The narrative of global forest loss is changing. The latest data from 2025 shows some historic wins in some of the world’s most vital carbon sinks. However, threats remain which are undermining this hard-won progress. 

Three key themes emerge from the recent coverage on this topic: the power of political will, the vulnerability of non-forest ecosystems, and the urgent need for transparent, data-driven supply chains which encourage action beyond the EUDR regulatory scope.

Progress for tropical forests

The good news reported by the World Resources Institute (WRI)’s Global Forest Watch platform is that tropical primary rainforest loss fell by 36% in 2025 compared to 2024.

Much of this success is anchored in Brazil. Under the administration of President Lula, the country has revitalised its anti-deforestation programmes, leading to a staggering 41% drop in non-fire primary forest loss - the lowest level since records began in Brazil in 2002. Colombia and Indonesia have mirrored this trend, proving that when policy is backed by rigorous enforcement, the tide can turn. Excluding loss from fires, 2025 experienced the lowest rate of deforestation in ten years. 

However, the "36%" figure masks a darker reality. While clearing for agriculture slowed, wildfires are now one of the greatest threats, accounting for a significant portion of tree cover loss in 2025. Canada experienced its second-worst fire season on record last year, and boreal forest loss reached levels five times higher than the previous twenty-year average. As we approach the halfway point of 2026, concerns are increasing that a new phase of El Niño could lead to a high wildfire season in Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent. 

The hidden crisis in non-forest ecosystems

As regulations tighten around forests, agricultural expansion is leaking into non-forest ecosystems. A study recently published in Nature Communications highlights a worrying trend: the conversion of natural non-forest ecosystems, such as grasslands and wetlands, is occurring at nearly four times higher than the rate of forest conversion. There are some ecosystem hotspots which are overlooked, particularly in Brazil, but also in Russia, India, China, and the US. The conversion is primarily driven by livestock, with 50% of losses due to pasture expansion, and 17% due to cropland used to grow animal feed.

The Cerrado, Brazil’s vast tropical savannah, is the primary victim of this shift. Often overshadowed by the Amazon, it is a biodiversity hotspot that feeds eight of Brazil’s twelve largest river basins. Recent reports, including an ITV News feature underpinned by Earth Blox’s geospatial insights, have brought this vanishing savannah to the global stage. Without monitoring all ecosystems, we risk simply moving the problem from one biome to another.

The EUDR floor and the DCF ceiling

On the regulatory front, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) remains the most ambitious attempt to clean up global supply chains. However, its implementation has been a source of significant debate. The European Commission’s decision to exclude leather products from the current scope has been met with fierce criticism. Environmental groups argue this creates a loophole because leather is a major economic driver for cattle ranching in deforested areas of South America. Other concerns include the lack of protection and support for smallholder farmers, as well as the fact that non-forest ecosystems are currently out of scope.  

However, it would be a mistake to overlook the positive disruption the EUDR is already causing. Despite the exclusions, the regulation is forcing a fundamental shift in how global supply chains operate. EUDR is making global businesses realise that transparent, traceable data is critical for their universal licence to operate.

While the EUDR sets a regulatory floor, many organisations in the private sector are moving toward a higher ceiling: Deforestation and Conversion Free (DCF) targets. According to the Consumer Goods Forum 2025 Report, 75% of members now publicly disclose progress against DCF KPIs. This high-ambition shift acknowledges that protecting only forests is no longer enough; we must protect all natural ecosystems, including the savannas, grasslands and peatlands. Many of these same companies also bring other non-EUDR commodities into scope, intensifying pressure on suppliers to eliminate deforestation entirely from their supply chains.

Navigating the data: The Earth Blox solution

In this era of shifting baselines, complex regulations, and ambitious commitments, “not knowing" is no longer an option for businesses. The challenge isn't a lack of data, but the ability to analyse and act upon it.

Earth Blox bridges this gap with tools to monitor forest and ecosystem integrity in real-time. Whether it is monitoring project integrity for Nature-Based Solutions or complying with EUDR,  geospatial intelligence underpins accountability.

Earth Blox combines scientifically grounded datasets with scalable analytics to help businesses assess nature-related risks and opportunities at scale, strengthen resilience, and continuously monitor impacts over time. 

The road ahead

The progress of 2025 proves that we are starting to protect our forests. But as agricultural expansion moves into the Cerrado and climate-driven fires threaten to undo our gains, we cannot afford to be complacent.

The future of conservation lies in transparency. By combining strong policy with the precision of satellite monitoring, we can ensure that this drop in loss isn't just a temporary dip, but a permanent shift towards a nature-positive world.