By Dare Akogun
A coalition of leading environmental organisations under the banner of Nature4Climate has submitted a set of joint recommendations to Brazil’s COP Presidency, urging swift action to transform global commitments on deforestation into practical results ahead of COP31.
The recommendations, submitted on Wednesday to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change consultation process, are aimed at shaping a “Roadmap for Halting Deforestation and Forest Degradation,” with a deadline set for April 10.
The group stressed that the proposed roadmap must move beyond policy discussions and become a concrete implementation tool capable of driving real change, particularly as countries race to meet the 2030 global target of halting and reversing deforestation.
In its submission, Nature4Climate called for a shift in focus from prolonged analysis to large-scale action, noting that existing frameworks and initiatives must be better aligned to deliver measurable impact.
The coalition specifically urged global leaders to integrate forest protection efforts with financial systems, food production models, and broader economic incentives, while ensuring that Indigenous peoples and local communities are placed at the centre of implementation.
Speaking on the development, Nature4Climate Advocacy Lead, James Lloyd, said the roadmap must serve as a coordinating instrument that amplifies ongoing efforts rather than duplicates them.
“This roadmap must move beyond analysis and guidance to become a practical instrument that coordinates, directs, and amplifies existing efforts,” he said, adding that global action must decisively shift towards implementation at scale before 2030.
The push comes amid growing concerns that global commitments to forest conservation risk falling short without stronger coordination and political will.
The roadmap was a key subject at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where it attracted significant political attention but failed to secure formal adoption, placing increased pressure on ongoing consultations to deliver a consensus framework ahead of COP31.
Panama’s Lead Climate Negotiator, Ana Aguilar, described the roadmap as a “global compass” capable of addressing multiple interconnected crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
“With 60 per cent of Panama still covered by forests, we see the roadmap as a tool to align current initiatives, connect forests with finance and food systems, and ensure equitable delivery for people on the ground,” she said.
Similarly, the Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Forest Stewardship Council, Anand Punja, highlighted the importance of early engagement in shaping the roadmap, describing forests as one of the most cost-effective natural solutions to climate change.
He said preserving forests remains critical to mitigating global warming, noting that the roadmap could serve as an additional lever to accelerate progress towards ending deforestation.
Also lending support, the Managing Director for Global Policy at the National Audubon Society, Chris Dragisic, said Brazil’s leadership presents a unique opportunity to unify global action.
According to him, conserving and restoring forests is essential not only for climate resilience but also for protecting biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems critical to human survival.
Analysts say the renewed push for a practical deforestation roadmap comes at a time when developing countries, particularly in Africa, are grappling with the dual challenge of protecting forests while meeting economic and food security needs.
For Nigeria and other forest-rich nations, the outcome of the roadmap could influence access to climate finance, support for sustainable land use, and policies aimed at balancing conservation with development.
With the consultation process still ongoing, stakeholders are hopeful that the final roadmap will translate political commitments into tangible actions capable of safeguarding forests and supporting livelihoods across the Global South.
