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Forests

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Natural forests are one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems. They play a crucial role in services that underpin multiple economic sectors such as climate regulation, water provisioning and biodiversity maintenance. Deforestation, driven primarily by conversion of forest land in the production of agricultural commodities, is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing us today.

For the past decade, CDP has used its disclosure framework to track progress on avoidance of deforestation associated with the production of a selection of key agricultural commodities. This is now being expanded to avoidance of destruction of all natural ecosystems (Deforestation and Conversion Free, or DCF). In the future, we will ask organizations to disclose their progress on minimizing impacts to land under management and restoration of natural ecosystems.

CDP provides companies, Capital Market Signatories, states and regions with opportunities to measure and manage their forest-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities by assessing and publicly reporting progress. This is done against a framework aligned with international best practice and global environmental goals.

Companies can disclose their environmental data by responding to our 2024 questionnaires. Investors can sign up as a Capital Market Signatory to request this data from the world’s largest companies and major purchasers.

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Why you? How does CDP help?
Global context The risks The opportunities
>1.6bn
people depend directly on forests for their basic livelihoods.
10%
of global carbon emissions result from deforestation and forest degradation.
Almost three-quarters of tropical deforestation is driven by the production of beef, soy, palm oil and paper.
$78.6bn
in potential losses due to the impacts of deforestation were reported by companies undertaking assessments.
52%
of reported detrimental impacts are related to reputational and market risks.
28%
of companies reported physical forests-related risks in their supply chain.
53%
of companies have recognized forests-related opportunities with the potential for substantive strategic or financial benefits.
$58bn
worth of potential business opportunities were reported by just 29% of responding companies.
$13.4bn
worth of potential opportunities related to increased brand value from addressing deforestation – almost a quarter of the value of all identified opportunities.
Why measure? Why disclose? The benefits
In order to manage, we must measure. We will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities or mitigate the risks of deforestation without measuring our impacts.
CDP’s standardized, credible and widely-recognized reporting system reduces the burden of collecting and submitting data, making measurement much easier.
Removing deforestation is a journey. All companies are encouraged to take the first step and begin measuring to help deliver on commitments.
Tackling deforestation requires a collaborative approach where accountability is essential. Disclosing is the first step towards this.
CDP gives companies the opportunity to accurately benchmark against competitors and sector peers.
Our reporting framework helps you develop and implement effective plans to eliminate deforestation from your supply chains.
Disclose comparable, comprehensive and measurable environmental data – CDP is the only global platform covering all five forest-risk commodities.
Improve your understanding of forests-related risks and opportunities. Develop policies and action plans for removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from your value chain.
Measure and report on progress in line with industry best practice on ethical supply chain commitments established by the Accountability Framework initiative (AFi).

Read more about the benefits of disclosure for companies, cities, states and regions, and public authorities.


Highlights and reports

Nurturing Nature: De-risking Nature-based Finance in Asia

Explore the challenges to increasing nature-based financing, examples of de-risking instruments across types of financial institutions, and more.

Global Forests Report 2024

CDP’s latest forests report looks at how global companies can shift to deforestation-free supply chains.

Commitments and Actions of Prominent Cattle and Soy Producers

An update on the commitments and actions of eight cattle and soy traders, assessing their progress in eradicating deforestation, conversion, and human rights abuses from their production and sourcing.

Accelerating the Adoption of Landscape and Jurisdictional Approaches

Global challenges and policy recommendations

The Forest Transition: from Risk to Resilience

Global Forests Report 2023

Changing Fortunes

The state of deforestation and conversion-free production among prominent cattle and soy producers

The Neglected Risk

Why deforestation risk should matter to Chinese financial institutions

Managing Risks in the Palm Oil Supply Chain: A Guide for Investors

This report focuses on the sustainability performance of the largest non-disclosing palm oil companies, highlighting risks they're exposed to that remain invisible to investors, and provides a set of recommendations for investors.

Browse all reports


Projects and initiatives

Funded projects

Learn more about our range of projects that aim to remove commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from corporate value chains.

Forests Supply Chain Challenge

CDP can facilitate collaboration between Supply Chain program members and suppliers. Join the challenge and help drive deforestation-free, restorative supply chains.

Browse forest responses

Take action and reduce your environmental impact through CDP.

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Further support

Guidance and questionnaires

Browse our latest guidance and supporting materials.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about our forests work, email the team at [email protected]

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Climate

Learn more about our climate change work including our Climate Environmental Action Tracker.

Water

Learn more about our water security work including our latest reports and campaigns.

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