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Industries and sectors driving deforestation: what you need to know

We recently had a deep-dive into the industries and sectors driving deforestation. We were curious: do all sectors contribute to deforestation? And which industries have the biggest impact? 
We learned that<a href="https://forest500.org/"> every six seconds</a>, an area of forest the size of a football pitch is destroyed to make way for the production of commodities such as soy, beef, timber and palm oil. Here’s the full scoop:

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Forests cover <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8753en/CA8753EN.pdf">31% </a>of the land on our planet and they are critically important for stabilising our climate. They regulate ecosystems, protect biodiversity, support livelihoods, and play an important part in taking carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. Approximately <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change#:~:text=Approximately%202.6%20billion%20tonnes%20of,America%20%E2%80%93%20offer%20opportunities%20for%20restoration.">2.6 billion tonnes of CO2</a>, one third of the CO­2 released from burning fossil fuels, is absorbed by forests every year and the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/">2019 IPCC special report of Climate Change and Land</a> stated that planting forests and protecting existing forests is key to all pathways for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.  
Forests are also home to <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change#:~:text=Approximately%202.6%20billion%20tonnes%20of,America%20%E2%80%93%20offer%20opportunities%20for%20restoration.">80% </a>of the world&#8217;s terrestrial biodiversity and provide critical ecosystem services that are important to both people and the planet, such as healthy soil, clean water sources, habitats, erosion control, crop pollination and  flood control.
Globally about <a href="https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/UNFF13_BkgdStudy_ForestsSCP.pdf">1.6 billion people</a> (nearly 25% of the world’s population) rely on forests for their livelihoods, many of whom are among the world’s poorest. Over<a href="https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/UNFF13_BkgdStudy_ForestsSCP.pdf"> 200 million people</a>, including many indigenous people, directly depend on forests for their survival. Forests produce more than 5,000 types of wood-based products and generate an annual gross value add of just over<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/forests"> $600 billion</a>.

Forests are critically important and must be protected. However, they are being cleared and degraded at a rapid rate, causing carbon loss as well as negative impacts on ecosystem services. Deforestation is the second largest source of anthropogenic emissions on the planet, causing <a href="https://www.cdp.net/en/forests">15% of global greenhouse gas emissions</a>. 
The clearing of forests also leads to the loss of habitat and brings humans and wildlife into closer contact, increasing the risk of spill over of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola and HIV from animals to humans as they come in closer contact. 
Global forest loss continues at a rate of five million hectares a year. This is an extremely alarming rate, and studies have found that even with all other anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions phased out, ‘business as usual’ deforestation alone could still drive global heating above <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa836d">2°C by 2100</a>.

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Globally the loss of tropical forests has continued to increase. This is largely driven by the commercial production of the four forest-risk commodities: cattle, soy, palm oil and timber. 
Cattle ranching to produce beef, leather, gelatine and tallow is the leading driver of deforestation in Latin America and is responsible for destroying an average of <a href="https://www.cdp.net/en/forests">2.71 million hectares</a> of forests a year (equivalent to 3.25 million football pitches).  Soy production is another of the key drivers of deforestation in Latin America. This soy is used for personal care and medical products, fuel and food and most significantly as animal feed.
 Palm oil is a vegetable oil that is derived from the fruit on the African oil palm tree. The production of palm oil is linked to deforestation and climate changes as well as other issues such as habitat degradation, animal cruelty and indigenous rights abuses. Palm oil production is the largest cause of deforestation in SouthEast Asia and other tropical regions, and is used in a wide range of food, personal care, and household products, as well as to produce biofuel. A recent study found that palm oil contributed to more than <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837717301552">14% of forest loss</a> over 2005-2015. 
The production of timber is another major driver of deforestation and forest degradation across the globe and is used for a variety of products from construction and furnishing, to paper and fabric goods.

The problem is that often people only associate deforestation with agriculture or food production. However, the four forest-risk commodities described above are found in many value chains covering a large number of sectors. The average company has <a href="https://www.cdp.net/en/research/global-reports/global-forests-report-2016">24%</a> of its revenue dependent on these four forest-risk commodities.  
These products are used as key ingredients across a range of products from burgers to lipsticks, to construction materials and car seats. However, the link between deforestation and the goods we buy are often hidden by the structure of global supply chains. 
A recent report by CDP (a charity that runs the global disclosure system, allowing companies to report and manage their environmental impacts) found that some companies report they are still unaware of the presence of the four main forest commodities in their supply chain or operations, or they are unaware of their impact. Below we highlight a number of sectors, and how they use these products.

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Agriculture 
The single largest causes of deforestation and forest degradation globally is agriculture, with large-scale commercial agriculture accounting for <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/">40% </a>of tropical deforestation, and local subsistence agriculture for another <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/">33%</a>. 
Forest is cleared at alarming rates to grow crops, particularly soy and palm, and to provide grazing land for livestock, especially cattle. Agriculture is the clear cause of deforestation to produce the four forest risk commodities. However, the sectors where these commodities are used is often less clear.
Both export-driven, large-scale agriculture and small-scale agriculture have impacts on deforestation. If you take the Amazon as an example, commercial, large-scale agriculture, particularly for animal feed, and biofuels using soy and palm oil, is a key pressure that has been responsible for the <a href="https://wwfeu.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_living_amazon__report_2016_mid_res_spreads_1.pdf">largest losses of natural habitat</a> in the Amazon in recent decades. However, small-scale agriculture and legal and illegal settlement of small-scale farmers is expanding and is also impacting on forest loss.

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Food and beverage
The majority of deforestation in this sector is linked to meat, soy, and palm oil. Meat production is the most significant driver of deforestation, because as well as the vast clearance of land for grazing livestock (particularly cattle), huge amounts of forests are removed so that the land can be used to grow soy to feed the pigs and chickens that we eat. 
Soy is one of the four major forest risk commodities, and more than <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/Risky%20Business%20-%20October%202017.pdf">80%</a> of soy grown globally is used to feed animals- particularly poultry, pigs and dairy cows.  Therefore, deforestation is often rife in the animal products that we consume: meat, dairy and eggs.
Soybeans also contain approximately <a href="https://www.bothends.org/uploaded_files/document/Soy_Barometer2014_ENG.pdf">18%</a> oil which is refined and used as vegetable oil for cooking in a wide variety of processed food. A valuable by-product from crushing soy is lecithin. This is an emulsifying agent in food products such as chocolate, cookies, peanut butter, and coffee creamers. About<a href="https://www.bothends.org/uploaded_files/document/Soy_Barometer2014_ENG.pdf"> 6%</a> of the global soy production is directly used in food products, predominantly in Asia: soy sauce, tempeh, tofu, soy flour, soy milk, textured vegetable protein and edamame. 
The most well known cause of deforestation within the food sector is palm oil. This is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet and found in margarine, chocolate, pizza dough, instant noodles, ice cream, cookies, packaged bread and many more!
Food packaging is also a culprit, as pulp and paper used to make them come from timber. Not all items appear on the shelf in cardboard packaging, but almost all would have arrived at the supermarket packed in a cardboard box. Wood is also used in the processing of some foods, for example smoking.
Automobile
Leather for cars comes from cattle. The non-profit organisation <a href="https://phys.org/news/2020-09-european-carmakers-leather-fuelling-deforestation.html">Earthsight</a> have revealed that some of Europe’s biggest car makers, including BMW and Jaguar Land Rover use leather linked to deforestation in South America. These automakers buy leather for vehicle industries that is originally sourced from cattle ranching on illegally razed land in Paraguay. 
The automotive and tyre industry is also the biggest consumer of rubber. Almost <a href="https://www.cdp.net/en/forests">90%</a> of natural rubber is produced in South East Asia, where it has become a leading driver of deforestation.

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Textile
The leather from our shoes, bags and belts comes from cattle. Often the word ‘cattle’ is synonymised with ‘beef’, leaving leather to be labelled as just a by-product of the meat industry and meaning that the environmental impacts of the leather industry avoid scrutiny.
 A report from <a href="https://forest500.org/sites/default/files/forest500_annualreport2019_final_0.pdf">Forest 500 </a>in 2019, found that 81% of the 64 most influential companies assessed for leather had no commitment to source deforestation-free leather, including Prada, Zara and Michael Kors.
Deforestation is also present in the supply chain of materials made from plant-based cellulose, such as viscose, rayon, bamboo and lyocell fibres. These fibres are made from timber, by processing wood until it forms pulp, adding inorganic fibres and spinning it until it forms fibres. Over <a href="https://forest500.org/analysis/insights/hidden-deforestation-fashion-industry-how-sustainable-sustainable-fabric">150 million trees </a>are logged annually for cellulose fibres for clothing.
Chemical
Many perfumes and flavourings, drugs, cleaning products etc contain palm oil or soy. A valuable by-product from crushing soy is lecithin. This is an effective emulsifying agent used in paints, coatings, and waxes.  Palm kernel oil is also used in many chemicals for industrial use.  
Personal care
Many personal care products such as toothpaste, soap, and lipstick contain soy or palm oil. A valuable by-product from crushing soy is lecithin. This is an emulsifying agent that is used in cosmetics. Palm kernel oil is also used for making soap, toiletries, and cosmetics. Tissues, toilet paper, sanitary towels, tampons, and diapers are all made from wood.

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Retailers
Most retailers will sell items that have some of the four forest-risk commodities within them, whether that is furnishings, clothes, noodles, meat, dairy or confectionary. 
An example is retailers that sell furniture. Most furniture is made from timber, varying from softwood furniture (e.g. pine) and plywood/laminate flat pack furniture to luxury hardwood (e.g. mahogany). These all have the potential to include damaging deforestation in their supply chain, unless it is ensured that they are sustainably sourced. 
The same goes for leather furniture, sourced from cattle. Timber is also used to make musical instruments, tool handles, decorative items and for the packaging that most products will come in (e.g. pallets, cardboard boxes).
Forestry
Perhaps the most iconic symbol of forest destruction is wood production. Products made from wood can be divided into two categories: pulp and timber. Pulp is made from tree fibres and used to produce paper and related products. This is particularly an issue in Indonesia, where native forests are cut down for monoculture plantations of fast-growing tree species. 
Timber is used for construction or high end-products like furniture and is linked to forest degradation, where valuable tree species are harvested, and the rest are left. These degraded forests are then <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01338.x">more likely</a> to be targeted for deforestation and conversion to other land use.

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Print Publishing
The print publishing industry uses paper made from timber in newspapers, books, magazines, office paper, packaging tissues and labels. Timber is also often used to create advertising billboards.
Construction
The construction industry uses timber for both interior and exterior materials including timber frames for houses. Timber is also widely used as a construction material in flooring (solid wood; laminate or parquet blocks), window frames, doors and doorframes, skirting, decking, garden buildings, telegraph poles, fencing, boat building, railway sleepers etc
Energy
Worldwide, <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/our_focus/forests_practice/forest_publications_news_and_reports/living_forests_report/energy_forests/">2.6 billion people </a>use traditional biomass, mainly wood and charcoal, as a source of energy. Most wood fuel is used in its country of production, particularly in rural areas and in developing countries, for heating and cooking, usually on open fires or in simple cookstoves. In recent years, there has been an expansion of ‘bioenergy’ in industrialized countries, where biomass such as timber is burnt to generate energy.
Finance
Many investments within the finance industry involve financing forest clearance. Data from the latest <a href="https://forest500.org/sites/default/files/forest500_annualreport2019_final_0.pdf">Forest 500 assessment</a> of the 150 biggest financial institutions investing in companies in forest-risk supply chains shows that two thirds do not have policies in place to address this risk. 
Fuel
Biofuels are fuels that can be used to drive our cars and other forms of transport, that are made from biomass. This has the benefits of reducing emissions associated with fossil fuels, however there are associated risks, including the effects on the world’s forests.  Biodiesel is a type of vegetable oil that is produced from crops. Most biofuel is made from soy or palm oil, both of which are leading causes of deforestation.
Pharma
Soy, palm oil and even timber are found in a number of medical products. An example is aspirin, which is made from the bark of the white willow tree. The pharmaceutical industry is also an industry that is likely to be affected by deforestation. Of the 50,000 known medicinal plants, which are the basis of more than<a href="https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/01/13/la-deforestacion-un-dolor-de-cabeza-para-la-medicina-natural"> 50% </a>of all medications, up to a fifth are at risk of extinction at the local, national, regional, or global level due to deforestation.

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Deforestation is a corporate responsibility issue that companies must address. The first step is to understand the risks in their supply chain. Could their suppliers be linked to deforestation? Companies need to be more transparent about how they are using cattle, soy, palm oil and timber to enable the deforestation embedded in global supply chains to be publicly tracked. They can address these risks by working with their direct and indirect suppliers to ensure they are not driving deforestation and to promote sustainable production.
The Paris Agreement states that since companies are responsible for such a large percentage of emissions, they are also responsible for delivering the necessary reductions. By eliminating deforestation, the business community can deliver emissions reductions equivalent to <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/575ecca7b654f9dd886dec23/t/576c39fdd2b857d28be73608/1466710526653/The+Business+End+of+Climate+Change.pdf">0.5-1.2 billion </a>metric tonnes.

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Deforestation is a global problem; and its reach extends far and wide into many sectors and industries. However, by recognising this issue and working with suppliers, businesses can ensure that they are promoting sustainable production. 
We also need to work to restore the forests that have been degraded and destroyed. Ecologi is a subscription service that is focused on planting trees to restore forests worldwide, as well as investing in <a href="https://ecologi.com/about">certified carbon reduction projects</a>, and we have already planted over 5 million trees!  Our goal is to avoid 50% of all global greenhouse gases by 2040, through tree planting and carbon reduction Gold Standard climate solutions.

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How does deforestation impact wildlife and biodiversity? What you need to know.

Forests cover <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">31% of the land</a> on our planet and they are critically important for stabilising the climate, taking in approximately <a href="https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/forests-and-climate-change#:~:text=Approximately%202.6%20billion%20tonnes%20of,America%20%E2%80%93%20offer%20opportunities%20for%20restoration." target="_blank" rel="noopener">2.6 billion tonnes of CO2</a> each year. They also provide more than <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">86 million</a> green jobs and support the livelihoods of many more. An estimated<a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 880 million people</a> spend part of their time collecting fuel wood or producing charcoal, and of people living in extreme poverty, over <a href="http://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90%</a> are dependent on forests for at least part of their livelihoods. 
However, forests aren’t just important to us, they are also important to the wildlife that live, feed and breed within them. 80% of the world&#8217;s land-based species live in forests, and animals ranging from insects to elephants rely on these ecosystems to survive. From the boreal forests in the far North to the famously biodiverse rainforests of the tropics, forests provide habitats for <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of amphibian species, <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">75%</a> of bird species and <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">68% </a>of mammal species. 
But these forests are being destroyed and degraded at an alarming rate. Since 1990, it is estimated that <a href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">420 million hectares</a> of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses. In addition, more than <a href="https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 million hectares</a> of forest are adversely affected by forest fires, pests, diseases, invasive species, drought, and other events that are exacerbated by human activity. The main driver of deforestation and associated loss of biodiversity continues to be agricultural expansion, particularly large-scale commercial agriculture including cattle ranching and cultivation of soy bean and oil palm. You can read more about the sectors driving deforestation <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/industries-and-sectors-driving-deforestation-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
At Ecologi we love all animals, whatever shape and size, and were anxious about how this deforestation is affecting our furry friends. We decided to explore how deforestation affects the wildlife that lives in and around the world’s forests.

Wildlife is increasingly becoming threatened by human activities and changing climates. The <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List of Threatened species</a> is the world’s most comprehensive information source of the global extinction risk of animals, fungi, and plant species. It lists species and classifies how threatened they are in terms of extinction according to the following categories: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near threatened and Least Concern.
<a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of the world&#8217;s land-based species live in forests. When these forests are destroyed, animals lose their homes and are often unable to survive in the small fragments of forests left behind. The destruction and fragmentation of forests is the biggest driver of extinctions across the world. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A recent study</a> of more than 19,000 species of birds, amphibians, and mammals found that deforestation substantially increased the odds of species being listed on the IUCN red list as threatened and exhibiting declining populations. Even localised or small-scale deforestation can result in extinctions, as many unique species exist in small geographic locations around the world.
There are a number of ways in which deforestation can impact the animals living within and around forests.
Habitat loss &#8211; Habitat loss is probably the biggest threat to the variety of life on Earth today. It is identified as a main threat to <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/wildlife_practice/problems/habitat_loss_degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">85% of all species </a>described in the IUCN’s Red List. Deforestation can lead to a direct loss of wildlife habitat, with the removal of trees and other types of vegetation reducing the available food, shelter, and breeding habitat for animals. For example, tigers have lost an estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/tiger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95% of their historic range</a> as their habitat has been destroyed, degraded, and fragmented by human activities.
Habitat fragmentation &#8211; While evidently interlinked, habitat loss and fragmentation are distinct concepts. Habitat loss refers to a reduction in the area of forests, whilst habitat fragmentation involves the division of a once continuous area, into multiple patches. Smaller fragments of forest can support fewer animals and smaller populations are more at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5182433/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of extinction</a>. For example, <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijecol/2012/108752/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giant pandas are particularly affected by habitat fragmentation</a>, and many giant panda populations are small and isolated, resulting in limited gene flow and risks from inbreeding.
Human interaction &#8211; The destruction of forests and the splitting up into smaller areas makes them more accessible to humans. This increases the occurrence of human-wildlife conflict, where the needs and behaviour of wildlife impacts negatively on humans, or when humans negatively affect the needs of wildlife. For example, it can include increased hunting and poaching of animals as they become more accessible to hunters; increased occurrence of roadkill and road traffic accidents; as well as wildlife causing destruction of property, crops, livestock, and even human lives. Increased contact with humans can cause species numbers to dwindle, and even go extinct.  <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/wildlife_practice/problems/habitat_loss_degradation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An example </a>is in the palm oil plantations of Africa, Latin America and Asia where large areas of rainforest are cleared to grow palm crops. Orangutans, tigers, elephants, rhinos and many other species are increasingly isolated, and their sources of food and shelter are in decline. The fragmentation of their habitat has also resulted in increased human-wildlife conflict, and when these species encounter humans they are often killed or captured.
Change in canopy structure &#8211; The forest canopy plays an important role blocking the sun’s rays during the day and retaining heat at night. Removing trees deprives the forest of portions of its canopy, and this disruption leads to <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more extreme temperature swings </a>which can be harmful to animals.  
These are some of the general effects that deforestation is having on species that reside in the world&#8217;s forests. But what about the areas that Ecologi works in? What animals are being affected by deforestation &#8211; and how are we helping?

The island of Madagascar split from Africa over 160 million years ago, and since then it has developed its own distinct ecosystems and extraordinary wildlife. An estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95%</a> of Madagascar’s reptiles, <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">89%</a> of its plants and <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">92%</a> of its mammals are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth. 
However, more than <a href="https://www.lcluc.umd.edu/hotspot/deforestation-madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">90%</a> of Madagascar’s original forests have been destroyed, displacing entire animal species. The small-scale but widespread clearance of forests, through slash and burn agriculture and logging for firewood and charcoal production is jeopardizing the island&#8217;s habitats. As a result, several species such as lemurs and chameleons that evolved here over millions of years may become extinct before the end of the century. Almost a third (<a href="https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202007/almost-a-third-lemurs-and-north-atlantic-right-whale-now-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list">31%</a>) of all lemur species in Madagascar are now Critically Endangered &#8211; just one step away from extinction &#8211; with <a href="https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202007/almost-a-third-lemurs-and-north-atlantic-right-whale-now-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">98%</a> of them threatened. Among those recently listed as critically endangered in 2020 include the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18354/115572044" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Verreaux’s Sifaka lemur</a> and the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41573/115579496" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur</a>, the smallest primate in the world.
Particularly of concern in Madagascar are the mangrove forests. Madagascar contains <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/8/2/106/pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2% of the world’s mangroves</a>, accounting for 20% of African mangrove forests. However these are being deforested at alarming rates, and entire mangrove estuaries are gone, leaving the bare earth to wash away the sea. Mangroves, as well as storing massive amounts of carbon, are really important for wildlife. They provide breeding grounds and nurseries for numerous fish species and shellfish, and help trap sediments that might otherwise adversely affect habitats for marine life such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. 
The mangroves in Madagascar have critical importance for numerous endemic species (species that are only found in Madagascar and nowhere else) that are listed on the IUCN Red List. These includes the bird species that use the mangroves for nesting and roosting: the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22680252/92852755" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascar Teal</a> listed as Endangered; the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695121/125395004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascan Fish-Eagle</a> listed as Critically Endangered; the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697012/93598644" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Madagascar Heron </a>listed as Endangered; and <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22731855/95038024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malagasy Sacred Ibis</a> listed as Endangered.
This is why our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/mangrove-planting-in-madagascar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mangrove planting project</a> in the north west of the island is so important. We will be planting two million trees there, before moving along the coast as our contributions continue to grow.

Mozambique – protection of elephant habitats

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This Eastern African country has a rich and unique ecosystem including 236 species of mammal, 740 species of bird and 5,692 species of vascular plant. Additionally, Mozambique is the home to 200 endemic mammal species like the African elephant.
Poaching for ivory and meat has traditionally been the major cause of decline for <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12392/3339343" target="_blank" rel="noopener">African elephants </a>however currently the most important perceived threat is the loss and fragmentation of habitat caused by ongoing human population expansion and rapid land conversion. This has increased the amounts of human-elephant conflict, which further aggravates the threat to elephant populations.
In <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforesting-changalane-mozambique" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mozambique</a> we are working to plant 100,000 dry deciduous trees, helping to bring back a thriving ecosystem and prevent further deforestation by alleviating poverty and creating a long term maintenance and protection plan.

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Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforestation-in-bosawas-nicaragua" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tree planting site in Nicaragua</a> is within the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve which forms part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. This is a corridor that stretches between South and North America, connecting habitats and areas of tropical forest together to allow the movement of animals between them.
This is especially important for <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15953/123791436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">jaguars</a>, which are endangered by habitat loss and fragmentation. Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas, and have large round heads, short legs and a beautiful coat that is dotted with dark spots. These are truly incredible, majestic animals, however they are under serious pressure as their forest homes are increasingly being destroyed. Deforestation rates in Latin America are the highest in the world together with tropical Africa. Fragmentation and displacement frequently lead to<a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/spcies/15953/123791436#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> lowering of density</a> of jaguars in forest patches. Their range has also contracted significantly: you used to find jaguars all the way from south-western USA down to central Argentina, but they now occupy less than half of their historical range.
Jaguars are a single species, with no subspecies, meaning that all populations are connected throughout their range. Therefore, connectivity is vital to these animals and ensuring links throughout the Americas is critical to maintaining populations. If the corridor is cut up by roads and development, then this leads to isolated populations with fewer animals. These have a lower genetic diversity and are more <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/08/protecting-jaguars-wildlife-corridor-belize/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vulnerable to extinction.</a> Many jaguar populations require connectivity between core sites to survive the long term and these connectivity corridors are critically important.
At Ecologi, not only are we <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforestation-in-bosawas-nicaragua" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planting trees in Nicaragua</a> to help maintain this corridor, but we also funded a project to <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/preserving-the-mesoamerican-biological-corridor-in-guatemala" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protect existing rainforest</a> in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor within Guatemala, thus helping to facilitate the movement of jaguars between different areas.

Scotland – wildlife is returning to our Dalry site

Deforestation is not just a just a tropical phenomenon, vast amounts of Scottish forests have also been cleared. Without human intervention it is likely that much of Scotland would be covered by trees, however ever since the first foresters entered Scotland’s ancient woodlands over 6000 years ago, its trees and forests have been felled and harvested to make space for agriculture, homes and infrastructure. By the early 20th century, forest cover in Scotland, as well as in the rest of the UK, was reduced to around <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5%</a>. This has since increased to around <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18.5%</a>; this percentage is higher than the rest of the UK, but still well below the EUs average of <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">43%</a>.
Scottish forests and woodlands support a diverse range of species and are rich in biodiversity, with over 1000 associated species. These include <a href="https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/strategy-plan/2019/02/scotlands-forestry-strategy-20192029/documents/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-forestry-strategy-2019-2029.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">172 protected species</a>, including the pine marten, twinflower, crested tit, scottish crossbill, black grouse and the capercaillie, as well as an estimated 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population.
Our reforestation project in Scotland is at a site in Dalry, once home to native Scottish wildlife; however, the land had since become barren. This <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/reforesting-dalry-scotland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project</a> is allowing the wildlife to come back to this area. Jim from the Future Forest Company, our tree planting partners, says ‘you now see hen harriers, an endangered species, regularly on site, when before the sighting of a bird of prey was rare’. This is yet another sign that the land is starting to recover.

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The WWF estimates that more than <a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/tree-clearing#gs.q5456g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of global deforestation</a> between 2015-30 will take place in 11 deforestation ‘fronts’. One of these is eastern Australia in the states of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW). In Australia, tree-clearing is largely undertaken to create pasture for livestock, particularly for beef cattle production.
The impact of deforestation on wildlife is significant with <a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/tree-clearing#gs.q5456g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">964 of the 1250</a> Australian terrestrial animals’ species listed as threatened having habitat fragmentation identified as a threat. These include <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22684733/93044196#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carnaby’s cockatoo</a>, the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22678108/131902050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">southern cassowary</a>, <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6426/21957127" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bennet’s tree kangaroo</a>, and the <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16752/21955261" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cape York rock wallaby</a>, as well as the iconic <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16892/166496779#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">koala</a>. It is also estimated that in NSW between<a href="https://www.wwf.org.au/ArticleDocuments/353/AnimalWelfareImpacts_Summary_March19.pdf.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 4.9-10 million</a> native wild animals are killed in the processes of tree-clearing each year.
Koalas are currently classified as<a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16892/166496779#threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> vulnerable</a> with the key threat being continued habitat destruction, fragmentation, and modification, as the forests they live in are being rapidly cleared. Small populations of koalas in isolated sections of habitat are at the greatest risk of extinction. 
Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/wildlife-corridors-koalas-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reforestation project in NSW </a>was established to try and protect the local koala population in the Northern rivers of NSW. The main goal is to establish a wildlife corridor by planting 50,000 trees to allow koalas to move between habitat fragments and their populations to bounce back.

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More than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">150 tree species</a> can be found in Appalachia, making it one of the most diverse ecological regions in North America. The Appalachians are home to more than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">200 globally rare plants and animals</a> and more than <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15,000 documented wildlife species</a>, including the caribou, moose, black bear, wild boar, fox, and numerous small mammals, thrive there.
Appalachia’s forests are of particular importance as a breeding ground for migratory birds that spend the breeding season within this region, before flying south to overwinter in Mexico and Central and South America. These species include the Baltimore oriole, broad-winged hawk, red-eyed vireo, ruby-throated hummingbird, scarlet tanager, Tennessee warbler, and the cerulean warbler. 
However, the resource wealth of the region has meant that much of the forest has been deforested and degraded by mining and timber operations, with an estimated <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/na0403" target="_blank" rel="noopener">83% </a>of the original habitat having been lost. Approximately <a href="https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/articles/sustainable-forestry-in-appalachia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80%</a> of the cerulean warbler population breeds within the Appalachian forests. This species is <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22721740/153691320" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatened </a>by the conversion of its forest habitat for agricultural or urban use and the fragmentation of habitat left behind. 
Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/rewilding-the-appalachia-usa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">planting project in Appalachia</a> plants native tree species to help the entire ecosystem recover. This will help preserve the unique biodiversity of the Appalachian region. Songbirds such as the cerulean warbler, salamanders, and copperhead snakes are just a few of the animals you can help.

We couldn’t talk about deforestation without mentioning the Amazon rainforest. This is the world&#8217;s largest rainforest and river system, which contains nearly a third of all the tropical rainforests left on Earth. Despite covering only <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we-work/amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1%</a> of the planet’s surface, the Amazon is home to <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/where-we-work/amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10%</a> of all known wildlife species, with many more being described each year.
However, as a result of the major pressures being exerted on the Amazon (large-scale agriculture and cattle ranching, small-scale agriculture, road and hydropower infrastructure, mining and logging), it is being deforested on a massive scale. <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation-and-forest-degradation">17%</a> has already been lost.
As well as releasing vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, this destruction and deforestation has numerous, complex impacts on the wildlife that lives within the forests. One example of an animal under threat from deforestation in the Amazon is the <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/black-spider-monkey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">black spider monkey.</a> This is one of seven species of spider monkey found in Latin America and is one of the largest primates in South America. They are an essential part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem, playing a key role in seed dispersal and thus allowing the forest environment to continue to grow and thrive. However, these monkeys are threatened by the destruction of forests. They prefer mature tropical forests and seldom venture into disturbed habitats. This means that these monkeys are especially vulnerable to the effects of forest fragmentation.
Black spider monkeys don’t do so well in newly reforested areas, and that’s why our projects  (see <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/preserving-untouched-brazilian-rainforest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/protecting-the-amazon-from-deforestation-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and<a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/peruvian-protection-of-the-amazon" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> here</a>) to protect existing rainforests in the Amazon are so important. Our projects to avoid deforestation in Brazil help to preserve the habitats of the black spider monkey and many other creatures.
In fact, one project is designed partly with an animal species in mind. Our <a href="https://ecologi.com/projects/protecting-the-amazon-from-deforestation-in-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoiding deforestation project in Almeirim, Brazil</a>, has objectives to protect the critically endangered Black bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas). This species has decreased by at least 80% in the last 30 years and this trend is predicted to continue. In a scenario without the project we are helping to fund, the population trend of this species within this area is decreasing and becoming more threatened, mainly due to the loss of habitat caused by deforestation. However, in the scenario with this project, it is predicted there will be <a href="https://registry.verra.org/mymodule/ProjectDoc/Project_ViewFile.asp?FileID=45326&amp;IDKEY=a0e98hfalksuf098fnsdalfkjfoijmn4309JLKJFjlaksjfla9062504554" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improvements</a> in the trend of the population of Chiropotes satanas.

A note on deforestation and climate change 

Deforestation is also impacting the ability of species to adapt to future climate change. For millennia, wildlife around the world has moved up and down mountains, and towards and away from the equator in order to cope with changes in the world’s temperature. However, the deforestation of tropical forests is creating a patchwork landscape where natural habitat is fragmented. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-019-0529-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recent research</a> has found that most tropical forest habitat is currently too disconnected to provide pathways to cooler climates, meaning that wildlife will struggle to escape the impacts of climate change.

Most of the world’s creatures rely on forests for their food, shelter, and nesting sites. Worldwide, animals are being threatened as their homes are torn down at alarming rates to make way for agriculture and infrastructure. It’s really important that we do our best to combat deforestation, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the animals. There are lots of organisations that are doing great work in this field. Head to <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WWF</a> to find out more or <a href="https://ecologi.com/plan">sign up to Ecologi</a> to support projects both to protect existing forests and to plant new ones!

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One small step for you, one giant impact for humankind

If you could only do one thing to minimise your ecological footprint, what would it be? There are so many options, and whilst it is good to have choice, we can find ourselves paralysed by the sheer amount of choice. We elect to use glass bottles instead of plastic, before hearing that this generates more emissions in transport; we buy products accredited as containing sustainable palm oil before discovering we have been<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/big-business-has-a-new-scam-the-purpose-paradigm/"> deceived</a>; we recycle, before finding out that much of this is ending up in<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/recycling-waste-uk-overseas-landfill-pollution-nao-environment-defra-a8458991.html"> landfill</a> on the other side of the world.
Whilst it is important to do our research and make the right decisions where we can, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a quick fix out there, where a one-off decision could outsource some of that eco-stress to the people with the time and expertise to see the bigger picture, ensuring maximum impact with minimum effort?
Well, it turns out there are, none more so than:

Since the Paris Climate accord in 2015, banks have invested <a href="https://www.ran.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Banking_on_Climate_Change__2020_vF.pdf">$2.7 trillion</a> in fossil fuel companies (to say nothing of tobacco, arms, gambling and other dubious investments). And unless you are explicitly invested in an environmental scheme, this likely includes<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/barclays-banks-climate-change-fossil-fuels/"> your money</a>. Conversely, it is estimated that it would cost about<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/how-much-will-it-cost-to-mitigate-climate-change"> $300 billion of investment</a> per year to prevent runaway climate change by the oft-cited cut off point of 2030 (so, about $1.5 trillion in total). Strange how we continue to damage our planet almost to the exact extent that we need to do just the opposite. But it at least makes the solution fairly obvious: reinvest the money currently supporting climate-damaging activities into those that support our planet’s health.
Despite being the driver behind so much destructive activity, finance often slips under the rug as a point of focus for those who care about the climate. Because we do not see what our finances are doing on a day to day basis, we do not associate them with the havoc they can cause. But just as factory farms were causing environmental (as well as animal) harm before the public had any idea, so too your finances. In fact, because of the relative wealth of the average western citizen, the choice you make regarding how your money is put to use is likely the most powerful one you can make in terms of your relative impact as an individual.
A common argument is that green investments are riskier, constituting a new and unpredictable market built around unproven, fledgling companies and technology. But this is not born out on the level of data or common sense. Traditionally, fossil fuels have been considered a safe investment because the industrial-era economy was based upon them. But this is beginning to change. As the connection between our economy and the broader ecology on which it is dependent becomes more and more stark, investors are waking up to the unsustainability and counterintuitiveness of deleterious investments and beginning to redivert finance in more positive ways. It is estimated for example that the $380 billion California state pension fund lost out on<a href="https://fossilfreeca.org/2019/11/11/study-ca-and-co-pension-funds-lost-billions-on-fossil-fuels/"> $12 billion dollars</a> because of its decision to uphold investments in fossil fuels over the last ten years. And there is growing evidence to suggest that ESG investments generally (those that look at environmental, social and governance  metrics of company performance, as opposed to merely financial) are<a href="http://www.apple.com/uk"> outperforming conventional investments</a>. 
Another common argument against shifting our finances is that it’s a lot of effort. But whilst the initial cognitive load of researching your options may seem large, the benefit is that, once we’ve made the switch, our finances do the work for us. For most of us, our interaction with our finances constitutes little more than an occasional balance check, so in terms of our day-to-day, investing our money for good requires very little from us. Moreover, with the migration to online (as opposed to high street) financial services, the process takes less time than ever before. No action for the climate comes without effort, but they don’t come much easier than this, especially considering how far that one action can go. 
Of course, the subject is vast and there is no substitute for doing your own research. Whilst this article makes no claim to offering any financial advice, here are a few places to get you started:

The last year has seen a range of banks announcing new climate change related products, from Natwest offering the UK’s first <a href="https://personal.natwest.com/personal/mortgages/mortgage-types-and-rates/green-mortgages.html">‘Green Mortgage’ </a>to the recently licensed <a href="https://www.forestcarbon.co.uk/our-partners/oxbury-bank">Oxbury Bank</a> offering the first ‘carbon offset savings account’. But the bank which has always had the climate and ethics at its heart is <a href="https://www.triodos.co.uk/">Triodos</a>, an ethical bank which uses the UN’s sustainable development goals as a yardstick for which companies it invests in. Rather than just avoiding harmful investments (eg tobacco, arms) they actively invest in communities, renewable energy schemes, sustainable food production and social enterprises generally. Their Energy Transition fund alone removed 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and powered 30,000 homes with renewable energy.
If none of those feel right, you can find other options <a href="https://www.curiouslyconscious.com/2020/02/best-ethical-banks-current-accounts-uk.html">here</a>

For many of us, our pensions are the largest investments we have. In the UK alone, pensions account for <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/">£3 trillion</a>. But most of us are enrolled by our employers into a default fund, tending to invest in FTSE 100 companies without considering their carbon footprint. According to Good with Money’s Good Guide to Pensions, “nine times out of ten, pension savings are going into tobacco firms, oil and gas majors, mining, big pharma and big banks: social, climate and environmental breakdown, in other words.” This makes it essential that we take control of our pensions and redivert our investments to combat climate change. The easiest option is <a href="https://www.pensionbee.com/fossil-fuel-free-pension">Pension Bee</a>, who have a range of environmentally friendly pension funds and provide an automated service which allows you to pool all of your previous pensions under one green plan. One option is their Future World Fund seeks to engage with fossil fuel companies and pressure them into divestment, whilst another is their Fossil Fuel Free fund automatically screens such companies from the outset. Aviva has also set a target of 2050 for its own auto-enrollment pensions to be carbon neutral. Whichever feels right to you, It really can take just a matter of minutes to make an impact that could last for generations. (To understand more about how our pensions are invested and what options you have, take a look at <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/">Make My Money Matter</a>)

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Whilst these low-effort, high impact solutions are addressed to individuals, they apply equally for businesses. Not only should any climate-conscious business seek to ensure their pension schemes are not harming the planet as indicated above. But simply by virtue of their size, finance isn’t the only easy win with significant consequences. Businesses account for <a href="https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/business-energy/a/renewable-business-energy/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=685a0262b7b872efb4b30d7fd88a14fa887b7e12-1609756959-0-AStc3cQp8rdo_zmmHfZoKzVefaR6yX8nrL0Br62FsqEHVJqTMc7zwvL69G7bkU4IGPu_fJ8FNhEdLs2dLHKC7DlZ_3SRQT0RuV3CsT5dkuAj0xn34tD15Mp3P6fZWI4gcwnqS1GZCxCzRtrJG5AnNngg3GXxS3rcHETyGXzHt5XA18DD9jAQ4Z1nZo0nT6d-XEiyz-gZLO4j8gEYPvw9F1-ergIV9z4QuXxhl4-UsNdq6sncz9d8sWjykuPe2-dJfVZT6m5EEs7a-UoS3jYjA0-vjIhJ2DrSvJL6Jp6VE97qOk2OvLzAwCV7JCuAoRWKRLmEPChKNqNQANsYVzeI6av4PrDqERRlGNjs6FuGFwS2zUfCmBVfD9dwLN0ypXHIhKNAw55mqNww881jfnbBamtI_vh9p5EhuAbjgVsGTHADFSwhv0mWBuUEd8VZZ725NQEE6UAl4ZCPuo3FXRgFmwU">56%</a> of the UK’s energy consumption, so switching to renewable energy companies such as <a href="https://bulb.co.uk/">Bulb</a> or <a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/">Ecotricity</a> can make a massive difference. Similarly, businesses produce a huge amount of waste, so you might consider using sustainable waste management services such as <a href="https://thefirstmile.co.uk/">First Mile</a>, who recycle all possible waste and convert the remainder to be used for tarmac.

Whether as individuals or businesses, every decision we make has an important part to play in the fight against climate change, from what we eat to how we shop and travel. But through our investments we can support all of these areas, from green infrastructure, to investment in the natural world and renewable energy. Through your finances you are not only the consumer but the investor, creating pressure from both sides. So take ten minutes out of your day today and see how your finances could start doing some of the heavy lifting for you.

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