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Follow #ForTheForests across social media platforms to learn more about Earthworm's awareness campaign on the importance of forests and healthy forest landscapes between 15 November -18 December 2021.

The global economy relies on nature. It provides services worth at least $125 trillion a year, but forests and biodiversity are facing an alarming decline. A study by the IPBES* found human action has severely altered 75% of the environment. Businesses can play a role in regenerating key forest ecosystems through collaborative, strategic action.


*IPBES - Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Importance of Forests

Forests maintain our climate, store carbon, and provide food, wood and medicine. Forests clean our air and water, prevent soil erosion, floods and landslides. They are also home to over 80% of land species, including pollinators and other keystone species.

Forest and Biodiversity Loss

About 10 million hectares of forest are lost a year – an area the size of South Korea. As a result, one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.

Agriculture and Deforestation

Agriculture accounts for 80% of tropical deforestation, which supports the demand for beef, soy, palm oil, cocoa, paper, packaging, cosmetics and other product.

What are the key focus areas and challenges for a company in their responsible sourcing journey?

In this video, Reckitt's David Croft (Global Director Sustainability, Environment and Human Rights) discusses some of the key learning the UK multinational has had in the past decade.

22 Years in Forest Management and Conservation

From its foundation as Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) in 1999, forest conservation, responsible use and the work to identify and tackle deforestation by harnessing the power of supply chains and working to positively impact people on the ground has been at the heart of the mission of Earthworm Foundation.

Setting net-zero targets is a step in the right direction, but more important is action in forests now to protect them.


In this podcast, Rob McWilliam (Director of Technical Services, Earthworm Foundation) discusses the future of forests and what needs to be done to protect them. PLACEHOLDER COPY TO BE REPLACED.

Here's How Businesses Can Take Action

Address Climate Change & Carbon (Greenhouse Gas) Emissions

To tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions we must protect and restore forests.

Empower Custodians of the Land

Forest protection only works if communities, farmers and workers, who rely on the forests, are empowered to protect them.

Collective Action

Ensure long-term sustainability and independent transformation by working with key public, private sector, and civil society actors to build local capacity and participatory governance.

How do companies protect and regenerate forests?

How can businesses have a positive impact in the regions they source from? Bastien Sachet, CEO of Earthworm Foundation explains the role Earthworm Foundation plays working together with businesses to protect and regenerate forests. Watch our approach to the regenerating key sourcing regions below.

Looking for corporate guidance to improve the wellbeing of forests in your sourcing areas?

“I welcome the participatory process. And I hope that this will lead to a plan that protects the community and the forest at the same time.”

- Ayun, Village elder, Indonesia

CTA

"I first learned about oil palm from the companies around here. They said we could plant it as part of a family programme. We thought it might make our lives a little better, you know?"

- Shiela Oliveira Da Silva (Para, Brazil)

CTA

Learn how Earthworm Foundation and its partners are working to bring health back to key sourcing regions around the globe. (COPY TO CHANGE - FOCUS MORE ON CASE STUDIES)

What has the CEO of Drax, the U.K.'s largest biomass producing company, learnt in their journey towards responsible sourcing practices?

In this video, Will Gardiner shares the importance, as well as the challenges and successes Drax has faced in their responsible sourcing journey.

Where to Focus Forest Protection Efforts?

Productive forests

“Productive Forest Landscapes’ are sourcing regions which cover a mix of Intact Forest, old growth natural forest, semi-natural and commercial forest landscapes). The “origins” of these products come from different types of landscapes in which trees and forests are grown and harvested and could include Intact Forest, old growth natural forest, semi-natural, native and exotic plantations to agroforestry systems from the tropics to temperate and boreal ecosystems.

Deforestation

Support companies to tackle and prevent deforestation in their supply chain, as well as taking a forest positive approach to actively keeping what forests there are outside concessions standing. This involves working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including civil society organisations and indigenous peoples, because protecting forests means supporting those who live in and around them.

Deforestation

The largest threat to tropical forests is agricultural expansion, which accounts for about 80 percent of tropical deforestation. Forests are cleared to support our growing population’s demand for beef, soy, palm oil, cocoa, paper, packaging, and other products. Supply chains are complex so solutions need to be focused on creating forest positive solutions with to reverse these trends.

Charlotte Opal podcast


Charlotte is a natural speaker. We should be using her more often!

Solutions

Have partnerships based on Responsible sourcing that strengthen the supply chain

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Measure forest health, density, and forest cover

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Organize collective action with actors at landscape level

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Actively support the conservation of forests in supply chains

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Empower Custodians of the Forest

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Use data to prioritise decisions

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Looking for support to better define your corporate sustainability targets and how to achieve them?

Regenerating soil health

Soil – if not managed well – can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, simultaneously threatening food security.

Businesses can play a vital role in improving food production and mitigating climate change.

Find out what can be done to better support farmers in your supply chain.

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