Blog: UK takes action on deforestation, what does it mean?

Cat Barton – Deforestation-risk Consultant, Twycross Zoo and Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Lead, BIAZA/EISWG sustainable agriculture member explains the measures taken by the UK Government and what it means for zoos and aquariums.

This week, the UK Government confirmed it will move ahead with long-awaited regulations to tackle illegal deforestation in supply chains, covering key commodities including coffee, cocoa, cattle, palm oil, wood, rubber and soy.

That’s a lot of contents of our shopping baskets, and a lot of our sales at zoos and aquariums!

If this feels a little like déjà vu to you (as I have been banging on about this for a while to anyone who’ll listen!) then rightly so; the original consultations took place back in 2021 and despite being passed through the Environment Act as primary legislation, we’ve been waiting….and waiting.

During that time, 54,000 thousand hectares of tropical forest have continued to be lost, threatening biodiversity, climate stability and global food security.

The announcement sends a clear message: the UK is taking action to protect forests, people and the future of these essential commodities.  Timing this announcement with London Climate Week but, ironically also during the severe heatwave seen in the UK, only goes to emphasise the climate need for halting deforestation fast.

On a personal note, this is something I’ve been advocating for in my various roles over the past (almost) a decade and, honestly, I couldn’t be more delighted that the UK has stepped up.  As with anything in conservation, it takes time, patience, compromise, expertise and bucket loads of our own resilience to continue to ensure these steps forward in conservation and sustainability.  The job is far from done. 

What do the UK regulations mean?

The new regulations will require businesses trading in key deforestation-risk commodities to carry out due diligence and ensure their supply chains are free from products linked to illegal deforestation. The rules are expected to come into force in 2027.

Current proposals suggest that companies with an annual turnover of more than £1 million will need to comply and carry out due diligence on their supply chains, although details on whether there a 'volume of commodity' threshold will be re-introduced, or which businesses will be covered (for example, every user in UK supply chains or just the first placer on the market)  - these areas are still being developed.

Are the regulations strong enough?

The latest proposals include stronger traceability requirements than initially thought back in 2021 which is a step forward, including geolocation data. However, the legislation currently focuses on illegal deforestation rather than all deforestation.

The Government has signalled an ambition to move towards a fully deforestation-free approach, which would be a significant improvement. This will be a key area for future consultation and advocacy and we’d like this to happen imminently.

What is the EU Forest Regulation (EUDR) and how will these align?

Colleagues in Ireland may be aware, the  EUDR comes into force for the EU from the end of 2026 (for large and medium size operators and traders), and covers the same commodities but goes further by addressing both legal and illegal deforestation.

The UK Government has stated its intention to broadly align information requirements with the EUDR, helping to create a clear market signal that deforestation is unacceptable. 

What is BIAZA’s role in this?

BIAZA is a member of the UK Sustainable Commodities Initiative (SCI) representing the zoo sector as a membership body, bringing together industry, NGOs and government to improve the sustainability and traceability of commodity supply chains.

Representing the BIAZA EISWG on this stage has also resulted in practical guidance for zoos on a number of commodities.  Due to my cross-cutting roles at both EAZA and WAZA levels, developing guidance to ensure the zoo and aquarium community globally are going out with one voice on these issues is critical to ensure we advocate for solutions that deliver meaningful conservation impact globally – not just in our UK footprint.

How can BIAZA members help?

Further consultation on the regulations is expected in the coming months. BIAZA will continue to represent members throughout the process, but individual consultation responses will also be hugely important and valuable.

This is where the strength of our membership fighting for global wildlife conservation will come in! With 130 member organisations, the sector has a strong opportunity to help shape robust and credible legislation that benefits wildlife, forests and local communities.  Bringing our on-the-ground research, conservation work, industry and business experience together to take the next steps forward in halting deforestation.

We will keep on top of the next steps on the consultation and provide guidance and information as it emerges.  In the meantime, if any BIAZA member organisation works directly in the field on any of these commodities, particularly where smallholders are involved, please do get in touch with myself ([email protected]) to ensure we bring the best available knowledge into future consultations.

- Cat Barton 

All blogs reflect the views of their author and are not necessarily a reflection of BIAZA's positions