Reserva: The Youth Land Trust (@ReservaYLT on Twitter & Instagram) is a global youth-oriented conservation organisation. In partnership with Rainforest Trust and Ecuadorian NGO Fundación EcoMinga, Reserva aims to empower young people to change our planet for the better through projects in three impact areas—conservation, education, and storytelling. We are a group of young naturalists, lead by founder Callie Broaddus, who believe that young people not only have a powerful voice, but the financial means to make real environmental change happen. Currently, Reserva is composed of more than 50 Youth Council members from over 15 countries, all working together for a more sustainable future. I have met some amazing young people through my role as Media Officer!

Our flagship project is to create the world’s first entirely youth-funded nature reserve in the Ecuadorian Chocó Rainforest: a biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species and a beautiful example of one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems. About a quarter of all plant species found there are endemic, and the region has the highest concentration of endemic birds in the world!

In September 2019, Callie, Lucy Houliston and Carter Ries joined a research expedition led by our partner, Fundación EcoMinga, to the site of our proposed nature reserve. The photographs that they took showcase the immense biodiversity present in Ecuadorian cloud forests. These forests are home to iconic species like howler monkeys and Andean (spectacled) bears –- both listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. These under-explored forests have even revealed several new species of frog, orchid and rodent. Who knows what other new species we could find? You can read more about the expedition on the ‘Field Notes’ section of the Reserva website.

To give more young people a voice, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust has also launched the ‘1 Million Letters Campaign’ (#1MillionLetters). We want young people (26 and under) to write us a letter about why they love nature and why we should protect our wild places. These letters can be emailed to us as a photograph or mailed to P.O. Box 57277, Washington, D.C., 20037. There is a letter template available on our website. Rainforest Trust matches every letter that we receive with $3 towards our youth-funded reserve project. We are planning to bring all of the letters to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s upcoming summit COP15, to let world leaders hear what young people have to say.

We fundraise through our website and social media presence. Recently, we held our first ever Concert for Conservation, an idea that came from Youth Council member James Miller. This virtual event, hosted by conservationist and TV presenter Lizzie Daly, brought musicians and conservationists together for a fantastic evening of entertainment, raising over $1000 towards our reserve project! There is a recording available on Rainforest Trust’s Instagram.

Every dollar that we raise is matched by Rainforest Trust and, in total, we have already raised over $50,000 towards our final goal! Just $3 is enough to purchase a classroom-sized area of rainforest. Those that donate to this project can print out an awesome certificate on our website.

We are passionate about preserving our Earth’s wilderness areas for future generations to enjoy. We are proof that young people can make a measurable difference and that, regardless of age, you can too. Please consider donating to, or fundraising for, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust. Facebook fundraisers are a brilliant way to raise money for the environment; to create one for Reserva, choose Rainforest Trust as the charity and include ‘Reserva’ somewhere in the bio. If you are over 26, you can still make a difference by setting up a fundraiser or donating on behalf of a young person.

When we work towards a common goal, the tangible positive impacts that we can have on the environment are incredible. Real change does not happen overnight, but through individuals taking small steps in unison towards a better future. Picking up litter, taking public transport, donating to Reserva… it all helps. Together, we can secure our planet a green future.

Banner image, thumbnail image and top two embedded images courtesy of Callie Broaddus. Lowermost embedded image courtesy of Sally Proctor.

The bus swayed back and forth, traveling down a narrow dirt road with so many potholes that it looked like a WWI battlefield. There was green everywhere, but not from the tall Amazonian trees that you would expect to see here in the heart of Brazil. Instead, huge soy fields lined both sides of the road for a good part of the 9-hour trip. It was hard not to take notice.

Our air conditioning was broken and dust blew in from the open windows as we sped towards the Xingu River, trying to get there before the rain. It was futile. Soon enough, rain was pounding on the old dirt road, turning the golden orange dust into a dark brown mud. At this point, the huge probability of getting stuck in a pothole meant that the driver couldn’t slow down. So, we pressed on.

Why were forty people shaking around in the back of an old bus in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon? Because we had all been invited to a meeting called by one the world’s most important indigenous leaders: Chief Raoni.

Chief Raoni in ceremonial war paint. (Photo by Rafael Forsetto)

Raoni Metuktire is a 90-year-old indigenous chief of the Mebengokre (Kayapó) people living in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. He rose to international fame in the ’80s and ’90s for his struggle to protect the Amazon and its indigenous population—his face and emblematic lip plate were all over the media of the time. Since then, he has led a quieter life back in his village, deep in the Brazilian Amazon.

Over the past year, however, Raoni has grown more vocal about the suffering of Brazil’s indigenous population and environmental destruction in the rainforest. He has gained momentum once again and is drawing everyone’s attention to an Amazon plagued by wildfires, logging and mining. His efforts have resulted in a nomination for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. If successful, Raoni, an indigenous man, will become Brazil’s first Nobel Laureate.

Rampant deforestation has put Brazil’s native population in a critical position. In response, Raoni issued a call this January urging indigenous leaders and supporters to meet at Piaraçu village, on the shores of the Xingu River, to debate and prepare a plan of action to present at Brazil’s National Congress.  I was one of the few press observers invited to attend—a 9-hour ride on the rickety bus was a small price to pay to witness this event.

A ferry carried us across the Xingu River. (Photo by Rafael Forsetto)

We finally arrived at the river at about 4 PM. As the ferry floated over to carry our bus across, I noticed boats docking on the other side of the shore. Over 600 indigenous leaders from 47 different tribes had traveled for many hours to be here for the event. You can’t ignore a summons from the legendary chief. As a member of the Fulni-ô tribe told me: “when Raoni calls, it’s important.”

This was my first time in an indigenous village and, of course, I was mesmerized. I wanted to see the sights, talk to the locals and learn about their culture. However, it soon became clear that this was no ordinary day at the village. Never before had this many indigenous leaders gathered in the same place. We were witnessing a historic moment in the fight for the Amazon.

The event started the next day. I made my way to the House of Men, a large structure of wood and hay specially constructed for the debates of the next four days. There, sitting cross-legged on a wicker chair (the seat of honor), was Raoni. A 90-year-old man who could easily be in his 60s. Even when sitting down, he was imposing. Sharp eyes, long white hair, perfect posture. War paint decorated his body. He sat smoking a tobacco pipe, waiting for the crowd to settle in and quiet down. Once everyone was there, he spoke.

 “We’re not meeting here to plan a war or conflict,” the chief said. “We are here to defend our people, our cause, and our land”. Raoni spoke in his native language with a Portuguese interpreter at his side. I wished I could understand Mebengokre, because there’s always something that gets lost in translation. Even so, I was transfixed. This man has met with some of the most powerful people in the world, and there he was, a couple of feet away from me, speaking to us just as he spoke to them. It seemed as if it didn’t matter whether he was at the Élysée Palace or at a local school—his message remained the same.

A Mebengokre mother paints the face of her daughter. (Photo by Rafael Forsetto)

The meeting lasted for four days overall, likening itself to official state negotiations. In democratic fashion, all participants who had something to say were free to step up and make their voices heard. The indigenous peoples exercised mutual respect throughout the meeting, guaranteeing that all groups had a chance to speak. But it was the women and youth who really captivated me.

Most of the indigenous tribes represented at this event have patriarchal structures, with a male chief leading the group. However, this didn’t deter the women present from sharing their own thoughts—not even slightly. Outspoken and unrelenting in their statements, they made it clear that their mission was the same as everyone else’s: to save the Amazon and its peoples from aggressive development policies. When these women spoke, people rushed over to the stage and huddled together to hear their passionate speeches on women’s roles in environmental protection. I’d be hard-pressed to name a more inspiring moment than the women’s roundtable, which featured indigenous women of all ages sharing their stories and demands for a better tomorrow.

Youth participation was also through the roof. Young people all over the world have been bringing new views to the climate movement, and Brazil’s indigenous youth are no different. Organized and highly motivated to make a difference, they demanded a seat at the table to make their voices heard. I was most impressed with their ability to communicate, not just verbally, but through digital and social media as well.

Many of them are part of indigenous news organizations or film collectives that seek to share and reinforce their cultures. What really drew my attention, however, was how they’re also already passing on their knowhow and teaching indigenous children and teens how to work media equipment and tell their own stories. You can check out some of these youth leaders’ work on Instagram at @midiaindiaoficial and @coletivobeture.

Tribal representatives read the Piraçu Manifesto aloud for the assembled crowd. (Photo by Rafael Forsetto)

As the debates went on, lawyers and volunteers compiled the indigenous demands in a four-page document dubbed the Piaraçu Manifesto. The Manifesto demanded respect, protection and the recognition of Chief Raoni as a spokesperson for the Brazilian indigenous. “We do not accept gold digging, mining, agribusiness and leasing of our lands, we do not accept loggers, illegal fishermen, hydroelectric plants and other projects […] that will impact us in a direct and irreversible way,” the document states.

The Piaraçu meeting is now over, but I am honored to have seen it all happen firsthand. I noticed that the indigenous peoples are some of the most engaged participants in the fight to end the climate emergency. By fighting for their home in the Amazon, they’re fighting for all of our homes. They are on the frontlines, suffering very real casualties, and it’s essential that we stand with them. Let’s incorporate the indigenous cause into our climate strikes and raise awareness about their plight. You can help by posting with #raoninobeldapaz2020 #raoninobel #savetheamazon. Chief Raoni’s fight is the same as all of ours—a fight for a better future.

Banner and thumbnail images courtesy of Rafael Forsetto.

Nesredin Abdurrahman is an 18-year-old Ethiopian student who works half days as a sentinel on a reforestation site in Bufata Tiyara, Gore woreda, Oromia. He and his friend take turns watching the site to ensure that no human interference or animal grazing endangers the plants that the community are growing on their land. Thanks to technical and logistical support from the Oromia Forested Landscape Program (OFLP), more than 17,000 tree seedlings have been planted to date in two sites divided by an old airport field on the outskirts of the Gore woreda. Gore is one of 49 “deforestation hotspot” woredas in Oromia Regional State, where the BioCF Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscape (ISFL) program is working to combat deforestation.

The program, which started in May 2017, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainable forest management in the region. The program draws on an $18 million grant to finance on-the-ground investments and is allotting Emission Reductions Payments at a rate of $5 / ton for verified emissions reductions up to 10 million tons ($50 million) through 2029.  OFLP aims to bring a total of 120,000 hectares of forest area under formal forest management and reforest 9,000 hectares by 2022. After two years of implementation, investments on the ground have yielded promising results in terms of reforestation area and Participatory Forest Management (PFM): about 9.8 million seedlings have been planted over nearly 3,400 hectares in the last two rainy seasons and about 22,770 hectares of forest area have been brought under the umbrella of forest management.

The afforestation/reforestation (A/R) activities carried out under OFLP in the Gore woreda are particularly critical because the area is situated in one of the last two relatively intact high montane forests remaining in the country— the impacts of deforestation here are likely to stretch far beyond the borders of the woreda. Absent strong action in this region, Ethiopia’s aspiration to build a green climate-resilient economy by 2030 and fulfill its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement (as well as other global climate commitments) could be put at risk. The Gore woreda is located in Southwest Ethiopia, home to arabica coffee as well as headwaters for the second major tributary of the Nile. It influences rainfall distribution across many areas of the country and is of vital importance to the overall ecosystem.

The forests of Illu Abba Bora in particular trap considerable reserves of carbon and are a critical source of atmospheric moisture for climate stabilization in the drought-prone Northern Highlands. Furthermore, these forests are instrumental in supporting everyday livelihoods and allowing communities to achieve climate resilience. Marginalized groups and women in particular rely heavily on natural forests for their livelihoods. In the most densely forested regions, between one third and one half of annual household income stems from forest resources.

The Bufata Tiyara A/R sites are fenced to avoid animal and human interference, and the local community has established bylaws that clearly outline the fees to be paid by the owners of trespassing animals. In addition to the guards, members of the community regularly look after the seedlings until the plants are fully grown. At one of the sites, women community members have proven particularly precise in planting the seedlings and effective at taking care of them. According to Mr. Desalegn, chairperson of the community group of Bufata Tiyara-2, their commitment is exemplary: he has said they are as dedicated to nurturing the seedlings as they are to providing for their own children. For this reason, the seedlings in this site are developing fast and looking very healthy. Thanks to the A/R efforts in the region, the remains of the old trees are regenerating themselves, promising a revitalization of the natural forest and a return of all the various indigenous trees that once defined the landscape.

OFLP is supporting similar A/R activities in other hotspot woredas in Oromia, contributing to Ethiopia's ambitious national “green legacy” initiative. By the end of the rainy season this year, the government of Ethiopia had planted over 3.5 billion trees, an effort which required every citizen to sow 40 seedlings. As part of this initiative, officially launched by the Ethiopian Prime Minister on May 26, 2019, 350 million trees were successfully planted on July 29 alone. The initiative aims to increase substantially Ethiopia’s forest coverage, which according to the UN declined from 30 percent to 15.5 percent between the late 19th century and early 21st.

A leader on climate action, forests, and sustainable land management, Ethiopia set a precedent with this program. The benefits of OFLP go beyond emission reductions to include poverty reduction and resilient livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, promotion of household energy options (affecting mostly women) and water provisioning services important for the current and future energy profile of Ethiopia. This innovative approach has been already used as a model for similar programs in Colombia, Zambia, Mozambique and the DRC and has the potential to help build green legacies in countries around the world as we collectively move towards a sustainable future.

Photos by Binyam Teshome on behalf of the BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes.

“The Great Green Wall is about peace, hope and uniting people,” Nigerian youth leader Hamzat Lawal told an audience assembled in New York during last week’s UN proceedings. “Trees can curb climate change.” Not only do trees remove CO2 from the air and supply the oxygen we breathe—they also offer visual hope, providing bright green life where once there was nothing.

On the eve of the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, UNGA attendees came together for a discussion and celebration of the Great Green Wall initiative unfolding across Africa from Senegal to Djibouti. The ambitious endeavor aims to rally the communities and economies of the Sahel region behind the goal of creating an 8,000-km wall of green spanning the entire continent: a new wonder of the world.

Timberland pledge their support to the Great Green Wall. (Leigh Vogel)

An African-led movement, the Great Green Wall aims to drive forward climate-smart solutions and restore life to degraded landscapes in order to provide food security, jobs and thriving new economies for the communities living in Africa’s Sahel region. The scope of the project extends far beyond a physical mosaic of trees: it is a people-driven movement, one which offers economic benefits and social unity to a region that has long grappled with poverty and violence.

At the UNGA event, the eco-friendly footwear manufacturer Timberland announced its support for the Great Green Wall campaign. “As a brand pursuing a better future for our planet, Timberland is proud to join the Great Green Wall movement,” the company’s president, Jim Pisani, stated, “which we see as crucial in supporting communities on the front lines of the global climate emergency and building a more sustainable and equitable future.”

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw wants the Wall to be reality by 2030. (Kaia Rose)

Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, convened the event, which was jointly organized by the UNCCD and Connect4Climate - World Bank Group, to call on governments, civil society and business to join a growing global movement to make the Great Green Wall a reality by 2030.  The World Bank Group was represented by Juergen Voegele, Global Director, Climate Change, who called the Great Green Wall “a tremendous example of how we can fight poverty by revitalizing degraded land through climate-smart practices.”

Connect4Climate’s contributions to the Great Green Wall advocacy campaign include providing support for the Great Green Wall documentary, which recently premiered at Venice Film Festival. Produced by MAKE Waves and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) with backing from long-standing Connect4Climate partner Building Energy, the film tracks Malian singer and activist Inna Modja as she travels across Africa, visiting countries along the Great Green Wall where sustainability and reforestation projects are taking root.  Along the journey, she witnesses the impact of climate change on numerous communities in the Sahel, and is inspired by stories of resilience, optimism and collective action to fight for the Wall and all it signifies.

Waje sings for the crowd. (Leigh Vogel)

Famed Nigerian vocalist Waje performed at the UNGA event, as did the Malian group Songhoy Blues. The music of both artists features prominently in the Great Green Wall documentary, and they provided an emotional close to an evening full of hope and possibility.

Enthusiasm around the Great Green Wall and its message continued into September 23, when an event titled “From Green Walls to Green Wallets: The Importance of Financing Nature-Based Solutions” took place at Nature’s Climate Hub. Expanding on the newly launched Principles of Responsible Banking, this dialogue brought multinational stakeholders together for a brainstorm of innovative financial strategies to boost nature-based climate solutions around the world.

Songhoy Blues close out the September 22 event in style. (Kaia Rose)

The event was devoted in large part to the Great Green Wall project and its model for bringing fresh, sustainable economic growth to a region searching for stability. Backed by the GEF and UNCCD among others, the initiative has already garnered some $4 billion in support. And as Laura Tuck, Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank, asserted, “The World Bank is committed to staying engaged in the Sahel—supporting countries as they strive for a greener, more productive and healthy landscape, and an environment that is kinder to people.” Excerpts of the Great Green Wall film were showcased for attendees.

Connect4Climate was honored to participate in these events, which illustrated the power of the arts—film, music, and more—to connect people worldwide and build a movement around the bold vision of the Great Green Wall. The UNCCD’s Ibrahim Thiaw is beyond excited for what is to come. “The Great Green Wall is a truly inspirational initiative,” he said, “which is growing urgent solutions in the face of the 21st century’s greatest challenges.”

Banner image courtesy of Leigh Vogel.

What word comes to mind when you think of “cities”? Busy? And when you think of “forests”? Peaceful? What if cities could be something different?

To date, cities have largely been problematic for the environment. They occupy just two percent of the world’s land. However, they account for over 60 percent of global energy consumption, 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and 70 percent of global waste. Because of their historical impact on air quality, fresh water, natural resources and energy, the current growth of cities and megacities is a worrying trend. In 1990, there were 10 mega cities with more than 10 million inhabitants. In 2014, there were 28 mega cities. Today, over 50 percent of the global population lives in cities and by 2050 that number will rise to 70 percent.

But cities don’t have to be this way.  New strategies and technologies are emerging every day to make cities a cleaner, safer, nicer place to live, both for the benefit of the environment and for the humans who make them their home.

How 7 cities are harnessing the power of urban trees: 

1. Using parks to preserve biodiversity - In 2015, the City of Johannesburg in South Africa united all of its parks under one management in order to reduce confusion about areas of responsibility and ensure a set of common standards. This new agency’s goal is to build and maintain more parks with existing funds. Parks, trees and well-managed forests in and around cities help to counteract the impact that growing cities have on habitat loss. Instead, parks and forests maintain and increase biodiversity by providing habitats, food and protection for many plants and animals.

2. Boosting happiness with urban trees - In 2010, Vancouver, Canada adopted a bold strategy called “Green Vancouver,” an initiative to reduce the city’s environmental footprint. With ten goals, including green buildings, energy efficient transportation, zero waste, clean water and air, the city of Vancouver also highlighted the importance of access to nature. The strategy aimed to ensure that, by 2020, every person will live within a five-minute walk of a park, greenway or other green space, pushing the municipality to plant an additional 150 000 urban trees between 2010 and 2020. By 2014, the city had already planted 37 000 trees. Studies show that trees boost happiness and reduce stress levels. Incorporating them in cityscapes makes neighborhoods more liveable places and improves the well-being of its inhabitants.

3. Cooling cities naturally - In May 2013, the European Commission promoted the use of green infrastructure, which it defines as “a network of spaces with public or private agricultural or landscaped natural vegetation.” In response, Barcelona, Spain created a Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan, where green corridors connect green urban spaces such as forests, parks and vegetable gardens. Green spaces within a city and strategic placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius, reducing the need for air conditioning by 30 percent.

4. Removing pollutants from the air with urban forests– Arnhem, Netherlands implemented urban forests as part of its new “Green Agenda.” The municipal government, along with NGOs and experts, helped to develop and define the implementation of green infrastructure in the city. Urban trees are important parts of a city’s infrastructure because they serve as effective air filters, removing harmful pollutants in the air. They also store carbon which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in and around urban areas.

5. Promoting healthy lifestyles with green spaces- In 2004, China’s State Forestry Administration officially launched the “National Forest City” programme with both strong national policy support and successful local community involvement. It had two main goals: planting trees and “growing green minds” among its citizens. To acquire the status of a national forest city, a city must meet 38 standards and indicators in the areas of administration and organization, management and forest development. By 2015, more than 170 cities and 12 provinces were actively involved the National Forest City programme. Tree cover in these urban communities had increased to 40 percent or more, up from less than 10 percent in 1981. Nine cities on the Pearl River Delta in South China will become the country’s first national forest city cluster which should be completed by 2020. Urban green spaces, including forests, encourage active and healthy lifestyles, improve mental health, prevent disease and provide a place for people to socialize.

6. Planting trees that provide food and medicine for local populations -In the Arabian Peninsula in general and the Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman, in particular, palm trees are specifically bred, grown and planted on streets to produce dates for public consumption as "sadaqua”, which means charity. In Abu Dhabi, for instance, several million palms were grown to line avenues for passersby to pick; the rest is harvested by municipalities. Similarly, in many homesteads in Sudanese cities, date palms are planted to produce fruits that will be consumed at home or offered to guests at Ramadan and other important occasions. Along with many other benefits, trees can also provide local populations with fruits, nuts and leaves as food or medicines for use in the home or as a source of income.

7. Creating planted forests to reduce pressure on natural forests - Dhaka has a population of more than 14 million people and a poverty rate of 30.5 percent. In 2006, FAO analysed the contribution of urban forests to the livelihoods of poor people in the city and found that urban forestry can increase their quality of life by providing, for example, employment in nurseries and other forest-related industries. Most of the poor in Dhaka lack access to city services, such as electricity and safe drinking water; urban forestry can help fill the needs gap by supplying wood fuel and helping purify water. Wood fuel sourced from urban trees and planted forests on the outskirts of cities provides renewable energy for cooking and heating and reduces the pressure on natural forests. These forests also help to filter and regulate water, contributing to high-quality freshwater supplies for millions of people.

Urban trees and sustainable cities aren’t just environmental choices. There are also many economic benefits of urban trees and forests. In the city of London, it is estimated that trees help save GBP 260 million every year in buildings’ energy costs. Forests in cities and surrounding areas generate tourism, create tens of thousands of jobs and advance city beautification schemes, building dynamic, energetic and prosperous green economies.

For whatever the reason, and there are many, urban forests should be a part of how we rethink our current and future cities. The environment and the city dwellers of the future will thank us.

Banner image courtesy of Jeff Gunn. Thumbnail from the FAO's original article.

This article originally ran in the Nature Conservancy's Global Insights.

Another year down, another year closer to the 2020 deadline of the New York Declaration on Forests. In 2014, more than 50 companies, including household names like Unilever, Cargill, Nestle and Walmart, signed the declaration, committing to eliminate deforestation in four key commodities by 2020: beef, soy, palm oil, and pulp and paper. This enormous undertaking is a stepping stone to the even bigger goal of eliminating deforestation in all supply chains by 2030.   

The 2020 goal isn’t going to happen, but that’s okay. I’m here to tell companies: don’t despair.

I understand the angst that some corporate leaders may be feeling. From their standpoint, there’s only a year left before failure to meet the 2020 deadline—and before NGOs come after them for dropping the ball.

But I see things a little differently. Companies have much to be applauded for—as long as they have a solid plan in place to further ramp up progress toward their commitments.

The 2020 deforestation goals represent the first serious attempt to implement deforestation commitments. Companies made timebound plans and pulled business units in key producing countries into cross-company planning on deforestation (often for the first time). These companies gained a much better sense of their deforestation footprints, which allowed them to prioritize strategies and resources. For example, many companies decided to focus on palm oil in Indonesia, soy in Brazil, and cocoa in Cote D’Ivoire. None of that would have happened without the urgency created by the 2020 commitments.

Meanwhile, NGOs mobilized in two key areas: tools and transparency. 

Implementing massive deforestation commitments requires sophisticated tracking and monitoring technology. But until recently, these tools didn’t exist. So the World Resources Institute developed Global Forest Watch, the first monitoring platform that tracked forest loss on a global scale. It spun off Global Forest Watch Pro, which allows companies to zero in on specific supply chains in specific places. The Stockholm Environment Institute and Global Canopy Program developed TRASE, a tracking tool that allows companies to see where certain commodities are going, and which destinations are linked to deforestation in areas of origin. This is a key first step to understanding a company’s deforestation footprint and targeting actions to improve it.

Within origination countries, NGOs and companies have collaborated as never before to produce innovative tools to help implement commitments. TNC worked with the soy sector in Brazil to produce Agroideal, for example, which helps market actors identify cleared land that is environmentally suitable and economically viable for soy expansion. This relieves pressure to cut down native habitat in the Cerrado, Brazil’s vast and incredibly biodiverse savanna.

The second component is transparency. When the companies first made these deforestation commitments, they lacked the clarity they needed to implement them. For example, what definitions should they use for key terms like forests, deforestation and conversion? What are the best monitoring options? What are expectations and standards around transparency, verification, supply chain management? In response, environmental NGOs—like TNC, Rainforest Alliance and Greenpeace, and others—banded together and established the Accountability Framework to fill the information gap and produce guidance for companies, much of which has already been road-tested with businesses around the world. 

These business operation changes, new technologies and working coalitions would likely not have happened without the 2020 commitments. They generated urgency and unlocked critical funding. Now it’s up to companies to develop credible plans to follow through on their 2030 deforestation commitments. That’s what NGOs are looking for now.

So what does a credible plan look like? Benchmark against the Accountability Framework; cross-check planning against it; take advantage of tools like Global Forest Watch and Agroideal; and be sure to work with supply chain partners and governments. It takes a village to get this important work done.  

I’m optimistic about 2019, but I’m also a realist. I know the challenges. Both NGOs and companies need to do much more on beef, which alone accounts for half of deforestation globally. We need to bring emerging market actors, especially China, into the conversation. We need to be much more inventive on mobilizing capital to help farmers as they transition to zero deforestation and zero conversion production.

And since deforestation and land conversion account for about 15% of global carbon emissions, we need to do all this very quickly—before time runs out on the opportunity to control climate change.

But the 2020 deforestation commitments—and the results we’re seeing today—demonstrate that we are moving forward. As the climate change agenda and deforestation agendas start to converge, I hope to see even more aggressive action in this space—from companies and NGOs alike. We’re in a great place to get started. Let’s get to work.