How the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Cut Illegal Logging in Tierra Verde

In the past twelve months the Federal Statistical Office recorded 38 % fewer illegal logging incidents in Tierra Verde’s northern watershed, the sharpest decline since the program’s inception. The drop follows the launch of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a federal effort aimed at protecting the republic’s forest cover while supporting rural livelihoods.

The initiative, unveiled by Treasury Minister Marcus Eklund in September, combines high‑resolution satellite surveillance with on‑the‑ground community patrols financed through a new environmental grant. It also offers smallholder farmers payments for maintaining forested land on their properties.

Implementation rests on three pillars: technology, local monitoring, and economic incentives. The Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs coordinates the program, while regional cooperatives help register eligible parcels and distribute payments.

The explainer below outlines the program’s structure, examines its early results, and considers the political debate it has sparked ahead of the 2027 federal election.