Green labelling, sustainability and the expansion of tropical agriculture: Critical issues for certification schemes

摘要: The expansion of agricultural plantations at the expense forest drives dramatic losses biodiversity and carbon. Consumers are now demanding sustainability in tropical agriculture producers responding with questionable certification standards. Many schemes—including those for oil palm, soy, sugar cane cacao—rely upon High Conservation Value (HCV) concept to prevent unacceptable conversion. This protects very rare species or habitats, exceptional concentrations wildlife, large landscape-level areas forest. Yet much persists below these thresholds yielding spectre unsustainable conversion certified plantation crops under a green label. To meet more rigorous standards sustainability, would have retain patches native forests matrix. We highlight six critical need consideration by conservation scientists, practitioners processes. In particular, application HCV sustainable development national-level, use Imperata grasslands abandoned agriculture, creation Biobanks, increased price premiums could redound long-term protection biodiversity.