Smallholders are not the weak link in forest protection (commentary)
Smallholders are often viewed as risks in deforestation-free supply chains, despite having strong incentives to protect forests. Aida Greenbury argues that effective forest protection requires long-term commitments to support smallholders, including land rights and better market access. The article highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of smallholders' roles in forest conservation efforts.
- ▪Smallholders are frequently treated as obstacles in deforestation-free supply chains.
- ▪Many smallholders have the strongest reasons to keep forests standing.
- ▪Effective forest protection requires long-term support for smallholders, including land rights and incentives.
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Smallholders are often treated as risks in deforestation-free supply chains, writes Aida Greenbury, yet many are also among the people with the strongest reason to keep forests standing.Greenbury argues that standards, traceability rules and buyer requirements can push costs onto farmers who lack the maps, documents, legal recognition and market access needed to comply.She says forest protection will work only if companies, donors, governments and NGOs make long-term commitments to smallholders, including support for land rights, incentives, better yields and trusted local institutions.This article is a commentary.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Mongabay — News.
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