Women and equity in the EUDR

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), enacted in 2023, aims to address deforestation and forest degradation linked to high-risk commodities like palm oil, cocoa, and beef. While the regulation’s focus is on environmental sustainability, concerns have emerged about its potential social impacts, particularly for women in smallholder and forest-dependent communities. This paper examines the risks and opportunities the EUDR presents for women in agricultural and forest value chains, using an intersectional approach. It explores how the regulation could either jeopardize women’s tenure rights and livelihoods or provide opportunities to enhance their roles and recognition in sustainable production systems. The paper also highlights the contributions of the Team Europe Initiative and the SAFE project in supporting gender equity in EUDR implementation. By emphasizing legal, technical, and market-based opportunities, the study underscores the importance of gender-responsive due diligence frameworks, digital data literacy, and market access for women producers. It argues that with proper safeguards and targeted support, the EUDR can help create a more inclusive and equitable system, benefiting women as both forest stewards and smallholder producers, while advancing the EU’s broader sustainability goals.