Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) Phase 2

The Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) is a global umbrella partnership comprising of more than 400 consumer goods and retail companies to reduce deforestation in their supply chains for palm oil, beef, soy, paper and pulp. The project was integrated in the TFA in the partner countries. In Colombia, it strengthened the TFA Colombian Alliance and supports the communications to showcase positive stories on forests and national efforts of implementing sectoral agreements. In Peru, TFA supported the development of a national public-private partnership to end commodity-driven deforestation and engages key Peruvian stakeholders on deforestation at national and international events. In China, TFA engaged private sector, government and civil society actors to build a common agenda on addressing deforestation and biodiversity loss. TFA leveraged the World Economic Forum’s platforms and events as well as strategic communications to elevate the deforestation-free agenda in China and elsewhere.

Project data

Countries: China, Colombia, Peru
IKI funding: 2,907,938.84 €
Duration: 08/2019 till 09/2024
Status: completed
Implementing organisation: World Economic Forum
Political Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MINAGRI) - Peru*

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Colombia

Ministry of Ecology and Environment - China

Ministry of Environment (MINAM) - Peru

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State of implementation/results

Project completed.

Global
- In 2022, TFA facilitated 14 agri-commodity traders to develop an Agriculture Sector Roadmap to 1.5°C, which was launched at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
- TFA partnered with the UNFCCC COP26 Presidency to help develop the Dialogue on Forests, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT dialogue). The FACT dialogue allowed addressing deforestation free-action at a multi-lateral level despite challenges posed by the pandemic, and became the central component of the Glasgow leaders’ declaration on Forest and Land Use presented at COP26 (2022).
- Also at COP26, in a process facilitated by TFA, the US and UK governments convened 13 of the world’s largest agricultural trading and processing companies and helped catalyse a Joint Statement issued by the companies, committing them to delivering a shared Roadmap for accelerated action within their supply chains to halt commodity-linked deforestation in line with a 1.5°C pathway.
China
- With support from the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Centre of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment TFA China finalized the study of the National Strategy Framework on Green Value Chain, identifying 6 priorities with 20 action goals (December 2022).
- TFA China proposed enhancements to the rules of implementation for Chinas Forest Law, focusing on articles 64 and 65 to combat overseas deforestation (July 2022).
- Endorsed by the government, TFA China galvanised businesses to join the Taskforce on Green Value Chain for China, which was launched during the World Economic Forums Annual Meeting of the New Champions in June 2023, uniting nine major Chinese market players to address deforestation in global soybean, palm oil, and beef production as of now.
- COFCO International, a Chinese global agri-business, and Modern Farming Group of Mengniu, a leader in China's dairy industry, signed an MOU as the first business pilot of the Taskforce on Green Value Chain for China, committing to international responsible standards for soybean supply, valued at over $30 million. This landmark deal gained recognition in China, with COFCO International and Sheng Mu Organic Dairy Co., Ltd., signing an MOU for deforestation and conversion free soybean supply from Brazil as a follow-up.
Colombia
- Since 2017, TFA Colombia has catalyzed seven “Zero Deforestation Agreements (ZDAs)”. These are multi-stakeholder platforms aimed at reducing deforestation in the supply chains of Cocoa, Beef, Palm Oil, Dairy, Coffee, Timber, and more recently, Hass avocado. This approach responds to Colombia’s commitments and also addresses the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements, which has accelerated the need for progress in MRV solutions.
- Along with the agreements, TFA has been successful in mobilizing resources to support the ZDA agenda and in engaging stakeholders in implementing action plans, including robust MRV protocols and deforestation monitoring, which has led to a significant reduction in national deforestation (2020-2023).
- Companies in agreements conducted supply chain self-analyses to identify suppliers' involvement in deforestation and take action to reduce it (2020-2023).
Peru
- Launched in 2020, the Coalition for Sustainable Production supported by TFA, now comprises 60 members (December 2023). It has organized over 50 events to promote deforestation-free production, with over 1,000 attendees participating. Around $2 million has been mobilized by TFA and partners for the Coalition activities.
- Three multi-actor agreements, in cocoa, livestock and in the jurisdiction of Tocache (San Martin) were launched since 2021. These agreements articulate the actors, generating commitments to reduce deforestation:
- The Cocoa, Forests and Diversity Agreement (launched in April 2021) has been useful in prepare actors for the impact of the EUDR at the national level.
- The Livestock Alliance (AGRAP, launched in May 2023) has made it possible to promote, through a community of practice, an approach that goes beyond non-deforestation, through a nature-based solution through the regeneration of degraded soils and the promotion of silvopastoral systems.
- The Tocache Jurisdictional Initiative (launched in June 2022) is the first initiative in Peru designed to implement a landscape with low risk of deforestation.