FAQ.- What is the EU Observatory on deforestation and forest degradation?

The Observatory will utilize existing monitoring tools like Copernicus products to aid the Regulation’s implementation. It will provide scientific evidence, including land cover maps, on global deforestation and forest degradation. While these maps won’t ensure Regulation compliance, they’ll assist companies in assessing deforestation risk. Companies must still conduct due diligence.

Covering global forests, including European ones, the Observatory aligns with other EU policies like the Forest Monitoring Law and the Forest Information System for Europe (FISE).

Key features of the Observatory’s reference maps include:

– Non-mandatory: Operators/traders and Competent Authorities (CAs) aren’t compelled to use these maps.

– Non-exclusive: They can use other maps for risk assessment.

– Non-legally binding: Reference maps aren’t legally binding; geolocation in forest areas doesn’t imply non-compliance.

Geolocation outside forests doesn’t guarantee no checks, and compliant commodities aren’t assured due to accuracy limitations and potential illegality.