Credit: ©WWF

Four years ago, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched their Forests Forward program, partnering with big businesses to reduce deforestation and improve woodland management.

A new report shows that their 26 global partners are positively impacting 15,000-sq-mi of forest—roughly equivalent to the size of Switzerland (4 million hectares or 10 million acres).

Forests Forward companies like Nike, Costco, HP, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble, are demonstrating how corporate leadership can be a positive force for nature.

Since more than half of the world’s forests are managed (wholly or partly) for production, the private sector has a critical role in turning the tide on forest loss.

Seven million of the total acres are either Forest Stewardship Council-certified or moving toward certification.

The report reveals that the 26 companies from nine different sectors are going beyond responsible sourcing to support forest conservation projects around the world—nearly 3 million acres of some of the most vital and vulnerable landscapes and tropical rainforests (1.3m hectares).

“Now more than ever, companies understand that better forests mean better business,” said Linda Walker, a senior director at WWF-US.

“From building responsible supply chains to supporting nature-based solutions like forest restoration, Forests Forward partners have demonstrated that leadership is essential to sustaining thriving forests.”

The regenerating Rothiemurchus Forest in Cairngorms – Credit: Cairngorms Connect

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Companies can participate in responsible sourcing, improving forest management, or financing critical work to benefit nature and people.

“Together, our innovative approaches and positive impacts are proving that conserving forests is not only beneficial for the planet but also a wise and sustainable business strategy,” said Dr. Kirsten Schuijt, director general of WWF International.

Among the 26 international corporations participating in Forests Forward, these are the US companies:

“Through our partnership with WWF, we are focused on large-scale innovative solutions to prioritize the needs of local communities and ecosystems,” said the HP Director of Climate & Responsible Sourcing, Alex Michalko.

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“For IKEA, it doesn’t end with our own supply chain,” said their Global Raw Material Manager. “We are proud to have supported WWF’s conservation efforts over 23 years in a total of 22 countries.”

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