**From 10 to 21 November 2025, the 30th Conference of the Parties on climate (COP30) was held in Belém, Brazil. Located in the heart of the Amazon, the summit was expected to be the COP of “implementation”. After fifteen days of negotiations, mobilisations and scientific or civic initiatives, the outcome is mixed: tangible progress in some areas, but also missed opportunities and an overall level of ambition deemed insufficient in light of the climate emergency. What are the key structural takeaways for the years ahead? Discover our full analysis.**

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## Notable Advances and Persistent Blind Spots

### A Global Financial Objective Consolidated Between Baku and Belém

COP30 builds on the work initiated at COP29: the objective of mobilising USD 1.3 trillion per year by 2035, formulated in Baku as part of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, was confirmed and further structured in Belém.

This objective aims to align global financial flows with the real needs of the transition. It does not refer to a single fund, but to a global effort involving public, multilateral and private finance, as well as innovative financial instruments. It covers the full spectrum of climate priorities — mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, nature-based solutions and the energy transition — and responds to a clear finding of the Global Stocktake: current climate finance remains far below needs, estimated at several trillion dollars per year by 2030.

### Tripling Finance Dedicated to Adaptation

One of the most consequential announcements of COP30 concerns adaptation. States agreed to triple adaptation finance by 2035 to support territorial resilience, protect vulnerable populations and develop climate-resilient infrastructure. This decision is fully consistent with the USD 1.3 trillion per year objective: it strengthens one of the most underfunded dimensions of the transition, which is essential to support the resilience of the most vulnerable countries.

For investors and financial institutions, this development opens new perspectives: deeper integration of physical climate risk into investment strategies; a rise in territorial resilience projects; growing opportunities in green infrastructure, water resource management and ecological restoration.

This commitment reflects a reality that is now widely acknowledged: adaptation has become a central pillar of global climate strategy, on an equal footing with mitigation of climate change.

### New Initiatives to Accelerate Implementation

These financial ambitions are part of a broader framework designed to accelerate the implementation of commitments made by States. Two core instruments form its backbone:
- **The Global Implementation Accelerator**, which aims to provide concrete support to countries in delivering their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national adaptation plans, through reinforced technical assistance and better access to finance;
- **The Belém Mission to 1.5°C**, an international action platform designed to structure international cooperation led by the COP29–COP31 Troika, strengthen climate ambition and mobilise the investments needed to maintain a trajectory compatible with 1.5°C.

These two initiatives were created, named and officially launched as part of the Belém Political Package adopted at COP30. They are intended to narrow the gap between ambition and action by aligning financial orientation, implementation capacity and international cooperation.

### The Launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility

COP30 was also marked by the official announcement of the **Tropical Forests Forever Facility** (TFFF), a mechanism intended to become a global fund for the preservation of tropical forests. Led by Brazil, the facility aims to provide financial incentives for countries with extensive tropical forest cover to ensure their long-term conservation, by mobilising up to USD 125 billion through a hybrid structure combining public and private finance.

The TFFF “Launch Declaration” received the support of 53 countries, including 19 potential sovereign investors — essentially governments and public institutions — among them Norway, Brazil, Indonesia, France and the Netherlands. Several major announcements have already been made, such as Norway’s pledge of nearly USD 3 billion, providing an initial financial backbone for the facility.

However, many parameters still need to be clarified. The TFFF is based on a still-novel model — endowed foundation, payments conditional on conservation — and its governance, monitoring, traceability and involvement of local and Indigenous communities must still be consolidated. Thus, while the TFFF represents a significant symbolic step forward for the protection of tropical ecosystems, its success will depend on its ability to rapidly demonstrate operational credibility to investors, forest countries and stakeholders on the ground.

According to Stéphane Hallaire, President of Reforest’Action, “the fund’s greatest impact may come from its investments—if they truly drive a regenerative economy. With $125 billion, TFFF could help beneficiary countries transition toward an economic model that respects planetary boundaries, provided it doesn’t overlook the root causes of deforestation and the essential shift needed in agricultural practices.”

### Loss and Damage Fund: A Mechanism Still in a Fragile State

Politically created at COP27 and made operational at COP28, the **Loss and Damage Fund** is intended to support the most vulnerable countries in addressing the irreversible impacts of climate change — those that go beyond adaptation capacity, such as the destruction of infrastructure, loss of land or forced displacement. Despite its strategic importance, this mechanism remains fragile: its access modalities, governance and sources of funding are still being consolidated.

COP30 highlighted a twofold reality. On the one hand, the resources mobilised so far remain far below estimated needs — international assessments indicate that loss and damage in vulnerable countries could reach USD 290–580 billion per year by 2030. On the other hand, vulnerable countries continue to stress the complexity of procedures and ongoing uncertainty regarding the fund’s real accessibility and long-term viability.

In the absence of substantial new commitments and a fully stabilised architecture, the fund remains under-sized and operationally limited, even as loss and damage intensify. For both public and private actors, this situation illustrates one of the major challenges of climate governance: ensuring fast, predictable and adequate financing to respond to impacts that are steadily increasing.

 ### Fossil Fuels: A Persistent Deadlock

Despite the climate emergency reiterated in scientific reports and the findings of the Global Stocktake, COP30 did not succeed in reaching consensus on a timetable for phasing out fossil fuels. While many countries — particularly small island States, several European countries and part of the financial sector — advocated for an explicit reference to “phasing out”, negotiations were slowed by the opposition of powerful producer countries and deepening geopolitical tensions.

The outcome is a weakened text on this point: it reaffirms the importance of the energy transition without translating it into binding commitments. This deadlock highlights the persistent gap between trajectories compatible with 1.5°C and current political choices, and sends a signal to economic and financial actors that, for now, the transformation of the energy system will rely more on market dynamics, technological innovation and evolving investment strategies than on a fully defined international framework.

## Clarifying International Priorities: Structural Axes for the Years Ahead

### Strengthening Indicators, Transparency and Governance of Commitments

COP30 marks the beginning of a cycle in which the value of a climate commitment is no longer measured by its declarative ambition, but by its capacity to be delivered. The final decision explicitly calls for a strengthened revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from 2026 onwards, with significantly higher expectations in terms of precision, quantified trajectories and sectoral coherence.

For both States and companies, this evolution entails three major shifts:
- **A move towards standardised, comparable indicators.** Negotiators highlighted the need to build a common methodological baseline to assess real impact rather than solely declared effort. In the coming years, States, public banks, private investors and donors will therefore require companies to provide much more precise, detailed and verifiable climate data as a condition for accessing certain forms of finance.
- **Increasing regulatory pressure.** The progressive alignment between national frameworks and international regulations (CSRD, ISSB, TNFD) will require organisations not only to document their emissions, but also their dependencies on ecosystems, exposure to physical risk, impacts on ecosystem services and resilience under different climate scenarios. Finance, legal and sustainability departments are now jointly responsible for climate compliance.
- **Reinforced governance and strategic climate steering.** States are encouraged to introduce tighter control mechanisms: audits, regular reporting, national monitoring committees, results-based obligations and corrective measures. For private actors, this translates into the need for a dedicated climate committee at board level, science-based targets (SBTi) to ensure credibility, quantified transition plans with associated budgets, and comprehensive traceability covering scopes 1, 2 and 3, as well as biodiversity and physical risk.

### Territories, Communities and Governance: Towards a Just and Inclusive Transition

COP30 reaffirms the essential role of territories and communities in climate implementation, stressing the importance of land rights, local knowledge and shared governance that fully involves Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the design, decision-making and oversight of projects.

Given the diversity of climate vulnerabilities, the local scale is becoming a lever of operational effectiveness, capable of identifying specific risks, prioritising tailored solutions and anchoring climate action in socio-economic realities. For projects to be perceived as credible and acceptable, they must therefore meet both international standards and territorial expectations.

Finally, COP30 reiterates that the climate transition can only succeed if it is just and inclusive, which implies a fair distribution of value, protection of the most exposed populations and the development of local skills — requirements that are now central for investors and decisive for stakeholder trust.

### Climate Finance: Credibility, Traceability and Internalisation of Risk

Climate finance remains the central bottleneck of global climate governance. Nevertheless, COP30 has clarified expectations and sent clear signals to the financial sector:
- **The need to make financial commitments credible.** The tripling of adaptation finance must be accompanied by a precise definition of allocation rules, eligibility criteria and performance metrics. For financial actors, climate finance can no longer be merely declarative; it must demonstrate quantifiable, verifiable and comparable impact.
- **The emergence of a new paradigm: valuing physical risks.** COP30 confirms a major shift: the physical impacts of climate change are no longer considered secondary uncertainties, but key drivers of financial performance. They now directly affect project profitability and the ability of actors to maintain solvency over time.
- **Transparency and the fight against greenwashing.** Pressure is increasing to put an end to unfounded climate claims. Investors will have to demonstrate the traceability of their investments, the robustness of their impact models, the integrity of the projects they support and compliance with international frameworks (ICVCM, VCMI, TNFD). Regulatory trends point towards increasingly stringent demands for documented evidence.

### Confirming the Strategic Role of Nature-based Solutions

The Amazonian setting of the COP catalysed discussions on Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Their role is now fully recognised in national strategies and in both voluntary and regulatory decarbonisation pathways. NbS are expected to sequester carbon, strengthen territorial resilience to climate shocks, preserve biodiversity and durably stabilise soils and water resources. Their contribution is substantial, but remains complementary: even deployed at scale, NbS alone cannot offset the continued increase in fossil fuel emissions.

This is why the transition requires a hybrid approach that simultaneously combines three pillars: operational decarbonisation, relying on energy efficiency, renewables and industrial innovation; ecological restoration, which is essential to reinforce natural carbon sinks and ecosystem resilience; and carbon capture and storage technologies, necessary to address the most difficult-to-abate residual emissions. This triptych, widely confirmed at COP30 in Belém, forms the foundation of climate trajectories compatible with international targets.

To be fully effective, these levers must be integrated coherently into public policies and corporate strategies. This implies explicit inclusion of NbS in NDCs, agricultural policies, adaptation plans, urban planning strategies and international certification frameworks. On the private sector side, the challenge is to move beyond ad hoc approaches and build investment programmes anchored in territories, aligned with high integrity standards and delivering measurable climate, social and economic benefits. Only such alignment between national ambition, local dynamics and industrial strategies will enable the transition to accelerate at the necessary scale.

For Reforest’Action, this dynamic confirms a core conviction: Nature-based Solutions are an essential climate and economic lever, but they must be deployed with rigour and transparency.

![Amazonia-COP30.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Amazonia_COP_30_89c41adfca.png)

**COP30 has not met all expectations, but it does mark a major turning point: the start of a decade in which value will be measured by real impact, adaptive capacity and the credibility of commitments. For Reforest’Action, this COP confirms several strong convictions:**

- **nature is an indispensable pillar of the climate response;**
- **project quality and integrity are non-negotiable prerequisites;**
- **transparency and impact measurement are fundamental to building trust;**
- **the articulation between mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity must guide climate action.**

**In a context of rapid transformation, we reaffirm the importance of a scientific, rigorous and locally anchored approach to ecosystem restoration. The future will depend not only on the commitments made, but on our collective ability — States, investors, companies and local stakeholders — to turn them into reality.**



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COP30: Structural Pathways to Accelerate the Transition?

**After four years of suspension, Indonesia is finally reopening the door to international carbon credit trading. This major regulatory shift could position the country as a strategic hub of the global carbon market—at the crossroads of sovereignty, transparency, and ecological transition. The timing is particularly significant for Reforest’Action’s carbon project on the island of Sumba, Indonesia.**

## Indonesia’s carbon market: a gradual structuring

### A moratorium to regain control

In 2021, Indonesia decided to suspend all carbon credit exports. Behind this move lay a clear political intention: to regain control over a booming market where some projects—particularly those linked to avoided deforestation (REDD+)—had raised concerns regarding their integrity and the fair distribution of benefits.
The moratorium, presented as a temporary measure, was designed to give the government time to develop a robust domestic regulatory framework.

### Building a domestic market, step by step

In the years that followed, Indonesian authorities began structuring a national carbon market. Initially designed around the compliance market, this framework provided little visibility for actors in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) or for project developers seeking to rely on international standards such as Gold Standard or Verra.

The launch of the Indonesian carbon exchange, IDX Carbon, in January 2025 marked an important milestone. For the first time, international actors were allowed to participate—although trading remained limited to “tech-based” credits from emission reduction technologies such as renewable energy or energy efficiency. 

### Mutual Recognition Agreements: the key to openness

From spring 2025 onwards, the Indonesian government accelerated its efforts. A series of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) signaled a new direction: opening up to international standards, but under controlled conditions.

A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is a formal understanding between a country and an international carbon certification standard such as Verra or Gold Standard. In practice, it allows the state to officially recognize credits certified under these standards, while requiring projects to be registered on the national platform. It is therefore both a cooperation and oversight tool—facilitating international credit trade while maintaining the host country’s regulatory sovereignty.

In 2025, Indonesia signed several MRAs—first with Gold Standard in May, then with Verra in October. These agreements mark a paradigm shift: Indonesia is choosing regulated cooperation over administrative isolation.

## Lifting of the Indonesian moratorium: a turning point for the carbon market

### October 2025: A Decisive Step Forward

On October 10, 2025, a new presidential regulation revoked the 2021 decree and once again authorized international sales of carbon credits. The new regulation officially opens the Indonesian market to the voluntary sector, recognizes international standards, and—most notably—allows for optional use of Corresponding Adjustments depending on project type.
Corresponding Adjustments (CAs) are an accounting mechanism stemming from Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. They aim to prevent double counting of emission reductions: when a country exports a carbon credit, it must subtract that reduction from its own climate commitments, ensuring that the same credit is not counted twice (once by the seller country and once by the buyer). By allowing optional CAs, Indonesia now enables both state-to-state and private-sector transactions—offering flexibility while remaining aligned with international transparency principles.

Ahead of COP30, further guidelines are expected, particularly regarding the Verra agreement. By October 2026, additional regulations will define fiscal regimes, buffer mechanisms, and other technical parameters.

### A thriving market and a strong signal to investors

The reopening of Indonesia’s carbon market has generated strong international enthusiasm. Investors view this as a sign of regulatory maturity and a strategic opportunity: a major forested country, rich in biodiversity, is opening to global cooperation while establishing strong safeguards.

For Indonesia, the stakes are twofold: attracting the international financing needed to meet its climate goals, while ensuring equitable benefit-sharing with local communities and ecosystems.

For actors in the voluntary reforestation market, this evolution opens new horizons. Project developers can now pursue hybrid approaches—combining international certification with local transparency and monitoring requirements.

Buyers, in turn, benefit from improved traceability and stronger regulatory security—two essential pillars for market credibility.


**Indonesia today exemplifies a broader global trend: that of Global South countries reclaiming ownership of their natural resources while actively engaging in international carbon markets.
This strategy of “sovereign openness” could inspire other forest nations ahead of COP30 and help redefine the long-term rules of the global carbon market.
Reforest’Action offers a high-integrity carbon project on the island of Sumba, Indonesia, adaptable to multiple investment models to best align with your climate strategy. [Discover the project’s full added value by contacting one of our experts.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**

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Indonesia: a new momentum for the carbon market

**As [COP30](https://www.reforestaction.com/magazine/cop-30-solutions-fondees-nature) approaches, Stéphane Hallaire, President and Founder of Reforest’Action, takes on the presidency of the Nature+ Coalition — a new international alliance bringing together project developers, companies and stakeholders to promote Nature-based Solutions within global climate discussions and regulatory frameworks.**

## A global initiative for Nature-based Solutions

Co-founded in October 2025 by Reforest’Action, SE Advisory Services, La Belle Forêt, aDryada and StockCO2, the [Nature+ Coalition](https://naturepluscoalition.org/) aims to give actors committed to preserving and restoring natural ecosystems a unified, stronger and more influential voice within international climate negotiations and discussions relating to carbon markets.

It also seeks to bring together companies that wish to gain strategic insights into the latest political and regulatory developments — particularly those concerning Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and European initiatives such as the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). This knowledge will help investors anticipate future regulations and strengthen their climate strategies.

The coalition advocates for the recognition of Nature-based Solutions within carbon markets by contributing proposals on regulatory notions that remain ill-defined, such as the permanence of carbon credits and high-integrity criteria. The founding members call for quality standards that encompass climate issues, biodiversity and socio-economic impacts, reflecting the multifunctional nature of protected and/or restored ecosystems.

## Climate emergency and insufficient funding

In 2024, 8.1 million hectares of forests were lost worldwide according to the [FAO](https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/d0fa9fbf-e6c3-466c-b5ec-ab5b0480be9e/content/cd6709fr.html) — an area equivalent to half the size of England. Yet, funding directed towards forest restoration remains critically insufficient.

The latest United Nations [report on forest financing](https://www.unep.org/resources/report/state-finance-forests-2025), published in October 2025, highlights that annual investments should more than triple — rising from 84 billion dollars in 2023 to 300 billion by 2030 — to meet the environmental and climate objectives of the Paris Agreement.

According to the Copernicus Global Climate Report, the average global temperature in 2024 was 1.55°C higher than in the pre-industrial period. While 196 states signed the Paris Agreement pledging to limit global warming to 2°C, or preferably 1.5°C by 2100, current trends show a significant deviation from these goals. 

If these trends continue, the world’s GDP could drop by as much as 23% by 2050, according to a [recent report](https://www.systemiq.earth/the-returns-on-resilience/) by Systemiq Earth.

## Political and regulatory uncertainty

These figures underscore the urgent need for coordinated international action. Yet, global policies and regulations continue to show more weak signals than tangible implementation.

As COP30 nears, only 28% of countries have submitted new national biodiversity strategies, while major greenhouse gas emitters such as China have set insufficient targets or even withdrawn from certain climate initiatives — notably the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, the European Union adopted its 2035 emission reduction range at the last minute and remains one of the world’s main contributors to [imported deforestation](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/european-law-deforestation).

In this context, the Nature+ Coalition seeks to form a collective advocacy platform ensuring that the voice of Nature-based Solutions is fully represented in policy and regulatory decisions, particularly concerning international carbon markets.

## Opportunities for decision-makers

In its initial phase, the Nature+ Coalition will focus on two major advocacy pillars: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). Both frameworks represent unprecedented opportunities to recognise the essential role of carbon markets and investments in Nature-based Solutions in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

### Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
Article 6 establishes a framework for international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more effectively, through market mechanisms allowing countries to exchange emission reductions (ITMOs) with transparency and single accounting guarantees, and through non-market mechanisms supporting technology transfer, financing and knowledge sharing for sustainable development.

**In this context, the Nature+ Coalition advocates for methodological criteria that ensure the inclusion of Nature-based Solutions — which must not be overlooked in favour of technological carbon capture methods. Article 6.4, discussed at COP30, could provide a clearer and more transparent framework for mobilising private funds to protect natural ecosystems. It aims to structure a global carbon market based on common high-integrity standards, systematically embedding benefits for biodiversity, ecosystems and human communities, as well as the central concept of permanence to ensure lasting impacts.**

### The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF)
The CRCF is a European initiative that establishes a common certification framework for carbon removals and reductions across EU member states, covering both Nature-based Solutions (such as tree planting, soil restoration, regenerative agriculture, sustainable forest management) and technological carbon capture and storage (BECCS, direct air capture, etc.). The first delegated acts will enable the deployment of CRCF methodologies and projects by 2026.

**Once again, the Nature+ Coalition emphasises the need to integrate precise high-integrity criteria, particularly those generating tangible and lasting benefits for biodiversity — beyond carbon sequestration and the ‘do no significant harm’ approach currently proposed by the European Commission.**

### The EU’s 2040 Emission Reduction Target
In July 2025, the European Commission proposed allowing EU member states to meet up to 3% of their 2040 target with high-quality carbon credits purchased on the global market. In November 2025, EU member states adopted the goal of reducing emissions by 90% by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels), with significant flexibilities — including the use of up to 5% of international carbon credits, and an option to further increase this by another 5 percentage points.

**This decision sends a strong signal that will significantly increase demand for international carbon credits. The Nature+ Coalition will ensure that the eligibility criteria for these projects are transparent and aligned with best practices in quality and integrity, providing a robust framework for both European countries and project host nations.**

![Stephane-Hallaire-ONU.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Stephane_Hallaire_ONU_7d8bcce94e.jpg)
Stéphane Hallaire, Founder of Reforest'Action and President of the Nature+ Coalition, during his speech at the UN Forum on Forests in 2023


**The Nature+ Coalition’s main mission is to fully integrate biodiversity considerations into projects and initiatives impacting carbon markets, and to promote Nature-based Solutions among international and European decision-makers.
For companies, joining the coalition offers a unique opportunity to strengthen their Net Zero strategies by participating in a just climate transition — grounded in transparency, robust standards and regulations, and ensuring genuine co-benefits for the environment and human communities.
[Join us!](https://naturepluscoalition.org/join) Together, let’s accelerate the large-scale deployment of ecosystem restoration and conservation initiatives, and make Nature-based Solutions a tangible lever to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.**


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Nature+ Coalition: Putting nature at the heart of climate action

**From November 10 to 21, 2025, Belém—the gateway to the Brazilian Amazon—will host the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For Reforest’Action, this edition must mark a turning point and drive the implementation of concrete solutions. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, COP30 offers a unique opportunity to place Nature-based Solutions at the heart of the global response to the climate and biodiversity crises.** 

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## A global context of climate emergency

In 2024, the global average temperature was 1.55°C higher than in the pre-industrial era, even though the 196 signatories of the Paris Agreement pledged to limit temperature rise to 2°C—or ideally 1.5°C—by 2100, in order to prevent the Earth from reaching irreversible tipping points.

In the face of mounting climate disruptions—ranging from global warming and shifting rainfall patterns to the intensification of extreme weather events—as well as delays in implementing [Zero Deforestation](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/european-law-deforestation) commitments and the persistent lack of funding for the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, COP30 aims to position itself as a “COP of implementation.”

The objective is clear: to accelerate the concrete translation of climate pledges into national policies and local actions. The Brazilian presidency has already called for “a new alliance between humanity and nature,” echoing Reforest’Action’s mission to promote the large-scale deployment of [Nature-based Solutions](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/what-are-nature-based-solutions).

According to the IPBES, such solutions could represent up to 37% of the climate change mitigation measures needed by 2030 to keep global warming below 2°C—provided that all stakeholders are actively involved.

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## Ecosystem restoration at the heart of climate pathways

Within the agenda of upcoming discussions, COP30 is expected to place a strong focus on degraded ecosystems and deforestation-related challenges, while integrating ecosystem restoration into countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These NDCs, which embody each nation’s efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change impacts, must be updated before 2030.

For the first time, the talks in Belém are also expected to address the global assessment of natural carbon sinks, in order to evaluate their true contribution to achieving planetary carbon neutrality. The goal: to recognize natural ecosystems not only as carbon sinks, but as full-fledged solutions to today’s societal challenges, such as:

- Reducing natural disaster risks
- Fostering socio-economic development
- Ensuring food security
- Securing water and energy supply
- Promoting health and well-being for all
- Helping territories adapt to climate change
- Mitigating its effects on populations (rising sea levels, wildfires, heatwaves, etc.)

As Nature-based Solutions remain a key lever for helping societies adapt to climate change, the establishment of indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)—adopted during COP28—will also be a major topic in Belém. These indicators aim to track and measure countries’ progress in adapting to increasingly extreme weather events.

## Mobilizing funding commensurate with the environmental emergency

In Belém, the international community will also discuss new mechanisms to strengthen financial flows toward Nature-based Solutions — including climate funds, public-private partnerships, high-integrity carbon markets, and incentives for sustainable forest management.
 
![Capture d’écran 2025-10-28 à 15.25.35.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Capture_d_ecran_2025_10_28_a_15_25_35_3ef1f5d33b.png)

In this regard, Reforest’Action advocates that carbon credits generated from restoration efforts should not be viewed merely as offsets. [Carbon finance](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/three-reasons-to-plan-your-offset-strategy-today) must operate within frameworks of [integrity](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/identifying-high-integrity-carbon-projects) and transparency, ensuring tangible environmental, social, and economic benefits.

## Including local communities to develop tailored and lasting solutions

As host country of COP30, Brazil has made social inclusion and the recognition of Indigenous peoples a cornerstone of its presidency. [Reforest’Action shares this conviction](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/include-local-communities-to-develop-adapted-sustainable-project): restoration can only succeed when driven by local stakeholders. Projects must be co-created, respect land rights, and generate shared benefits. COP30 will therefore be an opportunity to highlight the importance of monitoring, capacity-building, and inclusive participation of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and women in ecosystem restoration initiatives.

## Strengthening nature-based value chains

Discussions in Belém will also address the sustainability of food systems and the urgent need to transition from conventional agriculture to regenerative practices. As natural resource shortages and extreme weather events rank among the top five environmental risks of the coming decade, the development of [regenerative agriculture](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/regenerative-agriculture)—built on three complementary pillars (crop management, soil management, and agroforestry)—offers a unique opportunity to tackle environmental challenges while securing raw material supplies and supporting food security.

## Transparency and impact measurement: the keys to responsible implementation

A cross-cutting priority of COP30 lies in the measurement and transparency of results. To accelerate and scale up the implementation of high-quality Nature-based Solutions, robust tools are needed to monitor the stability and health of restored ecosystems. Impact measurement is therefore essential to track and demonstrate the outcomes and benefits of these solutions for the climate, biodiversity, and local communities.

This priority echoes Reforest’Action’s impact management approach, designed to meet both project development needs and investor expectations—particularly in terms of transparency and traceability.

**COP30 is taking place in an emergency context and must encourage the development of Nature-based Solutions to help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and direct greater funding toward ecosystem restoration. At the same time, reducing anthropogenic CO₂ emissions by 43% by 2030 remains more crucial than ever to combat climate change. In the lead-up to COP30, would you like to discuss your climate strategy with our experts and explore Nature-based carbon credits as part of your approach? [Click here to get started!](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**

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COP30: Nature-based solutions as a key driver for action?

**As the European Commission proposed, at the end of September 2025, to postpone by another year the entry into force of the European Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), before backtracking on October 21, Reforest’Action reiterates the urgent need to tackle imported deforestation within the European Union and to act collectively to protect and restore the world’s forests. Both actions are essential and together represent a significant part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises.**

## A Global Emergency: The Unfulfilled Commitment to End Deforestation

Over the past fifteen years, international commitments stressing the urgency of environmental preservation — with forests as a central pillar — have multiplied. From the Bonn Challenge (2011) and the New York Declaration on Forests (2014) to the IPCC report (2018) and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests (2021), world leaders from more than 140 countries have pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

Yet despite these pledges, global deforestation continues to accelerate. According to the World Resources Institute, the planet lost 6.7 million hectares of primary tropical forest in 2024, nearly double the 2023 figure. In total, 8.1 million hectares of forest disappeared worldwide last year — an area equivalent to half of England — representing a 5% increase in forest cover loss compared to the previous year.

To meet the global goal of zero deforestation by 2030, annual forest loss must decline by 20%, starting now. As voluntary commitments have proven insufficient, a binding legal framework is now indispensable.

## The European Union: A Major Driver of Imported Deforestation

Imported deforestation refers to the destruction of natural ecosystems resulting from the production of agricultural or forest-based commodities destined for international markets. The main commodities concerned include soy, palm oil, and beef, followed by wood products, cocoa, and coffee. The environmental impacts of this consumption are concentrated primarily in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay) and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia).

According to the WWF report “The continuing impact of EU consumption on nature worldwide”, EU imports caused the destruction of 3.5 million hectares of forest between 2005 and 2017 — representing 1.8 billion tonnes of CO₂, or 40% of the EU’s annual emissions.

While deforestation linked to EU imports fell by about 40% over the same period, the EU remained responsible for 16% of global trade-related deforestation in 2017 — equivalent to 203,000 hectares and 116 million tonnes of CO₂. Only China (24%) ranks higher, followed by India (9%), the United States (7%), and Japan (5%).

Beyond its climate impact, imported deforestation also violates the rights of local communities and Indigenous peoples, whose territories are often converted into agricultural land. It is also linked to at least one-third of global biodiversity loss (IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019).

## A Decade of Voluntary Commitments: Efforts Still Falling Short

In response to this alarming trend, numerous initiatives have emerged over the past decade — from international declarations to private-sector “zero deforestation” pledges. However, these voluntary approaches have shown their limits.

The 2024 CDP report Deforestation- and Conversion-Free Supply Chains revealed that few companies have achieved full traceability across their supply chains. To remain aligned with a 1.5°C climate pathway, companies should have eliminated deforestation and ecosystem conversion by 2025 and achieved zero conversion by 2030.

Yet only a coherent and binding European regulation can deliver the necessary scale of change.

## European law against deforestation: a Major Step Forward, Undermined by Delays

The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), adopted on June 9, 2023, represents a historic milestone. It aims to ban the sale of products on the EU market that have contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020.
The regulation covers seven key commodities — coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, soy, beef, and wood — as well as related products such as leather, charcoal, and printed paper.

### Strong Requirements for Traceability and Transparency
Under the regulation, companies must ensure that products sold in the EU are at no or negligible risk of deforestation. They must:
•	precisely geolocate the origin of their products down to the production plot;
•	demonstrate legality in the country of origin and absence of links to deforestation or forest degradation;
•	conduct due diligence before placing goods on the market.
These measures aim to set a new standard: deforestation-free, fully traceable supply chains.

### A Robust Framework, Still in Need of Improvement
According to WWF, the regulation provides a solid foundation, but several improvements are needed:
•	Include all natural ecosystems — such as savannas, wetlands, and mangroves — which are often excluded;
•	Expand coverage to all relevant derived products, based on scientific criteria;
•	Guarantee human rights protections, including the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples;
•	Avoid exemptions such as simplified due diligence for certain countries or companies.

### Concerning Delays
Initially scheduled to apply at the end of 2024 (and mid-2025 for SMEs), the law was first delayed to late 2025. A second postponement, justified by a lack of preparation on the part of Member States and operators, was announced in September 2025, before the European Commission finally backtracked on October 21, 2025, proposing to maintain the regulation's entry into force on December 31, 2025, for large companies.
For Reforest'Action, it is crucial that European institutions respect the date of application of the regulation and support its implementation.

## Acting Collectively for Deforestation-Free Value Chains

The European regulation is a major step forward — but it will only succeed if accompanied by collective action from all economic and political actors.
Businesses, in particular, play a decisive role in the transition toward sustainable supply chains.

Zero deforestation and zero conversion must no longer be distant targets, but immediate requirements. Agricultural and forest-based products can only be considered sustainable if they originate from production units that have not converted natural ecosystems since December 31, 2020.

The success of the EUDR will depend on:
•	transparent supply chains;
•	cooperation between producer and importer countries;
•	training and support for smallholders, who are often the most vulnerable to new compliance requirements;
•	rigorous enforcement and effective penalties for violators.

Finally, combating imported deforestation must go hand in hand with a strategy to restore degraded forests and to develop regenerative agriculture projects within corporate value chains.

![cacao-zero-deforestation.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/cacao_zero_deforestation_eef6563886.png)

**The European law against imported deforestation is more than just a legal instrument — it is a lever for systemic transformation. It reflects the European Union’s acknowledgment of its role in global deforestation and its capacity to act to end it. In the face of the climate and ecological emergency, Reforest’Action calls for steadfast commitment and strong support for businesses on their journey toward more responsible value chains. Would you like to improve your sourcing practices to secure your supply and meet your sustainability goals? [Contact us to start the conversation!](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**


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Fighting Imported Deforestation: The European Law Is Urgent and Necessary

**From a mango tree planted in Senegal by Stéphane Hallaire in 2010, Reforest'Action was born, a visionary company dedicated to turning crowdplanting into a genuine lever for civic action. Fifteen years later, thanks to our ability to innovate and adapt, our experience in the field, and the trust of more than 3,600 companies, we are pursuing our mission to regenerate forest and agroforestry ecosystems on a large scale in the face of heightened global environmental challenges. To mark our anniversary, rediscover the history of this collective adventure!**

![RA 2018.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2018_1c487a6a6d.png)

## Reforest'Action, a pioneer in crowdplanting 

### The revelation of the Senegalese mango tree
In July 2010, Stéphane Hallaire traveled to Senegal and discovered a reforestation project. He planted his first tree, a mango. It was a revelation. On his return to France, he left his job and founded Reforest'Action. Every day, at lunchtime, Stéphane would take a walk in the forest and reflect on his strategy. That's how the idea of crowdplanting was born, what if everyone could plant the tree they were financing online? In October 2010, the first Reforest'Action website was launched.

### Reforest'Action gains the trust of companies 
The first companies soon put their trust in Stéphane and Reforest'Action, and financed the planting of thousands of trees in Senegal. To develop new projects, Stéphane traveled to Peru in 2011 and India in 2012. The following year, new partnerships were formed in Guatemala and Haiti. From its small office in Rueil Malmaison, Reforest'Action continued to expand the scope of its action in favor of forests.

### Reinventing ourselves to keep going
Despite these initial successes, the geographical distance between reforestation projects and French companies resulted in a significant drop in business. But Reforest'Action succeeded in reinventing itself by launching, in 2014, the development of forestry projects in France, as close as possible to companies. It was the innovation they had been waiting for, sparking renewed enthusiasm and engagement.

### Celebrating the first great successes
In 2015, Reforest'Action celebrated its fifth anniversary and was selected as a winner of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency’s “Investments for the Future” program. At the end of 2016, Reforest'Action reached the milestone of one million trees planted worldwide, thanks to the support of over 1,000 companies and 50,000 citizens. In 2017, new members joined the team. Forestry projects continued to spring up across Europe, and also in Morocco and Indonesia. That same year, Reforest'Action launched a new website to more widely include companies and citizens in support of forests.

![RA-2022.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2022_c97ada15f9.jpg)

## A strong growth driven by our commitment and expertise

### Citizens join forces with Reforest'Action
2019 marked a turning point in Reforest'Action's development. New projects were launched both internationally and within Europe. Reforest'Action created the Month of the Forest, whose first edition, held in March 2019, reached 7 million people in France and contributed to growing citizen momentum. From very small businesses to large corporations and medium-sized companies, many became contributors to our work. By the end of 2019, Reforest'Action had 19 employees, twice as many as the year before.

### Pandemics and resilience
2020 marked the tenth anniversary of Reforest'Action, 10 years dedicated to the challenges and benefits of reforestation, 10 years of discovery and professionalization, and 10 million trees planted. Despite a planting season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an exceptional year, with strong and rapid growth, new offices, a dozen new recruits to strengthen the team with diverse talents, and the creation of a global network of Project Officers that allowed us to deploy our expertise as close as possible to the areas where we operate and to our local project leaders.

### International recognition of our work
As co-initiator of the Global Forest Summit in 2021 and speaker at the General Assembly of the United Nations Forum on Forests, our founder Stéphane Hallaire has helped strengthen global multi-stakeholder dialogue for forest protection and restoration. He also plays an active role in the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, founded by King Charles III as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative. In 2021, as the UN launched the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration and emphasized the need to triple investment in Nature-based Solutions by 2030 to respond effectively to environmental crises, Reforest'Action set the goal of planting or preserving 1 billion trees by that deadline.

![RA-2024.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/RA_2024_c36552c0a2.png)

## New strategic pillars

### Voluntary carbon market & regenerative agriculture
Starting in 2022, Reforest'Action embarked on a new chapter in its history. Recognizing that the voluntary carbon market is a major source of funding needed to achieve climate objectives, we are accelerating the development of high-quality certified projects designed to deliver strong impacts on climate, biodiversity and communities. We prioritize sequestration projects that meet the highest international standards. These projects, which are more complex and take longer to develop, more clearly demonstrate the long-term benefits of carbon sequestration. Our first certified projects are now underway in Brazil, South Africa and Rwanda.
As an expert in agroforestry, we also develop regenerative agriculture projects, either within a company's value chain or beyond, enabling them to take action to regenerate living systems while addressing specific or sectoral challenges.

### Impact monitoring and R&D
Thanks to the development of a hub dedicated to impact and R&D, we are building a comprehensive system for information and data analysis related to forest and agroforestry ecosystems and their benefits for climate, biodiversity, the soil and water systems, and communities. This global approach to impact management, which is unique in the market, is backed by 15 years of experience, scientifically validated methodologies and technological tools. It is supported by the launch of a digital MRV platform, which enables our teams to collect and analyze reliable, verifiable data on project implementation, monitoring and impact measurement, and to deliver key indicators to the companies that finance these projects.

### Large-scale investors
The company's growth continues. In 2024, we welcomed investors blisce/ and Eiffel Essentiel to accelerate the development of our impact monitoring technology and the deployment of large-scale certified natural ecosystem restoration projects. In 2025, Reforest'Action has more than 90 employees, including around ten Project Officers based close to the projects in the field.
Since 2010, more than 1,650 projects have been implemented across 45 countries, covering over 35,000 hectares, thanks to funding from more than 3,600 companies.

**With 15 years' experience, Reforest'Action is now a recognized and trusted player in Nature-based Solutions, thanks to its expertise in ecosystem restoration and its collaborative approach with local partners. The rest of the story is being written with you, contact us!**

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Reforest'Action: 15 years of commitment and innovation, serving the natural world

**In terms of Nature-based Solutions, high-quality forestry and agroforestry projects offer strong co-benefits for biodiversity, climate, soil health, water resources and people. The Global Biodiversity Standard is today the most robust biodiversity standard that certifies projects by assessing their specific impact on biodiversity. In addition to its role as an impact assessment expert and representative of the Europe hub, Reforest'Action now hosts its certified assessors.**

## Certifying projects based on biodiversity recovery

### The ambition of The Global Biodiversity Standard

Introduced in 2022, The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) is the only international standard to recognize and encourage the protection, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity. Against a backdrop of increasing numbers of projects to create and restore forest and agroforestry ecosystems, this standard aims to certify best practices that generate positive impacts on biodiversity, including the diversification of tree species and integrating native species into project design. 

In the long term, The Global Biodiversity Standard aims to change the benchmark so that biodiversity is placed at the heart of all initiatives that help combat climate change and develop the livelihoods of local communities.  

Founded by Botanic Garden Conservation International, The Global Biodiversity Standard is supported by an international scientific and technical network that includes IUCN, CIFOR-ICRAF, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Society for Ecological Restoration, Reforest'Action and others. The standard has tested its certification method in real-life conditions at over a hundred different sites, in collaboration with botanic gardens and other biodiversity institutions in India, Kenya, Peru, Brazil, Madagascar, Uganda, Malaysia, Jordan and Hong Kong.

### Our remote sensing tools for The Global Biodiversity Standard

As part of the Global Biodiversity Standard's technical and scientific network, Reforest'Action has been contributing its expertise in forest ecosystem restoration and impact measurement since 2022, and is developing [remote sensing monitoring tools](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/the-global-biodiversity-standard-reforestaction) in particular. Reforest'Action offers The Global Biodiversity Standard a catalog of tools dedicated to remote sensing measurements. These measurements are carried out both upstream of the implementation of projects certified by the standard, and downstream, as part of their monitoring. 

### Reforest’Action becomes official hub for TGBS

In addition to its role as an expert in impact management, Reforest'Action is now officially the European hub of The Global Biodiversity Standard, with the aim of bringing this certification to the Europe. 

At the end of January 2025, a panel of 7 internal Reforest'Action experts were trained by two Global Biodiversity Standard trainers, David Bartholomew (from the Secretariat) and Kiran Baldwin (from the India hub). External guests from our partner ecosystem - Sylva Nova, Preferred By Nature and Biotope - were also trained on this occasion.  

The aim of the training was to enable our team and our partners to carry out the audits required to award Global Biodiversity Standard certification to projects located in Europe. 

Reforest'Action thus joins the worldwide network of 200 assessors certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard, and will be able to call on its trained partners to certify its own projects, or to take part in the auditing process of third-party projects.  

![IMG_8989.JPG](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/IMG_8989_e688681ee4.JPG)

### What is the added value of TGBS-certified projects for the companies that finance them? 

“The aim of the Global Biodiversity Standard is to validate the biodiversity impact of forestry and agroforestry projects, whether certified by international carbon standards or not,” says Clara Manuel, Project Manager at Reforest'Action and internal operational referent for The Global Biodiversity Standard. “A TGBS-certified project can reinforce the credibility of companies, demonstrate their real commitment to biodiversity and offer a competitive advantage in terms of environmental responsibility. By improving the ecological state of ecosystems and their biodiversity, TGBS-certified projects are complementary to climate impact ambitions, materialized by certified carbon credits from dedicated international standards.” 

Healthy ecosystems not only help mitigate climate change, they also enable human societies to adapt to its consequences. Like carbon certification, TGBS certification is not an end in itself, but a means to the end of restoring ecosystems. In this respect, it is fully in line with Reforest'Action's mission to ensure, through its impact management process, that projects generate benefits not only for the climate, but also for biodiversity, the soil-water system and local communities.

## TGBS assessment criteria and certification process

### Evaluation criteria

Projects submitted for The Global Biodiversity Standard certification are assessed against criteria derived from the “10 golden rules for reforestation”. This scientific document, promulgated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Botanic Garden Conservation International, provides guidelines to ensure that reforestation and agroforestry projects promote biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration and the creation of socio-economic benefits for local communities.

Projects certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard, whatever their type (reforestation, agroforestry, wetland restoration, etc.), must comply with these 8 criteria:

- Select appropriate sites to enhance native biodiversity.
- Enhance protection of existing habitats and biodiversity.
- Protect, restore and manage biodiversity in consultation and partnership with local communities and other stakeholders.
- Aim to maximize biodiversity recovery through ecosystem restoration.
- Avoid and reduce invasive or potentially invasive species.
- Prioritize the use of native, threatened and rare species.
- Promote biodiversity and adaptive capacity.
- Implement robust monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management of biodiversity.

### The certification process

The certification process begins with a remote sensing survey, followed by a field audit led by a certified assessor from hubs like Reforest'Action, accompanied by three partner or local experts (each with a specialty in fauna, flora and socio-economic impact). 

The methodology for rating projects, led by the assessor, is then based on: 

- Measurement of changes in ecosystem integrity, including biodiversity, as listed in the Ecological Recovery Wheel, a tool designed by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) to study the process that accompanies the recovery of a degraded or destroyed ecosystem. 
- Assessment of the project's adaptive management measures (based on UN Decade Standards of Practice)
- Assessment of the site’s level of protection (aligned with IUCN protection categories)
- Assessment of the project's socio-economic impacts (based on the Social Benefits Wheel designed by the Society for Ecological Restoration). Indeed, the benefits of a project for biodiversity can only be maintained over the long term if local communities are closely involved, for example through the creation of sustainable economic activities linked to the project.

![Ecological Recovery Wheel.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ecological_Recovery_Wheel_5346b64e03.png)
Ecological recovery wheel (source: Society for Ecological Restoration)

The project then receives an audit score on a 10-point scale, with a certification level at 5 points, Advanced certification at 7 points and a premium level at 9 points. 
The audit can take place as early as the design phase of a project, based on the evaluation of projected impact indicators (in which case it is the management plan that is certified), or after implementation. Certification, when awarded, is valid for 5 years, after which it must be reassessed.

**The voluntary carbon market is certainly a key lever for restoring ecosystems on a large scale. But the development of a dedicated biodiversity certification through The Global Biodiversity Standard, for which Reforest'Action now hosts certified assessors, also aims to direct more funds towards high-quality Nature-based Solutions, enabling companies not only to meet their climate objectives under the Paris Agreement, but also to generate positive impacts for biodiversity and local communities. Our mission is to support these companies as they move towards sustainable business models.
Are you a company looking to finance projects with a high impact on biodiversity? Reforest'Action offers you the opportunity to invest in project certification. [Contact one of our experts to discuss your needs.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**


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Reforest’Action becomes a hub for The Global Biodiversity Standard

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**A summit in favor of climate action and biodiversity preservation**
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As President and Founder of Reforest'Action, Stéphane Hallaire participated in the One Forest Summit on March 1 and 2, 2023, in Libreville, Gabon. This summit was a pivotal moment. Indeed, it did not aim to adopt new political declarations but rather to implement the commitments made in Glasgow during COP 26 - to reduce and reverse deforestation by 2030, and during COP adopted on December 19, 2022, at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) in Montreal - to protect 30% of the land and sea.

This summit also aimed to promote the contribution of tropical forests - particularly those in Africa, which are relatively unknown to the public. Note that by sequestering millions of tons of CO2, forest basins play a critical role in climate regulation. With their exceptional flora and fauna, they harbor biodiversity treasures and play a crucial role in preventing the emergence of new epidemics. Tropical forests are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. As a result, forests are the world's second-largest carbon sink after the oceans: they drink twice as much CO2 as they emit. On top of it, behind the Amazon, the Congo Basin is the second largest forest massif. It is the ecological lung of the planet, with its 220 million hectares of forests spread across several countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, and Gabon. It alone absorbs 3 tons of CO2 every second. It is 88% covered by the equatorial forest, one of the two main green lungs of the planet. However, this "green lung" is threatened by agricultural and industrial overexploitation, particularly logging, oil, and mining. On its territory, it is committed to protecting one-third of the natural areas, both terrestrial and marine: an objective that France is carrying internationally with the High Ambition for Nature and People coalition, launched with Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, which now includes about one hundred countries.

Eventually, it was also an international summit that placed the question of the development of natural capital at the heart of the debates. The large forest areas are indeed "global public goods," according to the Elysée, which public and private actors must preserve.

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**A summit at the origin of the Libreville Plan**
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The One Forest Summit brought together more than 20 heads of state representing the major forest basins, members of the scientific community, African youth, business leaders, and representatives of indigenous populations. It also hosted leaders from UNESCO, IUCN, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund.

The exchanges led by these stakeholders resulted in the Libreville Plan[\[1\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn1), i.e., concrete commitments and initiatives. Indeed, the stakeholders sought to find a fair agreement: not only by seeking to reconcile environmental protection and support for the economy (1°) but also by considering the forest as being at the service of development (2°).

**1° Reconciling environmental protection and economic support**

Several measures have been adopted in this sense:

**\- Support for "positive conservation partnerships" (PCP):**

This PCP mechanism[\[2\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn2) represents a political and financial contract between the international community and countries agreeing to keep vital carbon and biodiversity reserves intact[\[3\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn3). At the operational level, it is an investment plan: remuneration will be provided to these countries in exchange for the protection of the forests. Indeed, in return for the commitment of forest countries, the international community will make available more funding, but also a mechanism for remuneration of services rendered by Nature kept intact, including carbon sequestration.

To initiate favorable conservation contracts tomorrow and bring the first tangible results to COP28 in Dubai, France, Conservation International, and the Walton Foundation announced the creation of a first investment for PCP contracts of 100 million euros. France will provide 50 million euros of this fund. The Walton Foundation and Conservation International will finance the rest.

However, based on the recommendations of the Global Environment Facility, the contours of this innovative new financing tool - including a combined logic with carbon credits (one tree planted, one tree saved) - have yet to be defined to guarantee the complete environmental integrity of a potential biodiversity certificate market. Indeed, countries that want this aid will receive "biodiversity certificates" granted for "services rendered by nature kept intact" - purchased by states or private actors.

**\- Accelerating the structuring of a market for carbon credits of very high environmental and social quality at the level of projects or national policies and initiatives:**

These carbon credits[\[4\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn4) could finance projects with positive impacts on the climate: keeping carbon in the soil or supporting biodiversity while benefiting local populations. In addition, the certificate mechanism will signal to both sovereign states and even private actors that they can reimburse these countries for their efforts if it is possible to guarantee that this is a solid commitment that will last over time.

**2° Considering the forest as being at the service of development**

The Libreville Plan indirectly recognizes the multifunctionality of forests. It thus values its role in development. Indeed, it aims to reconcile economic growth and environmental protection by identifying the ecological and economic benefits brought to local populations. Furthermore, tropical forests provide an invaluable service to local people and humanity by offering numerous resources, sequestering carbon, and sheltering biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, various measures have been adopted in the Libreville Plan:

\- The development of tools promoting sustainable forest management: strong protection such as national parks, sustainable management of natural resources, protection of vital carbon and biodiversity reserves such as mangroves. The launch of the 10by30 initiative is expected to create 10 million jobs related to sustainable forest management by 2030 - by promoting agroforestry coupled with agro-industrial activities, adopting circular economy principles in supply chains, or developing dedicated fuelwood plantations to curb deforestation.

\- Promoting sustainable value chains in the forestry sector[\[5\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn5).

\- Considering Indigenous populations as the first sentinels of the forest: through their knowledge and ancestral traditions and through the unique relationship they witness between Man and Nature. Uganda, France, and Gabon have thus launched a coalition "One Forest Guardian" aiming to propose to voluntary countries to inscribe by 2024 on the UNESCO World Heritage list these practices of inestimable value for the future of humanity.

\- Advancing knowledge and promoting scientific cooperation on forest ecosystems by creating the One Forest Vision project[\[6\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftn6) to map three critical tropical forests: the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. The objective is to measure the impact on carbon and biodiversity.

**A summit recognizing the role of public and private actors in preserving forests - these "global public goods."**
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French President Emmanuel Macron wants to make the One Forest Summit an annual event to continue to guide global climate action by public and private actors to preserve these critical carbon sinks. As he pointed out, forests represent "a precious common good" at the global level: they constitute 50 to 75% of the Earth's biodiversity. They are the second largest carbon sink on the planet. This world summit in favor of the preservation and sustainable management of tropical forests has therefore put at the heart of the debate the issue of the valuation of natural capital by public and private actors and the multifunctionality of forests.

In this context, Reforest'Action is pleased to note that financing quality carbon projects is an essential prerequisite for achieving the objectives of global carbon neutrality - although it is not an end. Indeed, adequate financing must go well beyond carbon impact. It must include promoting and preserving biodiversity and allowing for the development of benefits for local populations - something that the Libreville Plan constructively encourages. Furthermore, financing quality carbon projects must be unrestricted from economic actors' necessary reduction of CO2 emissions.

Finally, this summit was also an opportunity for Stéphane Hallaire to exchange with members of the French, Rwandan, and Costa Rican governments on current best practices that would allow for the rapid and effective implementation of forest ecosystem protection and restoration. The fact that this summit brings together private and public actors contributes to aligning political will with economic issues. The next COP and the future meetings in 2023 will allow concrete progress on these particularly complex and large-scale issues.

* * *

[\[1\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref1) See the "Libreville Plan," the roadmap developed during the summit: [https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2023/03/02/le-plan-de-libreville](https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2023/03/02/le-plan-de-libreville).

[\[2\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref2) The Positive Conservation Partnerships are an initiative launched by France at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh - the counterpart to the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP), which bring together stakeholders and the private sector, and which have already been signed by South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam to move away from coal.

[\[3\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref3) This plan will be organized in three stages:

1\. The time of political commitment: countries with the most vital carbon and biodiversity reserves will be able to commit to protecting them with the support of the High Ambition for Nature and Peoples (HAC) secretariat. This first stone of the tower must allow for the release of substantial funding from the international community.

2\. The time of implementation: providing forest countries with financial means, technological and scientific tools within the framework of the One Forest Vision partnership, and economic solutions within the framework of the 10by30 initiative.

3\. Time to pay for the services rendered to the rest of the world: in return for the commitment of forest countries, the international community will provide more funding, but also a mechanism to pay for the services rendered by Nature kept intact, including carbon sequestration. Based on rigorous monitoring of the implementation of these commitments and their results, the PCP initiative will create a mechanism of remuneration for the services rendered by forest countries: the committed states would produce "biodiversity certificates," which can be purchased by sovereign states or private actors as a positive contribution to the protection of Nature.

[\[4\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref4) These credits could fall within Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement, which focuses on a non-market approach and whose implementation modalities began to be discussed at COP27 last November. Gabon has identified projects based not on offsets but on contributions - which cannot be subtracted from the investors' emissions - with high environmental value and which can be traded for 30 euros per ton. This represents an opportunity to limit removals to quantities that allow the forest to play its role as guardian of biodiversity while entrusting this task to local populations who would be reimbursed both by the sale of wood at remunerative prices and the maintenance of these spaces - a way to pay this double dividend.

[\[5\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref5) Gabon, France, and Canada have launched an intergovernmental platform on the sustainable use of wood and bio-based materials in construction to help replace concrete and cement in the coming years and transform African urbanization strategies. A total of nine countries have decided to join this coalition (Cambodia, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of Congo, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia, France, Gabon, and Canada).

[\[6\]](applewebdata://384F0862-5C34-4EA4-862E-7CACA831E0A9#_ftnref6) The scientific community has launched the "One Forest Vision" project to map the world's vital carbon and biodiversity reserves over the next five years and measure the level of carbon sequestration in tropical forests.

**Photos Credits:** Elysée ; Luk Senning / Unsplash

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Participation of Reforest'Action in the One Forest Summit: Global summit for the preservation and sustainable management of tropical forests

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His Majesty King Charles III has committed to devote a year of action to climate and biodiversity. For his first commitment to sustainable development in 2023, he organized an event on 17 February dedicated to action favoring nature and biodiversity. The degradation of biodiversity and the collapse of ecosystems are among the five leading global risks for society in the next ten years, according to the latest report by the World Economic Forum. Forests are home to more than 80% of the world's terrestrial species, whose survival is threatened if we do not take appropriate measures.

Stéphane Hallaire, as President and Founder of Reforest'Action, participated in a reception in favor of global biodiversity: an opportunity to meet project leaders and international leaders.

He then took part in a round table to encourage concrete action by the private sector in favor of nature.

**A reception in favor of global biodiversity**
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His Majesty King Charles III hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to discuss the practical implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GFB) adopted on 19 December 2022 at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) and consisting of four overarching global goals to protect nature and aims to combat biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems.

He brought together members of government and indigenous groups and representatives of companies that are members of the Sustainable Market Initiative, which he founded.

Stéphane Hallaire was then able to meet with project leaders such as Sam Skanyamibwa (Director General of the ARCOS Association), Domingo Peas (representative of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon), Atossa Soltani (Director of Global Strategy, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative) and Jeanne-d'Arc Mujawamariya (Minister of the Environment of Rwanda).

It was also an opportunity for him to share with a wide range of stakeholders the progress of the actions carried out with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, of which Reforest'Action has been a member since 2020.

**A round table to encourage private sector action in favor of nature**
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Following the reception, Stéphane Hallaire participated in a round table discussion organized by Lloyd's, SMI, and Bloomberg NEF entitled: "Conserving and restoring: Stimulating private sector action for nature."

During the event, over 80 participants shared experiences to agree on operational actions to support biodiversity and nature protection, halt the drivers of biodiversity loss, and promote nature restoration and regeneration. This includes identifying priority areas for action in the short term and five land and sea areas per year where the private sector can and should contribute.

The day was very action-oriented and brought together different stakeholders who wanted to work together to impact biodiversity significantly.

**Nota bene:**
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**The Sustainable Market Initiative (SMI)** was founded by His Majesty when he was Prince of Wales. It was launched at the World Economic Forum 2020 Annual Meeting in Davos. SMI's mission is to build a coordinated global effort that enables the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

This includes aligning industry, investment and country roadmaps (nationally determined contributions). Under the mandate of the Terra Carta, a private sector roadmap for nature, people, and planet, the Sustainable Markets Initiative is working to encourage three major market transformations:

*   A sea change in corporate strategies, operations and supply chains;
*   A reformed global financial system;
*   An enabling environment that attracts investment and drives action.

**References:**
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World Economic Forum, “Global Risks Report 2023”, 11 janvier 2023, [https://fr.weforum.org/reports](https://fr.weforum.org/reports)

FAO. 2022. _In Brief to The State of the World’s Forests 2022. Forest pathways for green recovery and building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economies._ Rome, FAO, [https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9363en](https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9363en)

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Participation of Stéphane Hallaire, President and Founder of Reforest'Action, at an event organized by His Majesty King Charles III in favor of biodiversity

Adopted in 2014 and revised in 2021, the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a global political text calling for international action to protect and restore forests by 2030 through 10 goals. Subject to an annual progress review, the Declaration is supported by nearly 200 governments, businesses, NGOs and indigenous communities. In 2022, Reforest'Action became an official endorser of the NYDF.

![](/uploads/forest_declaration_platform_logo_ok_102fd9e230.png)

Ten goals to achieve by 2030
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The [New York Declaration on Forests](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/new-york-declaration-on-forests/) was adopted in September 2014 at the Climate Summit. Bringing together 10 goals, the text constitutes the first global agenda aimed at, among other things, halting deforestation and restoring 350 million hectares of degraded forest land and landscapes across the globe by 2030. While the 2020 interim targets were not met, the NYDF has been revised into a new version in 2021. Meeting these targets would mitigate climate change by more than 7 billion tons of CO2e per year.

While not legally binding and distinct from the [UN Global Forests Goals](https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Global-Forest-Goals-booklet-Apr-2019.pdf), the Declaration represents the primary global text for mobilizing a diversity of stakeholders for international action on forests. By becoming an official endorser of the NYDF, Reforest'Action joins some 200 governments, businesses, NGOs and other indigenous communities committed to helping achieve these goals by 2030 by turning commitments into action. This commitment will also allow Reforest'Action to benefit from the NYDF network and the sharing of experiences among official supporters.

![](/uploads/forest_declaration_assessment_eef441376a.png)

A platform to accelerate action
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Established in 2017, the [Forest Declaration Platform](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/) aims to be one of the world's most comprehensive multi-stakeholder frameworks for forest action. It was founded in response to requests from NYDF supporters for a multi-stakeholder space to energize political endorsement of the Declaration, to facilitate coordination and communication, to share best practices, resources and lessons, and to support ongoing monitoring of progress.

Led by a secretariat composed of UNDP and civil society actors, the Platform has several missions, including publishing an [independent annual assessment](https://forestdeclaration.org/about/assessment/) of progress towards the commitments contained in the NYDF and other texts such as the Glasgow Declaration adopted at COP26. The Platform's mission is also to scale up and accelerate forest action by providing support and implementation mechanisms at the regional and national levels, and to encourage the political ambition of world leaders through collaborative action.

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Reforest'Action becomes official endorser of the New York Declaration on Forests

Actualités et décryptages