What are measures?

Measures are concrete, actionable steps that governments, the private sector, civil society and development partners can take to implement the Solutions-tree in practice.

They sit at the most operational level of the Solutions-tree framework. While systemic shifts describe the direction of change and solutions define priority areas for intervention, measures translate these into implementable actions. Measures can inform policy reforms, programme design, investment decisions and on-the-ground activities.

Measures are not prescriptive and are not intended to be applied in isolation. Their relevance depends on national and local contexts, underlying drivers of deforestation, and existing institutional, social and economic conditions. Most impact is achieved when measures are combined across solutions and systemic shifts.

Below, measures are grouped by the six systemic shifts of the Solutions-tree and organised under their respective solutions.

Systemic shift 1: Strengthening land governance

This systemic shift focuses on improving the coherence, effectiveness and inclusiveness of land governance frameworks. Measures under this shift address policy alignment, land-use planning, compliance with national and international legal instruments, and tenure security, with the aim of creating enabling conditions to reduce deforestation and forest degradation while supporting sustainable land use.

Systemic shift 2: Scaling sustainable agricultural production models

This systemic shift promotes agricultural production models that increase productivity while reducing pressure on forests. Measures support the adoption of sustainable and climate-smart practices, restoration of degraded agricultural lands, improved biomass use, and knowledge exchange to strengthen agricultural systems that are resilient, efficient and aligned with environmental objectives.

Systemic shift 3: Increasing the consumption and trade of responsibly produced agricultural commodities

This systemic shift addresses demand-side drivers of deforestation by promoting responsible business conduct, sustainable trade, and informed consumption. Measures focus on transparency, traceability, policy coherence, reduced food loss and waste, and dietary shifts that support sustainable production and reduce deforestation risks along value chains.

Systemic shift 4: Creating incentives to maintain forest integrity

This systemic shift aims to rebalance economic incentives by increasing the value of standing forests and sustainable forest management. Measures include financial, fiscal and market-based instruments, payments for ecosystem services, and support to sustainable forest-based value chains to make forest conservation and sustainable use economically viable.

 Systemic shift 5: Enhancing availability and use of data for better-informed decision-making

This systemic shift strengthens the role of data in halting deforestation by improving data availability, accessibility, quality and use. Measures support capacity development, transparency, relevance and long-term sustainability of forest and land-use data systems to inform policies, investments and accountability mechanisms.

Systemic shift 6: Improving rural livelihoods and promoting equity and inclusion

This systemic shift recognizes that halting deforestation requires addressing social and economic vulnerabilities. Measures focus on education and skills development, income diversification, social protection, and the empowerment of women, Indigenous Peoples and other vulnerable groups to support inclusive and sustainable rural development.