This report highlights the potential of sustainable agricultural intensification and value chain efficiency to reduce pressure on forests.

The authors suggest that clear policy and institutional frameworks are needed to enable synergetic opportunities. They recommend four pathways to delink agricultural production and deforestation:

1. Decouple agricultural growth from agricultural area expansion
2. Connect institutions and sectors for integrated rural development
3. Connect land users with information providers
4. Promote private sector engagement

The report includes case studies from Brazil, Cameroon, Indonesia and Laos. It concludes that the German development cooperation (GIZ) should put a stronger focus on sustainable agricultural intensification and rural development in a holistic landscape approach in order to tackle the parallel challenges of forest protection and agricultural sector development.