With the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) deadline moving closer, forestry operators, exporters, and entire supply chains are feeling the pressure to adapt. This month, governments, research institutions, and the private sector are ramping up efforts to build more resilient, transparent, and climate-smart forest operations. Here are five of the most important stories you need to know right now.
In Latin America, Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) has launched a major project to map and geolocate production areas across 13 regions. This is big news for exporters of coffee, cocoa, palm oil, and timber products bound for the EU market.
The EUDR’s geolocation requirement means companies must be able to prove exactly where their products originated — down to the plot of land. For many small producers, this is uncharted territory. Peru’s move to provide a centralized system will help thousands of producers document the required data, easing the compliance burden and maintaining access to valuable EU markets.
Across Africa, countries like Uganda are taking proactive steps to get ready for EUDR. A recent piece from Farmonaut details how remote sensing and satellite monitoring are being used to detect deforestation in near real-time.
This approach is vital for countries where field inspections alone aren’t feasible due to vast landscapes and limited budgets. By combining satellite data with local reporting, Uganda is building a system that can flag risks early and provide credible traceability data to European buyers.
While EUDR is an EU regulation, its ripple effects are being felt worldwide — including in North America. In Texas, the Texas A&M Forest Service has announced $4 million in grants for community forestry projects focused on sustainable management, climate adaptation, and fire resilience.
Though not tied directly to EUDR, investments like these build the foundation for healthier forests, better data, and more climate-smart practices that align with global sustainability goals. Stronger forests at home help keep supply chains resilient and communities prepared for changing conditions.
Retailers in Northern Ireland are warning suppliers that time is running out. A new article in The Grocer highlights how major grocery chains are urging suppliers of commodities like beef, cocoa, and timber to accelerate deforestation-free sourcing plans ahead of the EUDR’s full implementation.
The message is clear: if you can’t prove traceability, you could lose shelf space. Retailers know that consumers want sustainable products and that the EUDR will hold them accountable for what’s in their supply chain.
Finally, a detailed legal analysis on Lexology is worth a read for any company still figuring out what the EUDR will mean for their paperwork and workflows. This update breaks down the new due diligence obligations, explaining how to gather and maintain geolocation data, verify legality, and submit due diligence statements to the EU.
One critical point: while certification schemes like SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) or FSC are helpful, they are not “green lanes” for automatic compliance — companies will still need to prove every step of the process, with verifiable, auditable data.
As EUDR edges closer, the forestry sector is stepping up. Whether you’re a landowner, a supplier, or a retailer, building better traceability systems now will help you stay compliant and competitive.
Need to digitize your field data? Eskuad is ready to help forestry teams capture geolocated data, generate audit-ready reports, and keep operations moving—even in areas with unreliable internet.