Rubber needs to be included in deforestation-free commodity legislation

Abstract

Natural rubber production uses increasing amounts of land in the tropics and is linked to deforestation. There is debate as to whether current legislative proposals to reduce the import of deforestation-linked commodities into the EU, US and the UK will include rubber. Globally, sustained growth in demand is chiefly driven by tyre production, linked to rising freight and passenger transport flows. Yields of natural rubber remain static, meaning increased plantation area will be required: 2.7 - 5.3 million ha of additional harvested area could be needed by 2030 to meet demand. In order to prevent further deforestation and associated biodiversity loss, millions of smallholder growers producing the majority of rubber globally need support to increase production from existing plantations and close yield gaps, without undermining long-term sustainability through soil or water degradation. Rubber should also be included in legislative proposals to reduce deforestation in supply chains to avoid undermining the impact of these ambitious initiatives on forest loss globally.