Forest conversion
Converting forests to other land uses
The conversion of forests to other land uses, such as agriculture and pulp and paper plantations, results in severe environmental and social costs. This is due to the ecological impacts of clearance and uncontrolled burning, as well as the disregard for the rights and interests of local or indigenous communities.
Without significant changes in policy and practice, forest conversion is likely to continue at a rapid rate and pose a major threat to the climate, to forests with a high conservation value, freshwater ecosystems, livelihoods of people that depend on forests, and habitats of endangered species such as jaguars, rhinos, tigers and great apes. Reduction of wildlife habitat also leads to increased interaction and conflict between humans and wildlife.
Two of the most significant crops in terms of their contribution to the loss of valuable wildlife habitats are palm oil (grown in plantations that have replaced rainforest in South-east Asia) and soya (grown in former forest and, increasingly, savannah lands in South America).
WWF is working to deal with environmental and social problems associated with clearing forests to set up agricultural plantations. We are addressing the causes of deforestation and aim to ensure that global palm oil and soya expansion do not threaten environmentally important forests and endangered species. To achieve this, we are:
- promoting better land use planning and controls by governments in the major commodity producing regions in South-east Asia and South America
- promoting better management practices in palm oil and soya plantations that safeguard both the natural environment and the livelihoods of people
- persuading major businesses using palm oil and soya to switch to more sustainable sources that meet international standards
- shaping the international trade in palm oil and soya by influencing the economic and trade policies of governments in major consuming regions like Europe.
Soya and oil palm
The EU imports more than half the soya exported from South America and 18% of global palm oil production (which primarily comes from South-east Asia). Within the EU, the UK is one of the top three importers of palm oil.
WWF is encouraging responsible soya and oil palm cultivation through the development of international standards for responsible production. Criteria have been developed for palm oil; those for soya are still being developed.
Requirements for responsible production include:
- not converting forests with a high conservation value
- applying better management practices that help conserve biodiversity and reduce soil and water impacts in and around plantations
- respecting land rights and ensuring the well-being of employees and local communities
- assuring participation of affected communities in land use planning
- compliance with relevant legislation.
WWF is engaging with UK businesses to encourage responsible sourcing of palm oil and soya. We are also working with the UK government to encourage the drafting and implementation of legislation on things like biofuels that will have an impact on imports of palm oil and soya.
Bringing people together
WWF was instrumental in setting up ‘roundtables’ that bring together producers, traders, financiers and social and environmental organisations to promote and implement responsible production and use of palm oil and soy. The roundtables encourage the involvement of relevant players in addressing problems connected to plantations.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil was set up in 2004 as a result of WWF’s work with producers and distributors of palm oil. WWF actively encourages businesses to become members and has gained support for the round table from other organisations to ensure that the critical issue of palm oil production is on the political agenda around the world, via the EU, the Association of South-east Asian Nations, and the United Nations.
The Round Table on Responsible Soy was formed in 2006 to address the issue of forest conversion for the production of soya particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay. The Atlantic Forest and Cerrado savannah areas of South America are particularly threatened by a rapid increase in production of this crop. WWF is actively involved with this round table and is focusing on the issue within our priority conservation regions.