deforestation indonesia river RAN
Deforestation in Indonesia. Photo: Rainforest Action Network / Flickr

Agricultural commodities move along complex supply chains, exposing thousands of public and private institutions worldwide to the risks of unsustainable land-use practices and deforestation. A handful of forest-risk commodities — including palm oil, beef, soy, and pulp and paper — account for more than 70% of all deforestation in tropical forests.

Public and private actors are debating how to implement deforestation-free supply chains. There are significant challenges but also new opportunities to facilitate larger-scale implementation of zero-deforestation commitments. This article outlines a three-step process for action within jurisdictions: geographical areas corresponding to a political authority, such as countries and their subnational administrative levels.

Screenshot from Trase platform
The Trase platform maps supply chains back to source jurisdictions.

In particular, the article looks at the implications of newly available information, such as the Trase supply chain transparency initiative, with its free online platform, Trase.earth.

Read the book chapter (link to publisher’s website).