News

Could the palm oil arrangement between Indonesia and Switzerland offer lessons for EU and Indonesia free trade agreement negotiations?

The agreement innovates by linking tariff reductions to sustainability – but fails to integrate governance reform.

08/04/2021

EU Watchdog points to Commission “maladministration” in Mercosur sustainability debacle

What is the point of an impact study carried out after the fact?

08/04/2021

EU Law on deforestation: Key land rights risk being ignored in DG Environment’s proposal

Only one of two important upcoming legislative initiatives is expected to integrate human rights. Both must.

08/04/2021

FLEGT ‘Fitness Check’: Abandoning FLEGT licenses would harm forest governance and the legal timber trade

Civil society organisations urge the EU to stay the course with visionary FLEGT programme

08/04/2021

Logging surges in Estonia’s protected habitats, study reveals

A new study reveals a significant increase in logging in Estonian Natura 2000-protected forest habitats, driven by the relaxation of logging restrictions in the country’s conservation rules. 

Between 2008 and 2018, 1,663 hectares...

30/03/2021

FAQs

What are the causes of deforestation?

Eighty per cent of global forest loss is due to the conversion of forest to agricultural land to produce socalled ‘forest risk commodities’, such as beef, soya and palm oil, which are largely exported.

29/03/2021

NGO statements

Response to the Forest Strategy consultation - A world of strong and healthy forests

Ursula von der Leyen is the first European Union (EU) Commission President to publicly recognise how important forests are to life on our planet. But with the climate crisis and biodiversity collapse looming, time is short to turn...

24/03/2021

NGO statements

No forest offsets

This letter was sent to President of the European Commission von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Timmermans, Commissioner Simson, Commissioner Sinkevičus , Minister Matos Fernandes, MEP Guteland and other Members of the...

22/03/2021

Press releases

EU Commission reprimanded for failure to consider environmental, social impacts of South American trade deal

Environmental and human rights organisations have welcomed today’s European Ombudsman finding of maladministration by the Commission. It found that the Commission failed to complete a timely assessment of the social and...

19/03/2021

Forest watch

Forest restoration: why offsetting could derail the path to recovery and well-being

This Sunday, 21 March, is the United Nations International Day of Forests (IDF), intended to celebrate and raise global awareness of the importance of forests. The theme is "Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being",...

18/03/2021