By Mayara Subtil*
The construction of the Roadmap to Halt and Reverse Deforestation and Forest Degradation by 2030 reinforces an agenda considered decisive for the planet’s climate, economic and food future. For the executive director of IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute), André Guimarães, the international mobilization around this roadmap shows that forests have come to occupy a strategic position not only in the environmental agenda, but also in climate stability, rainfall maintenance, water security and global food production.
“There is no way to tackle the climate crisis or guarantee food for the world’s population without protecting forests,” said Guimarães, who is also the Civil Society Special Envoy for COP30.
The COP30 presidency presented the first stage of the Road Map for ending deforestation on Monday (11) in New York, United States, during the 21st session of UNFF21 (United Nations Forum on Forests). The meeting brought together representatives from regions such as the Amazon, the Congo Basin, Southeast Asia and the boreal forests of North America, broadening the exchange of experiences and examples of initiatives on the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of forests in different social, economic and environmental contexts.
The Belem COP presidency’s proposal brings together contributions from UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) signatory governments, observer institutions, multilateral organizations, experts and representatives from different sectors of the environmental agenda to identify solutions, challenges and opportunities capable of driving forest protection actions on a global scale.
The meeting to present the roadmap is also seen by IPAM as an important step towards expanding cooperation between forest countries and consolidating commitments capable of transforming political goals for combating deforestation into concrete actions for implementation by COP31, to be held in Turkey in November.
“That’s why it’s extremely timely to bring together forest countries, governments, civil society organizations and institutions working on this agenda to jointly think about a global path towards ending deforestation. Brazil has a central responsibility in this process. The meeting in New York demonstrates this commitment and reinforces Brazil’s leadership, but there is still a lot of work ahead to consolidate the document and build an effective commitment among nations,” added André Guimarães.
During the meeting at UNFF21, the participants highlighted the importance of expanding international cooperation and strengthening instruments to support forest protection. Among the main topics discussed were: strengthening political, legal and institutional structures, expanding actions for the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forests, as well as expanding financial mechanisms, including carbon markets and initiatives aimed at developing technical and institutional capacities.
“The world is restructuring its economy and, in every economic transition in history, forests have been sacrificed. Today, forests aren’t under just one pressure, but many, coming from different directions. This roadmap can bring together all these elements, including financial partnership, which is key to turning commitments into concrete results for forests, people and the planet,” said Martin Krause, director of the climate change division of the UNFCCC secretariat.
The discussions also involved measures to increase private investment in nature-based solutions, strengthening mechanisms for remuneration for environmental performance, valuing indigenous peoples and traditional communities and boosting sustainable economic activities linked to the forest, such as bioeconomy initiatives.
The initiative is part of the COP30 Action Agenda and aims to consolidate practical references capable of supporting countries in building or strengthening national strategies to combat deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. The document will not be of a negotiating nature, but will serve as a political contribution from the Brazilian presidency of the climate summit to international efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
“We are investing time, effort and dialog with different stakeholders. More than 130 countries have sent formal contributions, both individually and in groups, as well as around 150 international organizations, researchers, individuals and research agencies. This is not a time for negotiation, but we want to reflect the views of the international community as much as possible,” Marco Túlio Cabral, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Forestry Center for COP30, said at the meeting.
The expectation is that a consolidated version of the document will be presented in September 2026, during the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week in New York.
Designing the global roadmap
The roadmap seeks to identify the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, as well as pointing out political and financial solutions, as well as gaps that still require greater international cooperation.
Developed since February 2026, the COP30 initiative is based on the understanding that halting the loss of forests is essential for tackling the effects of climate change, since these territories play a fundamental role in storing carbon, conserving biodiversity, regulating rainfall and ensuring water and energy security. They also sustain traditional ways of life.
In a letter published in the scientific journal Nature, IPAM researchers even defend the expansion of protected areas in the Amazon Rainforest as a fundamental strategy for preserving the environmental services provided by the biome to Brazil and the world, as well as contributing directly to combating the effects of climate change.
Also for the institute, the preservation of forests is directly linked to the sustainability of agriculture. Forest ecosystems help with soil fertility and the climate stability needed to guarantee long-term agricultural productivity, reinforcing the need for more sustainable production models.
Another point highlighted in IPAM’s analysis is that investing in climate adaptation and protecting the Amazon tends to be more economical than dealing with the impacts of climate change later. The assessment is that preventive measures and actions to strengthen environmental resilience help to reduce the social, economic and environmental risks associated with extreme events.
The roadmap away from deforestation and forest degradation also contributes to the implementation of the main demands of theGlobal Stocktake of the Paris Agreement and reinforces a change of approach in international discussions on climate and development. In this context, forest protection is treated not only as an environmental agenda, but also as a strategic element for economic resilience, reducing inequalities and promoting well-being.
To build the roadmap, existing initiatives were analyzed and initial contributions on governance and financing were presented, in a dynamic aimed at consolidating priorities and ensuring that the roadmap moves forward in a practical, inclusive and implementation-oriented way before COP31, to be held in Turkey.
Throughout the upcoming consultations, the COP30 presidency intends to gather examples of public policies, financing instruments, governance models, technological solutions and initiatives led by indigenous peoples and traditional communities that have contributed to reducing pressure on forests in different parts of the world.
*IPAM communications analyst. mayara.barbosa@ipam.org.br
