Putting due diligence into the mix at Chatham House

Proforest’s session on due diligence regulations and sustainable trade as part of Chatham House’s 31st Global Forum on Forest Governance was well attended, with over 120 people watching presentations and discussion about what mix of policies and tools are likely to be most effective at tackling deforestation, including due diligence regulations and voluntary supply chain action. 

The panelists brought together viewpoints from government, smallholders, companies and those working on sustainable standards, and the audience polls and engaging Q&A session provided useful information on how regulations can be designed to avoid unintended negative livelihood consequences. 

The session, convened as part of the run-up to COP26, was chaired by Ruth Nussbaum (Group Director, Proforest) and brought together David D’Hollander (ISEAL), Roselyn Fosuah Adjei (Forestry Commission of Ghana) Rukaiyah Rafik (FORTASBI, Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Farmers Forum) and Steven Ripley (TESCO). 

The presentations and discussion covered the need for: 

• collaboration between governments, companies and local communities in order to act urgently on sectoral transformation
• due diligence regulations that encourage companies to support smallholders and rural communities
• a ‘smart mix’ of policy measures, as voluntary certification and due diligence will not be enough of their own.  

"There's been strong agreement between the panelists and from the [audience] polls... There is absolutely a need to be working beyond supply chains – and for local leadership and collaboration." Concluding comment by Ruth Nussbaum

You can find out more about the 31st Global Forum on Forest Governance 2021 here.

Proforest’s work in landscapes is funded by FCDO’s Forest Governance, Markets and Climate programme (FGMC), and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). You can read our response to the EU Due Diligence Regulation to Reduce Deforestation and Forest Degradation.