UK government announce new legislation to protect forests

Forests are essential for nature, people, and a stable climate – in the UK and around the world. They are home to 80% of wildlife that lives on land, suck up one third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and provide livelihoods for 1.6 billion people.   

Yet, we have been failing to protect our forest life system. Forest loss and destruction has been getting worse, despite every pledge and declaration to protect them. A large part of this failure has been the food and products we buy, which are driving the loss of forests around the world. 

The biggest driver of deforestation is agricultural expansion. For example, between 2016 and 2018 an area equivalent to 88% of the UK’s land area was required overseas annually, to fulfil the country’s demand for just seven agricultural and forest commodities.

The UK government has made promises to help solve the nature and climate crisis – including tackling deforestation - but most of these commitments are off track, putting our world and the wildlife we share it with at risk. 

After years of work, and months of building the pressure on our leaders, the UK Government finally announced in December 2023 new measures to help protect forests from illegal deforestation.

• Introduced through the Environment Act, this legislation will see businesses that have a global annual turnover of over £50 million and use over 500 tonnes of regulated commodities a year banned from using them if sourced from land used illegally. 

• Palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy are to be included in the new legislation. 

• This move will protect the habitats of some of the world’s most precious and endangered species, including tigers and leopards. It will give British shoppers assurance that the goods they buy are not contributing to deforestation that violates the laws and regulations of the countries where they come from. 

• The legislation aims to help retailers meet their ambitious targets on deforestation and enable a greater supply of deforestation-free products in the UK.

With your support, and thousands of others across the UK, we are making a difference. This brilliant achievement is just one example of the power we have when we work together. Together, we can bring our world back to life.