How can the law help save the world’s forests?

We cannot survive without forests. They are vital to slowing the climate crisis, protecting biodiversity and are deeply connected to the culture and livelihoods of billions of people across the world. 

But the economic systems which produce many of the goods and services consumed by rich countries are driving forests to the brink. Vast swathes of land are burned and cleared to make way for cattle ranches and plantations of palm oil, soy, cocoa, coffee, rubber, maize, and timber. The “critical minerals” that power modern technology are now driving destruction of the world's forests at a devastating rate too.  

WRI’s latest Global Forest Review report shows our primary tropical forests disappearing at around 11 football pitches per minute. Whilst primary tropical forest loss slowed down by 36% in 2025, forest fires are now undermining these gains, making the global destruction level today around 46% higher than it was a decade ago. 

What can the law do to protect forests?

The law is one of our most powerful tools to tackle deforestation. It can hold governments and big corporations to account, improve rules around how forests are used, and drive positive changes in business practices.  

Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) protect forests every day, so they need the law on their side. But too often, these forest communities are shut out of decision-making processes. As governments gather for the UN biodiversity summit (CBD COP17) this October, securing those rights is one of the most effective things that decision-makers can do for forests. 

How is ClientEarth taking action? 

We work in partnership with organisations and forest communities to help build awareness, knowledge and understanding of environmental laws, so that those living on the frontline of forest destruction can use them. 

In Gabon - We have been working with local organisation Brainforest to raise awareness of communities’ rights - particularly around benefit sharing. This right ensures income from forest activities is distributed to local communities fairly. We’ve been supporting local efforts to ensure Gabon’s government adopt clear legal guidelines for how benefit sharing should work in practice. This makes it easier for communities to hold logging companies to account when they don't fulfil their side of the deal. 

We’re also supporting the movement for community-led conservation. We played a part in securing the concept of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) – also known as "Territories of Life" - in the draft revision of the Forest Code. The Code is not yet finalised - so this remains a reform to watch rather than a finished win. 

Likewise in the Republic of Congo, we supported civil society with legal analysis and advocacy, leading to a landmark provision in the 2023 Fauna and Protected Areas Law (revision ongoing) which made it legally possible for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) to create and lead community protected areas. 

Just a handful of products are behind the soaring rate of forest loss. Halting deforestation requires the countries consuming the most to take responsibility for their role. 

In 2023, the EU adopted the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a landmark law that will block companies from selling products linked to nature destruction on its market; this ground-breaking move could trigger a major shift in the global food production system. 

This was the result of millions of voices standing against deforestation. We worked together with hundreds of campaigners, scientists and Indigenous activists to push for these laws. 

The challenge now is getting it into action. The EUDR has faced political and industry pushback, leading to two significant delays. It is now due to come into force from 30 December 2026. The law has also been watered down - after pressure from the industry, leather was removed from its scope – a disaster for rainforests being destroyed by cattle ranching in Brazil. Alongside more than 120 companies, investors and civil society organisations, we’re now keeping up the pressure on the European Commission to implement the law without further delay or dilution, to ensure this law is as powerful in practice as it is on paper.  

And we will keep fighting for a world where our supermarkets and shopping baskets are free from products that have harmed people, forests and nature.