World leaders have made bold, collective commitments to protect, conserve, and restore the world’s forests by 2030. As we approach COP30 in Belém – a gateway to the Amazon – just five years remain to deliver on these promises, but progress has been insufficient. Investing in forests is not merely an act of goodwill but an insurance policy for long-term economic stability, sustainable development, and resilient supply chains.
A new call-to-action – endorsed by leading civil society and research organizations – provides urgently needed guidance for how governments can revive stalled efforts to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation worldwide.
The call-to-action outlines eight priority actions governments should advance in 2025, including: integrating forest goals into national climate plans; promoting deforestation-free trade; scaling up forest finance; securing Indigenous peoples’ land rights; setting clear expectations for financial institutions to address forest risks; repurposing harmful subsidies; strengthening governance in the land-use sector; and addressing debt challenges in multilateral development finance.
