6 solutions to deforestation and how you can help

Deforestation–the permanent clearing of trees from forests–often happens to have more land for  agriculture, urbanization, or mining. According to the UN FAO, an estimated 10 million hectares of forest are cut down each year, contributing to climate disruption, biodiversity loss, and the degradation of ecosystems that have evolved over millennia.  

This loss also affects people, locally and far away, who depend on forests for food, medicine, and income. Businesses, communities, and individuals all have a role to play in protecting and restoring forests.

Fortunately, there are proven solutions to deforestation. From sustainable forestry practices to supporting Indigenous land rights, this guide highlights some of the best ways individuals, businesses, and political decision-makers can help safeguard forests. 

Table of contents: 

• Look for the “check tree” label for responsible forestry
• Advocate for Indigenous rights
• Support sustainable agriculture
• Support public policies surrounding sustainable futures
• Participate in restoration efforts
• Strengthen forest stewardship with FSC certification
• Build a sustainable future for forests with FSC

1. Look for the “check tree” label for responsible forestry 

One of the simplest ways to help protect forests is to make sure the products you buy are sourced responsibly. By buying responsibly sourced products, consumers allow foresters to make money to continue with forestry. The Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) “check tree” label stands alone as the most trusted mark for responsible forestry.  

Recognized by 46 per cent of consumers worldwide, FSC’s “check tree” label verifies sustainable sourcing from forest to consumer. The label aims to prevent deforestation in awarding responsible forest managers with the “check tree”, while also supporting:

• Fair wages for people working to produce certified products
• Safe working environments
• The conservation of protected wildlife
• Rights of local community living near the responsibly managed forests 

Buying goods marked with the “check tree” is a small way for individuals to contribute to preventing deforestation. For 100% certified products, it ensures sustainable sourcing from the forest to the store.

Finished products aren’t the only place to look for the “check tree” mark.  Businesses sourcing wood, rubber, paper, or other forest products can use the label to maintain a sustainable supply chain. They can also strengthen their commitment by becoming an FSC-certified chain of custody holder.

Recent research shows that FSC certification contributes to maintaining and increasing forest cover, particularly in lower-middle-income countries. The findings highlight how leaders can adapt regional certification strategies to promote sustainable forest management further.

What individuals can do: Support products that have the FSC “check tree” label, such as Allbirds, Paboco, Pirelli, Crate & Barrel, or H&M Group.

What businesses can do: Source materials and finished products from FSC-certified suppliers to maintain a sustainable supply chain. 

2. Advocate for Indigenous rights

Advocating for Indigenous rights is key to preventing deforestation, as Indigenous stewardship preserves forests and biodiversity.

Indigenous Peoples have a right to their land and should maintain authority to govern it as they see fit. Their thoughtful stewardship provides lasting benefits for citizens, plants, and animals across the globe.

In areas where Indigenous Peoples maintain rights over their homelands, their forests tend to remain strong and healthy for generations to come.  

For example, a study on the Brazilian Amazon found that ensuring land rights for Indigenous Peoples could reduce deforestation rates in the territory by 66 per cent.  

More broadly, deforestation is around 20 per cent lower in areas managed by Indigenous communities, highlighting the value of traditional stewardship, local governance, and areas with low human population density.

Research published in Nature Sustainability also shows that when Indigenous communities have rights to their own lands, tree felling is reduced by about one-fifth.

Indigenous communities to help protect their rights, support sustainable forestry practices, and integrate Indigenous knowledge and values into forest management decisions.

This commitment is reflected in the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), which supports Indigenous Peoples’ self-development, self-governance, and self-reliance through Indigenous-led solutions, partnerships, and funding.

What individuals can do: Support Indigenous Peoples’ rights in your local community’s public policies.

What businesses can do: Allow Indigenous People to maintain rights to their lands and defer to their authority on what is best for the land. 

3. Support sustainable agriculture

Unsustainable food systems are a leading cause of deforestation. Clearing forests for agricultural expansion is a large driver of tropical deforestation and ecosystem loss. Commodities like beef, soy, and palm oil account for around 60 per cent of this deforestation.

Making conscious food choices is one of the solutions to deforestation to help reduce this impact. Eating less meat or opting for sustainably sourced beef, soy, and palm oil products can make a tangible difference.  

In fact, a study by Nature found that reducing meat consumption by just 20 per cent could cut global deforestation rates in half.

Reducing cattle production also lowers methane emissions, which are more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide (CO₂). While lowering methane emissions isn’t a complete solution to climate change, it is an important step toward reducing the overall environmental footprint.

What individuals can do: Try reducing meat consumption, for example, by participating in Meatless Mondays, to decrease the demand worldwide for cattle ranching.

What businesses can do: Use sustainable farming techniques, including regenerative farming or participating in certification programs, to ensure products are responsibly sourced.

4. Support public policies surrounding sustainable futures

The push for sustainability goes beyond individuals and private businesses. Research estimates that public policies reduce the risk of tree cover loss by almost four percentage points globally.

Various countries and regions have enacted laws and policies to protect forests and promote sustainable land use. For example, the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires that products placed on EU markets are not produced on land which was deforested or degraded. This applies to wood, rubber, palm oil, soy, cattle, coffee, and cocoa.

These laws and policies include, but are not limited to: 

• Forest protection laws: Regulate logging practices and land use while protecting local endangered species.
• Payment for ecosystem services (PES): Financial incentives for landowners or communities who restore degraded land or implement conservation measures.
• International agreements: Agreements like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, and the 30×30 worldwide initiative aim to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change.
• Land use planning and zoning laws: Regulations that limit development in sensitive forest areas and prioritize conservation.
• Corporate responsibility laws: Legislation encouraging or requiring businesses to adopt sustainable sourcing practices for forest-risk commodities. 

What individuals can do: Vote for politicians whose policies support sustainable land use and climate action.

What businesses can do: Incorporate a sustainability strategy and prepare for regulations like the EUDR to maintain high sustainability standards.

5. Participate in restoration efforts  

Restoration doesn’t happen overnight, but the impact can be significant when millions of individuals, landowners, and businesses participate.  

Planting trees is only part of the process. Successful restoration also depends on protecting existing forests, regenerating tree cover after loss in reforestation, and ensuring newly planted areas are managed responsibly.

Restoration goes beyond reforestation and planting trees, although that is a significant factor. To assist in these efforts, individuals can: 

• Choose organizations that plant native tree species and promote sustainable forestry.
• Volunteer at local events to plant and care for trees in local communities.
• Support businesses that partner with sustainability organizations, for example, through FSC-certification.     
• Educate yourself and others on the dangers of degradation, deforestation, and invasive non-native species, and promote sustainable forest management.
• Reduce consumption and waste by reusing and recycling paper and timber products. 

What individuals can do: Donate to organizations that plant native trees or support reforestation projects.

What businesses can do: Support natural regeneration and sustainable forest management practices.

6. Strengthen forest stewardship with FSC certification

Preventing deforestation comes down to the practices of the land managers, those who manufacture timber products, and the consumer. FSC has created strict guidelines and a certification program to ensure the responsible and sustainable use of our forests.  

FSC offers different types of certification depending on a business’s role in the supply chain: 

Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification

Businesses that manufacture, sell, or participate in the FSC-certified timber supply chain can obtain Chain of Custody certification. Examples include book publishers, raw material suppliers, and furniture manufacturers.

According to the FSC Annual Report 2024, there are 63,832 active Chain of Custody certificates globally.

Forest Management (FM) Certification

The Forest Management certification recognizes forest owners and managers who meet strict stewardship principles. These standards ensure sustainable forestry practices which support economic viability, environmental sustainability, decent work and responsible engagement with local people.

Forest owners must meet strict stewardship principles to obtain and maintain this certification. In 2024, 1,588 Forest Management certificates were active, including 613 for small or low-intensity forests, communities, and Indigenous Peoples. Independent auditors visit certified forests at least once per year seeking evidence of responsible forest management.  

Learn how your business can impact our forests by becoming FSC-certified today.

What individuals can do: Reach out to brands you love and encourage them to become FSC-certified.

What businesses can do: Find the right sustainable certification and maintain the certification over time.

Build a sustainable future for forests with FSC

Deforestation threatens biodiversity, the global climate, and the economic resources that businesses and communities depend on. Choosing FSC-certified products and supporting sustainable practices are practical ways for businesses and individuals to help stop deforestation.

Explore FSC’s Verified Impact to discover how businesses and forest managers can monitor progress against deforestation and demonstrate the value of responsible forestry. 

Additional resources

Learn more about protected forests and land use from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).  

Read about Tree Cover Loss from the World Resources Institute. Continue learning how to get involved by promoting reforestation with organizations like One Tree Planted and Life Terra.

Explore FSC’s perspective on sustainability standards in the EU Green Claims Directive. 

Sourcing 

• Our World in Data (2024) Deforestation. https://ourworldindata.org/deforestation. (access date 1 October 2025).
• University of Colorado Boulder (2023) How Indigenous knowledge can help solve the climate crisis. https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/11/20/how-indigenous-knowledge-can-help-solve-climate-crisis. (access date 1 October 2025).
• Alves-Pinto, H. N., Newton, P., Pinto, L. F. G., & Pinto, L. F. M. (2023) Tropical deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions: a review of the impacts of agricultural commodity supply chains. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10085996/. (access date 1 October 2025).
• Levers, C., Müller, D., & Kuemmerle, T. (2022) What drives deforestation and what stops it? A meta-analysis. Nature Sustainability, 5, 1092–1100. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00815-2. (access date 1 October 2025).
• Guglielmi, G. (2022) Eating one-fifth less beef could halve deforestation. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01238-5. (access date 1 October 2025).
• Schneider, L., & Essl, F. (2023) Agricultural expansion and its global environmental impact: A systematic review. Global Environmental Change, 79, 102687. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095937802300136X. (access date 1 October 2025).
• Liu, Z., Qin, Y., & Zhao, Y. (2023) Forest loss, biodiversity, and climate change: Emerging evidence from global studies. Science of the Total Environment, 900, 165833. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723069231. (access date 1 October 2025).