As Greater Mekong Subregion countries commit to forest cover expansion efforts in their Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs), means by which stated goals may be achieved will need to be found. In relation, the United National Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United States Agency for International Development Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (USAID LEAF) Program have recently completed a suite of studies focusing on ‘Drivers of Forest Change in the Greater Mekong Subregion.’ 

Country reports for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam give emphasis to both positive drivers - promoting sustainable forest management (SFM), forest conservation, afforestation and reforestation – and negative drivers - that result in deforestation and forest degradation, and positive drivers.  While negative drivers still dominate across the GMS, positive drivers have begun to emerge and must be cultivated for targets to be achieved. In addition to the country reports, an overall regional report takes stock of the status and trends in forests and forestry across the GMS. This policy brief summarizes highlights from all six studies.

This policy brief can also be downloaded from the Leaf Asia website.