Protecting tropical forests is crucial for combating climate change and biodiversity loss. The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to ensure that certain products imported into Europe are not sourced from recently deforested land. However, deforestation is not solely driven by large export-oriented companies; it is also linked to small-scale farming, where farmers clear land for cultivation or livestock grazing to meet their basic needs.
Coercive measures, such as fines or land-use restrictions, can prove unsuitable and risk further undermining the livelihoods of already vulnerable communities. A complementary approach involves Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs. These programs reward forest owners who commit to preserving their forests, compensating them for part of the income they forgo.
“"Stricter rules are not always the most effective way to protect forests"
The article, published in The Conversation, draws on recent research published in the journal Nature Communications and questions the effectiveness of contracts within these PES schemes.
