Jason Houston / WWF-US
03 december 2020

Deforestation risks in Latin America: recommendations for investors

On December 1, 2020, the Brazilian space agency INPE announced that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon had risen to a record level, the highest in 12 years. As beef production in Latin America is also linked to deforestation, the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO), IUCN NL and WWF NL have provided recommendations for Dutch investors. Our aim is to prevent them from contributing to deforestation linked cattle production through their investments.

Since 2016, the VBDO, IUCN NL and WWF NL have been working together to inform investors about biodiversity risks related to beef production in Latin America. An internal research conducted in 2020 among Dutch financial institutions showed that investment policies of large Dutch financial institutions is not yet sufficiently focused on meat production and the risk of deforestation and land conversion.

 

Impacts, risks and solutions

The paper examines the impacts and risks of beef production in Latin America and describes how Dutch financial institutions deal with these risks such as deforestation. It offers solutions proposed by NGOs and companies for managing the risks and achieving deforestation-free supply chains. The report also shows how a number of investors are already looking for solutions themselves and how they put this into practice.

In addition to our recommendations, the publication provides an overview of questions that investors can use in discussions and engagement with companies in the beef production supply chain.

The recommendations originate from discussions with Latin American civil society organisations, investors and companies during a three-part webinar series, and the interviews and internal research that preceded it.

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