Forests and Biodiversity

The world's forests are in trouble. Privatization, increased exports and international trade liberalization have led to massive increases in large-scale plantations used to produce and export timber and pulp. Also, this has increased demand for meat, exotic timber and crops such as soybean and palm. All these pressures have led to the disappearance of half of the world's forests.

We need to protect forests as they provide the livelihoods of many local and indigenous communities. Forests store carbon and regulate our climate, so they are critical in our fight against climate change. They also house one of the most diverse species habitats on Earth. Friends of the Earth International groups work with local communities to preserve forests and maintain their rights to manage forest resources and ensure a sustainable livelihood. We campaign against large-scale industrial plantations, monoculture production and the commercialization of forests and biodiversity.

The world's forests are in trouble. Privatization, increased exports and international trade liberalization have led to massive increases in large-scale plantations used to produce and export timber and pulp. Also, this has increased demand for meat, exotic timber and crops such as soybean and palm.