Around the world, forests and other natural ecosystems like grasslands, wetlands and savannahs continue to be destroyed at an alarming rate. This contributes to climate change and the loss of biodiversity and the vital services that nature provides.

The expansion of agriculture in tropical regions remains the biggest threat to forests and other natural ecosystems, leading to the conversion of around 5 million hectares of forests into agricultural land per year between 2005 and 2017. Because the agricultural commodities that drive tropical deforestation and ecosystem conversion are traded internationally, tackling the problem is not just the responsibility of producing countries: importing countries also need to take action.

The EU is taking measures to address deforestation and other environmental and human rights impacts of its consumption. This report aims to support these efforts by providing new data and insights on the EU’s role in driving deforestation and conversion through the import, use and consumption of key agricultural commodities.