Deforestation
Under the EUDR, deforestation is the conversion of forest to agricultural use, whether human-induced or not. Forest means land over 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 metres and canopy cover above 10%, excluding land predominantly under agricultural or urban use.
Also known as: forest conversion · land-use change · forest loss
Why does it matter?
The definition in Article 2(3) of the EUDR focuses on land use, not only on tree cover. Converting forest into cropland or pasture is deforestation, whether the cause was clearing, fire or natural events followed by farming. Any deforestation on a plot after the cut-off date disqualifies the commodities from that plot.
How is it detected in practice?
- A forest baseline establishes whether the land was forest at the end of 2020.
- Time series and satellite alerts indicate disturbances since then.
- Land-use evidence (crop maps, field photos, farmer declarations) shows whether the land became agricultural.
The EUDR definitions of forest, agricultural plantation and other wooded land matter. Agricultural plantations, including agroforestry systems where crops grow under tree cover, are excluded from “forest”. Converting forest into such a plantation is therefore deforestation, while managing an existing plantation is not.
Common pitfalls
- Treating any satellite alert as proof of deforestation, or any absence of alert as proof of compliance.
- Using maps with different forest definitions without reconciling them.
- Ignoring the plot’s full boundary: partial overlap with forest also counts.
Farmer1st combines several public and field sources into a plot-level deforestation assessment through its geo and polygons service.
Frequently asked questions
Is tree cover loss the same as deforestation?
No. Tree cover loss includes harvesting, fire or storm damage in forests that may regrow. EUDR deforestation requires a change of land use from forest to agriculture. Satellite loss data are an indicator that needs interpretation.
Does replanting cocoa in an old farm count as deforestation?
Renewing an existing agricultural plantation is not conversion of forest, because agricultural plantations are excluded from the EUDR definition of forest. The question is whether the land was forest at the cut-off date.
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