Zero-deforestation commitments: A new avenue towards enhanced forest governance?

Book excerpt: The zero-deforestation movement has gained considerable momentum as governments and companies enter into commitments to curb deforestation. The most innovative are multi-stakeholder initiatives, where governments and international organi- zations have joined with the private sector and civil society organizations in making commit- ments to reduce deforestation. These pledges have created opportunities for improved forest governance by envisaging the private sector at the centre of the movement. They have also encouraged a broader understanding of the drivers and and consequences of deforestation, and how these can be more realistically addressed.