This year’s International Day of Forests focuses on ‘Forests and food’ recognising that while agricultural expansion has been the biggest driver of forest loss (responsible for 90 and 99% of deforestation directly and indirectly), we also rely heavily on forests for global food security. Without them, we risk destabilising ecosystems that sustain biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and provide livelihoods for millions of people.
Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial species and play a crucial role in climate stability. Known as the biggest terrestrial lungs for the planet, our forests absorb and store carbon dioxide - but when destroyed, they release it, contributing to at least 10% of global emissions. That’s more than emissions of the Russia and India combined!
The production of beef, cocoa, palm oil, soy and timber products are the biggest direct drivers of global forest loss. While the trade of these commodities provides abundance of foods and profits for international companies, they are often produced in a way that undermines our food security. Clearly, our current food system is failing to feed the world while safeguarding people and the planet.
Despite these pressures, around the world, forest defenders, farmers, and businesses are working toward sustainable solutions. WWF collaborates with farmers, food companies, and governments to decouple deforestation from everyday products. This includes the focus on the hidden footprint of soy across a wide range of products in our retail shelves and restaurant plates. Leading UK retailers have committed to deforestation and conversion free (DCF), cocoa, beef, palm oil, and soy across all their own brand products by the end of 2025. WWF-UK tracks their progress in the annual What’s in Store for the Planet report, holding them accountable for their commitments.
Many in the UK might feel powerless to influence global deforestation trends—but our consumption footprint tells a different story. The UK’s consumption footprint per tonne is higher than China’s, requiring land equivalent to 88% of the UK each year for just seven commodities.
Over 75% of global soy production is for animal feed, especially for poultry, pork, dairy, eggs and farmed fish. By shifting to more plant-based diets - reducing the consumption of animal-based products - we can reduce the pressure and demand on forests. But also, critically where we do still consume food derived from animals, we must ensure that land used to produce and feed them does not drive deforestation. UK business have come together to create pathways for sourcing DCF soy, including some retailers who are investing directly into incentives for farmers to protect natural habits that could otherwise be legally converted for soy production.
By eating ‘less and better’, we can drive market demands that provide us with food without the need to steal the homes of orangutans, the water from indigenous communities and cities, and better support farmers to grow resilience alongside our invaluable forests.
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