Risk Mitigation Measures for Forests and People under the EUDR

This practical guide on risk mitigation measures aims to support companies in meeting the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) due diligence obligations in this area. 

AidEnvironment, in partnership with Sangga Bumi Lestari, developed this guide focused on the mitigation of deforestation and legality risks through long-term, holistic strategies that not only contribute to compliance, but also support forest preservation, alongside the rights and livelihoods of smallholders and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC).  

The EUDR takes a flexible, non-prescriptive approach to risk mitigation, requiring only that companies ensure effective reduction of the risk of deforestation and/or illegality to a negligible level, without specifying how risk mitigation measures should be designed or implemented. This means that more proactive approaches can be taken by assessing risks more granularly and actively engaging with current or potential suppliers in high-risk regions through meaningful risk mitigation measures that also contribute to wider sustainability goals.  

This report builds on the wealth of experiences, projects, and initiatives developed over the last 15 to 20 years under voluntary zero-deforestation and zero-conversion commitments, setting out practical options for companies to apply and adapt to their supply chains and risk profile.  

This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

It was commissioned by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the context of the project EUDR Engagement.