World Rainforest Day 2026: Conservation and sustainable use as a shared responsibility
On today’s World Rainforest Day, HSWT professor Dietrich Darr explains how international research, local value creation and non-timber forest products contribute to the protection of rainforests.
Dietrich Darr is a professor of sustainable and resilient farming and food systems at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition. Together with international colleagues, he has authored a policy brief for the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO). Its aim: to promote approaches towards a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy. The brief was presented on 12 May 2026 at the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21).
Professor Darr, how important is international scientific cooperation for a forest-based bioeconomy?
Dietrich Darr: International cooperation is absolutely crucial because the major drivers of the forest and bioeconomy crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity and social inequalities – have cross-border implications. Our policy brief shows how knowledge from forestry science, ecology, economics and politics can be pooled on a global scale. Collaboration with local stakeholders is particularly important to ensure that solutions work on the ground. Without international cooperation, many initiatives would remain fragmented and less effective.
What is the significance of non-timber forest products, and why are they still underestimated?
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as food, medicinal plants and natural fibres make a significant contribution to food security, income and cultural identity. At the same time, they can replace fossil-based raw materials; they are often biodegradable and pose fewer problems. Their use is frequently compatible with biodiversity conservation. Politically, however, they remain undervalued because forest policy has traditionally focused on timber and land conservation, and NWFP are less visible in fragmented value chains.
What does your research in Brazil reveal about the interplay between use and conservation?
Products such as açaí, Brazil nuts and pequi originate from near-natural forest systems, the conservation of which is a prerequisite for their use. The Brazil nut is a particularly telling example: it grows only in intact ecosystems and generates income through local processing. Certifications open up access to niche markets and strengthen the incentive to conserve forests.
What should be the focus on World Rainforest Day?
Clear land rights, a better legal framework, the involvement of local communities and greater demand for deforestation-free products are crucial. Financing models such as carbon markets or payments for ecosystem services can strengthen forest conservation. Conservation and sustainable use must not be seen as mutually exclusive, but rather as a shared responsibility.
