The Forest COP: What COP30 Means for Global Forests

It was late October.
🍂 The early evening air turned fresh, and the colours warmed. This was our most recent forest walk.
Forests are never far away, even if you live in a town or city.
Forests have been and remain absolutely key to our planet’s functioning.
In the last 100 years, we have lost at least 20% of all forests, possibly more.

• 🌳 What kind of forests are there?
  Tropical forests near the equator, including rainforests, subtropical forests, and mangroves. They hold most of the world’s species.
• Temperate forests with clear seasonal changes, mostly in Europe and North America.
• Boreal forests in the far north, where cold weather dominates and vast areas are covered.

🙌 What do forests do?

• Support countless ecosystems.
• Recycle our air and regulate rainfall.
• Moderate climate and reduce flood risks.
• Protect coastlines —especially mangroves.
• Purify water.
• Store carbon, especially when trees grow old.
• Provide timber, shelter, food, fuel, medicine, and jobs.

No wonder COP30 in Brazil was called The Forest COP.

🔎 What came out of The Forest COP?

• COP30 addressed biodiversity loss, climate change, and the need for stronger forest protection.
• Brazil launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). Returns will go to groups protecting tropical forests.
• Commitment was low, but more investment may come in 2026.
• Indigenous Peoples received a land rights package to manage nearly 400 million acres by 2030.
  This aims to make the Amazon an exclusion zone for natural regeneration.
• The phase-out of fossil fuels failed, influenced by fossil fuel lobbyists.
• There is hope for progress at the First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, hosted by Colombia and The Netherlands in April 2026.

🔥 And as final negotiations were underway at COP30, a fire erupted in one of the zones.
Big panic, but thankfully nobody was hurt.

❓ Did you know?
Restoring the Amazon is actually a billion-dollar opportunity.

🙌 What can we do to help forests?

• Donate to forest regeneration projects.
• Check the origin of any wood you buy.
• Support products that protect forests.
• Read about forests and their role.
• Look into tree-planting schemes. Choose ones planting native species.
• Support online forest petitions and actions.
• Reduce car use as much as possible.
• Go for forest walks, simple, free, and magical. ✨

While you are here, have a look at my services to see how I can help you on your eco journey! 

Sources: WWF, INRAE, Woodland Trust, Stand Earth, Rainforest Foundation Us, Earth.org, Bloomberg Green, Fossil Fuel Treaty