CLEVER’s Pathways From Global Trade to Biodiversity Policy Action

on September 9, 2025

What does it take to make Europe’s global trade truly sustainable for biodiversity? At the Mainstreaming Biodiversity for Policy Making conference in Brussels, CLEVER presented insights from three years of research on how EU trade and consumption affect ecosystems worldwide. Our work focuses on three main areas: the Brazilian soy value chain, timber from Cameroon, Brazil, and Gabon, and aquaculture in Vietnam. These commodities are expanding into ecologically sensitive regions, driving deforestation, threatening biodiversity, and impacting local communities.

As the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) begins to take effect, CLEVER engaged with policymakers, civil society, and scientists to share evidence and tools—such as biodiversity indicators, trade analysis, and policy evaluation—that can help identify leverage points for reducing Europe’s biodiversity footprint.

For CLEVER, the event marked a milestone in a longer journey of collaboration, innovation, and systems thinking. As part of the Horizon Europe Cluster on Transformative Change for Biodiversity, our work goes beyond understanding impacts to shaping solutions toward more sustainable and equitable trade.

Measuring and quantifying biodiversity impacts

To design effective policies, we first need clear evidence of how trade affects nature. CLEVER tackled this challenge by developing tools that make biodiversity impacts visible and measurable. Partners from UFMG shared progress on biodiversity loss and endemism projections in Brazil, taking into account uncertainties such as climate change and mitigation policies. This forward-looking approach helps anticipate future risks, making it possible to design policies that are both preventive and adaptive.

Another highlight was an innovative spatially explicit framework, developed by our partners at UPV and BC3, which pinpoints the biodiversity and environmental impacts of Brazilian soybean exports with remarkable precision. This tool not only identifies the municipalities where soybean production is most harmful but also reveals which importing countries bear the greatest responsibility for species decline. Such insights are crucial for policymakers, enabling them to target the most impactful points in the supply chain.

By making these connections clear, CLEVER provides the scientific foundation for policies that can truly reduce Europe’s global biodiversity footprint.

Leverage points and governance implications

The EUDR formed a pertinent case in the different talks. A clear message that came through the presentations was that leverage points for the governance of commodity supply chains exist and must be tackled in multiple areas. This includes ensuring coherence of policies related to the production and trade of forest and agricultural commodities between supply-and demand-side countries. Also, transnational regulations like the EUDR should build on international cooperation in order to maximize its impacts and avoid outcomes that see companies merely seeking technical compliance and reshuffling their supply chains instead of adopting measures that truly tackle deforestation.

Building on these insights, CLEVER released a research output in August 2025 summarizing policy recommendations through the Innovation Action Pool. This initiative identifies governance innovations that can be scaled up to create sustainable supply chains that protect biodiversity while ensuring fair production practices. The report targets state actors and business associations in both producing and consuming countries. Based on stakeholder input, the Innovation Action Pool focuses on adapting and scaling proven governance models rather than introducing entirely new instruments, prioritizing inclusiveness and context-specific solutions that respond to real stakeholder needs.

Reducing EU footprints in the world

The real challenge is turning this knowledge into practical, fair, and effective action. During the panel discussion at the conference, experts from policy, science, and civil society highlighted solutions that are already showing promise: regenerative agriculture, traceability systems, payments for ecosystem services, and innovative financing tools for smallholders. These align with CLEVER’s emphasis on systemic change, but achieving lasting progress requires more than isolated interventions. Strong policy coherence, cross-sector collaboration, and political commitment are essential to move from insights to meaningful, system-level implementation.

Engaging People, Amplifying Impact

To maximise outreach and impact, CLEVER placed strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement and communication throughout the project. Online and in-person workshops and interviews with stakeholders from Europe, Brazil, Cameroon and Gabon brought together local actors across sectors, ensuring that the voices of those most affected by biodiversity loss were reflected in our work. Stakeholder input gathered through these activities directly shaped the content, design, and priorities of the project outputs, such as the Innovation Action Pool, by grounding it in the lived realities, sectoral knowledge, and practical constraints described by those working in the commodity supply chains.

Communication was also key to impact, with researchers receiving training that supported their active involvement in producing outputs like the project video and “Four key narratives on global trade, forests, and policy” that made our work more accessible.

Amid data and policies, storytelling emerged during the event as a vital tool for driving change. By connecting emotionally to biodiversity, stories amplify local voices and inspire action. Combined with CLEVER’s research, they will inform a joint policy brief with concrete recommendations for EU and international decision-makers. Moving forward, we remain committed to advancing biodiversity-sensitive trade and governance as the foundation for a just and sustainable global economy.

CLEVER’s achievements and outputs reflect the combined efforts of its full consortium, including the University of Bonn, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, University of Freiburg, European Forest Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, IIASA, and UNEP-WCMC. Their expertise and collaboration made this work possible.

Photos by Rosa Castañeda.

Losing Forests by the Minute: New Laws in Cameroon and the EU’s Global Push

on July 8, 2025

Tick-tock. With every minute that passes, roughly ten football (soccer) fields of irreplaceable tropical primary forest vanish from our planet. Deforestation and forest degradation in the tropics have serious local and global impacts, like undermining livelihoods of local communities and peoples, harming biodiversity, and aggravating climate change impacts. The relentless forest loss is particularly critical in regions like Africa’s Congo Basin, which is the second-largest continuous tropical rainforest in the world and a biodiversity hotspot. In hopes of addressing these issues, policy makers have taken different initiatives. Cameroon – a country in the Congo Basin – adopted a revised Forestry Law in 2024, replacing its previous Forestry Law that stemmed from 1994 and appeared long outdated. The revised law regulates and aims to achieve the sustainable use and management of Cameroon’s forest resources, responding to today’s challenges like the climate change. The European Union (EU) has also taken initiative with its Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR). The EUDR aims to minimize the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide and thereby reduces global forest loss. This rests on the notion that the EU market imports and consumes forest and agricultural products that fuel forest loss elsewhere. The EUDR focuses on seven such commodities, namely: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood.

These two initiatives share similar end goals but vary in their approach and scope. Cameroon’s revised Forestry Law is focused on creating clear rules of play in the country’s forest sector, which covers participatory management of forest and wildlife resources, sustainable forest management, forest protection and conservation, and community rights, among other things. The law defines the State’s role of monitoring and enforcement and sets penalties in cases of non-compliance. For Cameroon, the EUDR means EU companies must verify that the seven key commodities imported from Cameroon are legal and haven’t caused deforestation or forest degradation since 2020. To this end, companies in the EU must seek collaboration with their overseas suppliers in ensuring that EUDR provisions are met. For goods to be exported to the EU, companies in Cameroon must document and make available information to their EU buyers about the legality and deforestation-free status of their products. These measures include aspects like providing geolocation information about where commodities were grown and harvested.

Tree trunks loaded onto logging truck in the rain forest of Gabon, Central Africa. Photo by Fabian / Adobe Stock.

Different initiatives like the new Forestry Law and the EUDR can complement and support each other. Cameroon’s revised Forestry Law can help companies with EUDR compliance by seeking to strengthen the monitoring of forestry operations and punishing offenses more severely. The EUDR puts emphasis on legal compliance in countries of origin, like Cameroon, which can strengthen efforts to monitor and ensure compliance with forest and other laws in place. It can also help enhance traceability and transparency of supply chains, because it requires geolocation information of the commodities that are harvested and exported to the EU market – this, in turn, can support the goals of Cameroon’s new Forestry Law.

However, the initiatives also face challenges. For instance, the Forestry Law’s definitions of legal concepts may not align with international standards. Uncertainty also looms over the law’s implementation and enforcement, which has been a pain point with the previous edition of the law due to lacking resources and capacities of the forestry administration, for instance. This casts doubts over its potential effectiveness. The EUDR will also face multiple challenges in its implementation, like ensuring that its provisions are effectively enforced in the EU. The EUDR could also unequally affect producers in Cameroon, because smaller producers may struggle to meet the regulation’s strict requirements. It could also lead producers to divert their exports to other countries, such as China and Vietnam, where sustainability and legality standards are less strict than in the EU. Hence, while the EUDR’s effectiveness remains to be seen, it is already facing serious question marks.

Cameroon is not alone. Other countries in the region, like Gabon, are grappling with the EUDR’s implications while simultaneously devising their own domestic strategies to deal with deforestation. Ultimately, the story is repeated across countries worldwide, because the international trade by the EU means the EUDR has a global reach and each country will have its own interests, preferences, and proposed solutions to forest loss.

That is why it is crucial to seek collaboration among countries, underlining the shared responsibility in tackling deforestation. This is increasingly important in the context of today’s trade policy environment with its tangible tensions, where unilateral measures tend to carry unintended consequences. Hence, collaboration in implementation of regulations is especially essential for the EUDR, because its influence extends across the borders of a single country. Also, regulations like the revised Forestry Law remain the backbone in a domestic context, so their implementation and enforcement should be supported by partner countries. It is for the benefit of forests and communities that different regulations should ideally support each other: by creating a framework that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Simple wooden dugout canoe on Barombi Mbo crater lake of Cameroon, Africa. Photo by Fabian / Adobe Stock.

Authors: Mathias Cramm (European Forest Institute) and Abubakar Ali Shidiki (University of Dschang)

Feature image by MATTHEW / Adobe Stock.

Video: How does our consumption impact forests?

on June 3, 2025

We’re living in a time of growing environmental urgency, and protecting the world’s forests has never been more critical. Rainforests like the Amazon and the Congo Basin play a key role in fighting climate change by storing vast amounts of carbon and supporting incredible biodiversity. Yet these vital ecosystems are under threat—driven by global demand for commodities like soy, beef, and timber. What we consume in Europe often has hidden links to deforestation in distant regions.

Using the case of soy imports from Brazil, this video highlights the complex connections between international regulations, global trade, and biodiversity loss. The CLEVER project provides research to support transformative change by helping shape fairer, more effective policies for forest protection. Watch the video below to better understand the role we all play in protecting our planet’s forests.

From evidence to action: 4 key narratives on global trade, forests and policy

on May 13, 2025

Researchers often face challenges when trying to communicate their findings beyond academic audiences. To address this, the CLEVER project brought together researchers from both Europe and exporting regions, alongside journalists from places as diverse as Manaus in the Brazilian Amazon and Douala in Cameroon. Through this unique collaboration, they co-created accessible, research-based narratives aimed at engaging both the public and policy stakeholders. The result is a set of narratives that translate complex research into compelling messages about global trade, deforestation, and environmental policy—helping to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and meaningful action.

More science-informed policy-making is needed to reduce the environmental impacts of agricultural and forest products

Everyday products in Europe – from furniture and clothes to biofuels and animal feed – often come with a hidden cost. Forests are being cut down in places like Southeast Asia, South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa to produce them. The impacts go far beyond forest loss, triggering climate-warming emissions, destroying habitats, and harming local communities’ livelihoods. Since both exporting and importing countries benefit from this trade, protecting forests is a shared responsibility. With fair policies backed by science, stronger cooperation, and rewards for sustainable production, global trade can work for both people and nature. Read the full narrative here.

The EUDR may have little impact on reducing deforestation

To curb forest loss, the EUDR will require importers of soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, beef, rubber, and timber to prove their products are legal and deforestation-free by the end of 2025, but experts warn it might barely slow global deforestation. Why? The EU buys only a small share of these forest risk commodities from key producers like Brazil and Cameroon, so most impacted areas won’t be covered by the EUDR. Besides, it could weaken successful local policies and hit small farmers with extra costs. Without big players like China and the US adopting similar rules, the law risks becoming a detour sign for deforestation rather than a roadblock. Read the full narrative here.

Deforestation, forest degradation, and the EU’s response

The EUDR could become a catalyst for change. While its immediate impact on global deforestation may be limited, the regulation sets a strong precedent for forest-friendly trade. By inspiring similar measures in other consumer markets and fostering international cooperation, it can help shift supply chains toward sustainability. However, success will require policy alignment, support for producer countries, and continued investment in conservation measures. Read the full narrative here.

Navigating the EUDR: timber trade in the Congo Basin

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is shaking up timber trade in the Congo Basin. While big companies are mostly ready, smaller local businesses face compliance challenges. Some are weighing EU rules against easier but lower-paying markets, raising concerns about “two-tier” timber trade. Traceability, bureaucratic delays, and enforcement hurdles add to the complexity. However, with the right support, the EUDR could boost sustainable forest management and economic development across the region. Read the full narrative here .

Read the deliverable and dive into the tipsheet to discover how to write an effective, public-friendly research narrative.

Video: Making land-use regulations more effective and just

on April 28, 2025

Insights from CLEVER Researcher Rafaella F. Ziegert on the EUDR, land-use and policy interaction in Brazil

What happens when global trade regulations meet local realities? In this video interview, Rafaella Ferraz Ziegert, a researcher with the CLEVER project and PhD candidate at the University of Freiburg, shares her perspective on the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) — the first transnational policy designed to reduce the EU’s contribution to deforestation and land degradation abroad. While the EUDR aims to protect forests, it may also lead to unintended consequences in producer countries like Brazil, especially when it overlaps or conflicts with existing national policies.

Rafaella draws on her experience conducting environmental impact assessments across Brazil— a vast country with abundant land, yet one that faces intense pressure to meet multiple demands: food production, climate regulation, carbon storage, and mineral extraction. The central challenge? How to manage land use in a way that supports both people and the planet.

Instead of framing it as a conflict between forest conservation and agriculture, Rafaella sees it as a “nexus”—a space where solutions can emerge when sectors work together. Through CLEVER, she investigates how land-use policies and regulations interact, and which combinations can lead to more sustainable outcomes.

Reflecting on her research, she shares three key takeaways:

Territorial regulations may yield more sustainable results than specific supply chain policies.
Transnational policies should build on efforts, systems and standards already in place in producer countries.
Inclusive policy making—involving all actors in the different types of public and private regulation—is essential.

Want to learn more about CLEVER’s work and how EU regulations influence biodiversity abroad? Watch the video interview below:

It Starts with Us: Human-Centered Design to Tackle Barriers for Collaboration

on November 22, 2024

AI image generated by AbdulRahmanUzair / AdobeStock.

Human: A Barrier to Transformative Change

For biodiversity conservation to be effective, nature must be placed at the heart of decision-making. In recent years, concepts like nature-based solutions (NbS) have emerged as promising tools for fostering social empowerment and ecological transformation. Yet, studies reveal a significant limitation: these concepts are often applied within narrow, specific contexts, restricting their potential to drive transformative change. A troubling pattern emerges when we look closer at how “nature” is framed. Complex, top-down power dynamics often exclude marginalised communities and species from meaningful participation. This disconnect underscores the need to rethink how we approach biodiversity conservation.

The challenges we face in creating a sustainable society are not just environmental — they’re deeply human. We often struggle to align on shared goals to protect the planet. Different languages, perspectives, and priorities can create barriers to collaboration. To develop solutions that effectively address biodiversity loss, we must first overcome the human problems that stand in the way. This calls for a shift toward designing communications and public engagement strategies with a human-centred approach.

Introducing the Leverage Points Toolkit

Recognising the importance of this shift, CLEVER has developed the Leverage Points Toolkit. Following the collaborative workshop on narratives with our cluster partners from BioValue, BioNext, and PLANET4B, this resource was created to support the Transformative Change cluster project partners in applying human-centred design principles when crafting communication materials and engagement activities.

This 7-page document provides:

Practical tips for the design of human-centred communications and engagement outputs and activities

Links to short videos guiding the development of empathy and understanding target audiences

Tools like the empathy map and persona-building frameworks to explore existing worldviews and mindsets

Stakeholder mapping ideas using free collaborative tools like Canva

Cluster partners can use these tools to create strategies that resonate more deeply with their audiences, fostering empathy and driving more effective public engagement.

Access the Toolkit
Ready to take a human-centred approach to communicating about biodiversity conservation? Access the Leverage Points Toolkit and start being part of the change:
Download the Toolkit

Written by Rina Tsubaki from the European Forest Institute.

AI-generated image by AbdulRahmanUzair via Adobe Stock.

The hidden impact of EU soy imports on deforestation and biodiversity loss

on November 7, 2024

Aerial drone view of large soybean plantation in soy farm and deforestation area in the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. Photo by Imago Photo/AdobeStock.

Deforestation is driving a massive loss of biodiversity, much of it is tied to our consumption of imported products. Many of these products are not directly visible in our daily lives, but they play a huge role in global trade. Think of soybeans used for animal feed, or timber for furniture. The production of these non-food biomass products can directly and indirectly contribute to the destruction of forests and related biodiversity loss. More than ever before, we need media coverage on these issues to bring them to the public’s attention.

The CLEVER and DETECT projects at the CLIMATE ARENA. Photo by Rosa Castañeda.

At the Climate Arena journalism conference in Bologna on 18 October 2024, the CLEVER and DETECT projects joined forces to organise sessions to discuss the effects of global trade on biodiversity with investigative, science, and environmental journalists from all across Europe. The panel ‘Climate, Land Use, and Biodiversity from a Systems Thinking Perspective,’ explored the intricate connections between these issues, using Brazil’s soy imports as a key example. Moderated by Rina Tsubaki (EFI), the session featured Prof. Jan Börner (University of Bonn) and Dr. Felipe Nunes (University of Minas Gerais) as the expert speakers on the matter.

Soy is a key ingredient in livestock feed, supporting meat production that ultimately reaches European markets. Prof. Jan Börner said, soy farming in South America has boomed due to scientific advances and infrastructure development. However, this has come at a cost: illegal deforestation, especially in the Amazon. According to Dr. Felipe Nunes, just 2% of private properties account for 60% of illegal deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado. Although much of exports go to China, a significant portion of the soy and meat produced in these areas finds its way to Europe, embedding environmental destruction into our supply chains.

**Possible cause-and-effect pathways linked to global trade of Brazilian soy to the EU.** This infographic was co-created with journalists during the ‘Climate, Land Use, and Biodiversity from a Systems Thinking Perspective’ session.

One tool to fight this issue is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aims to ensure that only deforestation-free products are sold in Europe. However, opinions are divided on its potential impact. Prof. Börner is skeptical, pointing out that while Europe may purchase deforestation-free soy, it will likely come from other regions in South America, resulting in longer transport routes. Also, global demand will continue driving prices up, making Europe indirectly responsible for deforestation elsewhere. Additionally, countries like China will continue purchasing cheap soy from deforested areas, and many deforestation-linked products, such as timber and meat, are consumed domestically, making them unaffected by the EUDR. Moreover, the EUDR is not always aligned with national policies. In contrast Dr. Nunes sees the EUDR as a potential “game changer” for fighting deforestation and illegality in supply chains. Despite challenges like “leakage” that allows products to bypass regulations, the EUDR may encourage major players like the USA and China to implement similar standards. By enhancing verification of environmental and social criteria, the EUDR aims to ensure compliance and foster sustainability in global supply chains.

Regulation is important, but tools like Trase and SeloVerde are also essential for tracing commodity origins and identifying illegal practices. These tools can enhance supply chain transparency and help researchers, policymakers, and journalists hold businesses accountable. During the ‘Tracing Supply Chains’ workshop, Dr. Nunes was joined by Mark Titley from Global Canopy to demonstrate how these tools can be used to investigate global supply chains, using the example of Brazilian soy entering EU markets.

‘*Tracing Supply Chains’* workshop. Photo by Rosa Castañeda.

Trase has been popularly used by a number of investigative journalists in stories on the UK chicken import by the Guardian and Palm Oil trade by the New York Times. But it is still an underexplored tool for many. At the same time, not much has been explored regarding what exactly happens at the farm level. This is where SeloVerde can come in to support journalists interested in tracking deforestation-risk supply chains at the farm-level. It can help look into a specific farm to identify the cases of illegal logging and land conversion for agricultural crops.

Ultimately, tackling deforestation requires not just pinpointing what happens on a specific commodity or location. It needs a holistic approach that addresses not just individual commodities like soy but the broader systems of trade and land use. More access to data and tools can help expose problematic practices and potentially reduce the harmful impacts of our consumption on the planet’s biodiversity.

Explore additional resources on global commodity trade through this drive.

We posed key questions to the speakers from the Climate Arena panel and workshop. Watch the interviews summary here:

You can also watch full interviews with Jan Börner, Felipe Nunes, and Mark Titley to learn more about the CLEVER project, as well as the SeloVerde and Trase tools, and how governments and civil society can collaborate to mitigate the environmental impacts of global trade.

Written by Rosa Castañeda and Rina Tsubaki from the European Forest Institute.

New methodology for modeling biodiversity developed at UFMG points to new paths for conservation

on May 20, 2024

Figure 2 - USSE provides more accurate and consistent biodiversity predictions, mitigating impacts of the sampling bias and gaps.

CLEVER researchers of Centre for Remote Sensing of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) have developed an innovative approach for modeling biodiversity with great implications to biodiversity conservation studies. Led by Ubirajara Oliveira, the study proposes a new methodology that overcomes the challenges posed by the lack of knowledge about biodiversity in remote areas.

Figure 1 – The lack of knowledge in remote areas poses a challenge for biodiversity modeling and conservation

The article entitled “Controlling the Effects of Sampling Bias in Biodiversity Models“, published in the Journal of Biogeography, addresses how sampling biases, or the fact that some regions are better at sampling than others, affect our ability to understand biodiversity patterns. These biases often affect biodiversity estimates, mainly because more accessible regions tend to be more studied. These errors may impact the capacity to identify critical areas for preservation of a diversity of species.

To address this issue, the team developed simulations of virtual species distributions, in which collection biases and the expected results of the modeling were previously fully known. This process allowed the researchers not only to isolate uncontrolled factors present in real data, but also to evaluate the modeling methods under thousands of different species distribution contexts.

The results indicated that the most used techniques for mapping biodiversity, such as species distribution models and spatial interpolation, often fail to capture the real biological diversity. Then, the team of researchers proposed a new methodology called Uniform Sampling from Sampling Effort, or USSE, which proved to be effective in mitigating the effects of sampling bias. USSE provided more accurate and consistent biodiversity predictions, resulting in a powerful tool for planning and conservation actions.

Figure 3 – Frontier between crop lands and the Amazon Forest in Mato Grosso – Brazil.

In the Brazilian Amazon, for example, many regions remain unknown in terms of biodiversity and deforestation caused by the expansion of agricultural crops and pastures, which puts at risk unknown numbers of species. The ability to propose effective conservation strategies and public policies for these regions, among different factors, also depends on being able to predict accurately the biodiversity distribution to identify the critical areas for preservation.

Written by Ubirajara Oliveira, Britaldo Soares-Filho and Felipe Nunes of the Centre for Remote Sensing of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).

Concerns on the EUDR implementation increases as the deadline inches closer

on April 24, 2024

European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Challenges and Traceability Solutions. Photo credit: Tim Bartram

The new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been pointed out as an important turning point in the global fight against deforestation. Set to take effect on December 30, 2024, this regulation holds significant implications for countries like Brazil, a major exporter of soybean and beef to EU. With the deadline approaching, producers are concerned about their ability to comply to the policy criteria in time. Yet, it is not just about wanting to or having the right technology; there are several uncertainties about which information will be necessary for operators to prove due diligence.

Brazilian stakeholders recently highlighted four major challenges to the effective implementation of the EUDR for soybean and beef supply chains in the country:

1. Legal complianceand documentation: Upstream business actors in producer countries are currently facing the challenge of furnishing the requisite information and documentation to access EU markets. For the actors involved, it is not clear what kind of documentation and proofs will be accepted by national authorities while verifying the links between products and their declared locations of origin. For instance, what level of risk in the supply chain will be considered acceptable for compliance, and what documents can be used as evidence of compliance with the legislation?

2. Data protection: The EUDR requires that traders and operators report the geographic coordinates of the plots of land where commodities were produced, ensuring they are deforestation-free and not associated with illegal practices. As this implies an increased use of monitoring and verification technologies, concerns exist about how to make information across the supply chain transparent while at the same time anonymising it to ensure data security.

3. Role of national platforms: In cases when national databases and platforms providing information relevant to the legislation already exist, would those be recognized as valid sources of evidence for legality? Example of platforms for the Brazilian case are the AgroBrasil+Sustentável and Selo Verde.

4. Potential rehabilitation: Traders and operators who fail to comply with the legislation – for instance, by selling products from non-compliant regions or producers – might be temporarily prohibited from commercialising their products in the EU. However, it is not clear if there are provisions for rehabilitating producers or regions initially excluded from compliance.

The identification of these four major challenges was the result of a collaborative gathering organized by CLEVER researchers from the University of Bonn, alongside the Agricultural Policy Dialogue Brazil-Germany (APD Brasil Alemanha) and the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Bringing together voices from Brazil’s government, private sector, NGOs, and academia, the discussions revolved around the upcoming EUDR implementation. Split into two teams (soybean and beef), participants discussed topics like traceability progress, ongoing hurdles, associated costs, mitigation plans, transition phases, and ensuring that smallholders aren’t left behind due to traceability requirements. Following this participatory approach to pinpoint challenges and solutions, the outcomes were shared at the ‘European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): Challenges and Traceability Solutions’ Round Table with the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Brasília, Brazil, in February 2024.

Fernanda Martinelli (University of Bonn). Photo credit: Tim Bartram.

European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
Challenges and Traceability Solutions. Photo credit: Carlos Alberto dos Santos — CLEVER Project Coordinator Jan Börner (University of Bonn). Photo credit: Carlos Alberto dos Santos

Written by Fernanda Martinelli / University of Bonn.

Reflections on International Day of Forests

on March 20, 2024

On 21st of March we celebrate the International Day of Forests and the theme for this year is Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World. To acknowledge the importance of technological advancements in forest monitoring, the CLEVER team shared their reflections on how innovative technologies, such as remote sensing and satellite imagery, support scientific research and policy making.

Images by Adobe Stock.