanal will cease to exist by the year 2050.
The Pantanal holds great significance for Indigenous communities, possesses the ability to capture carbon, and acts as a home for a diverse range of animals. These factors convey a unified message: safeguarding this vital ecosystem is crucial. Considering that Brazil is the primary supplier of agricultural products to the European Union, extending regulations would result in an immensely beneficial influence on wildlife, human beings, and our interconnected world.
The rule will have a profound global influence if it is put into action and enforced successfully with strong, time-limited objectives. In the European Union, businesses need to enhance their carefulness and risk procedures by examining the networks through which they obtain their resources. They should collaborate with suppliers who have been independently verified to guarantee that their operations are both legal and sustainable. Additionally, companies must establish their own internal methods to promote openness and the ability to trace their actions, and they should make public the information about their achievements.
The pursuit of protecting human rights should be coupled with safeguarding the environment, taking into consideration the Indigenous and local communities who heavily depend on forests. It is crucial to ensure that these communities not only receive support but also reap the rewards of this policy. However, it is important to note that this law does not encompass all habitats like wetlands. Thus, it is imperative to monitor any unintended consequences that might occur in other ecosystems. It is possible that destruction may simply shift from one place to another instead of being completely eradicated. It is crucial to recognize the global significance of these other biomes as well.
If the EU's Member States implement and enforce this regulation effectively and comprehensively, it will mark a significant progress towards achieving the EU's objectives for a sustainable economy and be a major victory for the preservation of global forests. It is overdue for products associated with deforestation to be removed from stores; individuals should not unknowingly contribute to the demise of these crucial ecosystems. I commend EU lawmakers for taking this crucial step and urge them to continue this positive momentum for safeguarding additional ecosystems in the coming years.
