The Forest ACT bill would make global suppliers responsible for the illegal deforestation that their products cause.
This is a long overdue issue. Currently, large companies will structure things in such a way, that small farmers and other land users are encouraged to deforest their land, knowing that the big company wishes this, and will buy all their resources.
It cannot work this way. If these companies are made legally responsible for any deforestation that occurs to provide their products, they will manage to put an end to illegal deforestation over night.
As well as enacting this process nationally, the bill would require USA trade partners to buy in on these new rules.
Will it work? Who knows, but it is likely to have a huge impact on deforestation, as if this rule is implemented, it will never pay to deforest.
It cannot be the be all or end all, but is a fantastic first step.
