What's the most latest update on efforts to combat deforestation?

The picture is mixed: some governments are slowing forest clearing, but recent global data shows that fires and land conversion remain a serious threat.

One major recent report came from the World Resources Institute and Global Forest Watch in 2025. It found that tropical primary-forest loss reached about 6.7 million hectares in 2024—roughly 80% more than in 2023—with fires responsible for a large share of the increase. At the same time, Brazil reported that deforestation in the Amazon fell by about 30% in the year through July 2024, showing that stronger enforcement can make a difference.

On the policy side, the EU postponed the start of its Deforestation Regulation by a year. Under the revised timetable announced in 2024, it was set to apply to larger operators from December 30, 2025, and to micro and small operators from June 30, 2026. The regulation requires covered products—including cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood—to meet rules intended to prevent forest-linked goods from entering the EU market.

I can’t verify developments announced after 2025, so this may not include the very latest 2026 decisions or forest-loss figures. The clearest recent takeaway is that enforcement and supply-chain rules are advancing, but fire-driven loss is erasing progress in some regions.