Forests around the globe

BMEL co-ordinates the federal government’s international forest policy and is committed both to combating ongoing deforestation and illegal logging, and to promoting sustainable forest management. Nine million hectares of natural forest are destroyed every year, particularly in tropical countries.

 As a consequence of poverty, non-sustainable land use, weak government structures and the economic attractiveness of other forms of land use (e.g. soy cultivation, palm oil extraction), large stretches of natural forests in developing countries are frequently converted to other uses.

Illegal logging, i.e. the felling of trees in violation of statutory provisions in the harvest country, leads not only to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity but also impedes climate protection and the fight against poverty.

Overview of topics

Climate change mitigation, forests and use of wood

Climate change mitigation is a global challenge and a political priority.

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Deforestation-free supply chains: agricultural production without forest destruction

One of the biggest drivers of forest destruction worldwide is the legal and illegal conversion of forests into farmland. This mainly affects forests in the tropics. To successfully protect forests internationally, agricultural commodities must be produced as sustainably as possible. This also means: without destroying forest areas.

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