The European Commission, Council, and Parliament came together to create a novel Regulation that will restrict products associated with illicit manufacturing and deforestation from entering the EU market and so reduce the EU's contribution to global trade-related deforestation.

If a product is not made in accordance with local legislation in the country of production, or if it has contributed to deforestation or forest degradation, it cannot be sold in the European Union, per the regulation. Companies selling soy, palm oil, cocoa, beef, coffee, or lumber on the European Union market must demonstrate that their products can be traced back to individual plots of land.

If complementary steps are done and the EU Regulation can really lead to the anticipated leverage on other markets like those in Asia, we appreciate the far-reaching Regulation that can have a positive influence on the ground for forests. For instance, global soy, palm oil, and lumber production all rely heavily on these markets. Additional trading activity in these markets is crucial if change is to be felt.

Positive incentives for farmers to produce responsibly and apply additional measures for nature conservation are essential to counteract deforestation on the ground, and such measures should be implemented across the terrain. To ensure legality and conservation in commodity producing landscapes worldwide, partnerships are an essential supplementary instrument to the new EU Regulation.

The Trialogue had not resulted in the inclusion of "other wooded lands," such as savannahs, wetlands, peatlands, or biodiversity-rich grasslands, despite their vulnerability and importance to biodiversity and the climate. The Commission intends to revaluate whether and how to add "other wooded lands" no later than a year after the Regulation goes into effect, and whether or not other ecosystems with high carbon storage and biodiversity value can be included within two years. Forests aren't the only ecosystems at danger from the commodities trade, therefore it's crucial that we act fast to safeguard them all.

Now, more than ever, it's crucial to put together a toolkit that can support the Regulation's implementation while also incorporating other EU values like the careful management of pesticides, soil, and water, and the upholding of human rights (including the right to a fair wage and safe working conditions). It will be essential to provide funding for responsible production and conservation, particularly in high-risk settings, if a real difference in conservation efforts on the ground and create sustainable landscapes for the future is to be made.