Market-based schemes not reducing deforestation, poverty: report

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🗞️ Driving the news: A comprehensive global study by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations reveals that market-based approaches to forest conservation, such as carbon offsets and deforestation-free certification schemes, have largely failed to halt deforestation or alleviate poverty, and in some cases, exacerbated economic inequality

🔭 The context: The study analyzed various market-based conservation strategies implemented over decades, finding these efforts insufficient in achieving their environmental and economic goals
• The failure highlights the complexity of balancing trade, finance-driven initiatives, and sustainable forest governance

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The ineffectiveness of these schemes not only continues to threaten global forest reserves but also raises concerns about their impact on climate change and local communities that directly depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods

⏭️ What's next: The report calls for a "radical rethink" of the popular market-based approaches
• With carbon markets expected to grow significantly, the study emphasizes the need for policies that truly benefit the environment and local populations rather than prioritizing short-term profits

💬 One quote: "Rather our cases show that poverty and forest loss both are persistent across different regions of the world, where market mechanisms have been the main policy option for decades," said Maria Brockhaus, University of Helsinki

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