Asia-Pacific Nations Collaborate to Combat Agricultural Deforestation
Countries across the Asia-Pacific region are intensifying their collaborative efforts to decouple agricultural value chains from deforestation. The region, which accounts for over half of global agricultural output and 23% of worldwide deforestation (2.5 million hectares annually), faces a paradox where its economic system, heavily reliant on forests, also drives their decline. Approximately 86% of deforestation in the region is linked to unsustainable agricultural expansion for commodities such as oil palm, natural rubber, coffee, and cattle meat, with half of this commodity-driven deforestation tied to exports. In response, over 120 representatives from governments, industry associations, civil society, and smallholder organizations from 10 Asia-Pacific countries have developed a shared 'Asia-Pacific Roadmap on Decoupling Agricultural Value Chains from Deforestation.' This roadmap outlines six key action areas, including strengthening land governance, scaling sustainable agricultural production models, i...
