About us
The Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) is on a mission to catalyze the power of collective action to drive the world’s transition to deforestation- and conversion-free agricultural commodities. TFA uses public and philanthropic resources to transform the production and trade of agricultural commodities. It focuses primarily on the four globally-traded commodities – cattle, palm oil, pulp and paper, and soy – that have the greatest impact on conversion of critical ecosystems and associated greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and social disruption.
An initiative of The Center For Nature And Climate
The Centre for Nature and Climate is a multi-stakeholder platform f the World Economic Forum that focuses on protecting our environment and fostering sustainable practices.
Housed within the World Economic Forum, TFA uses public and philanthropic resources to transform the production and trade of agricultural commodities – with a focus on cattle, palm oil and soy.
How TFA works for systemic change
Leverage points
Tools
Our history
2010
TFA was established in 2010 to support the private sector – particularly Consumer Goods Forum companies – in meeting their deforestation-free supply chain commitments. It was designed as a public-private partnership to bring governments, companies and civil society organizations together to accelerate progress in decoupling agricultural production from deforestation and ecosystem conversion.
2012
Since 2012, TFA has been housed within the World Economic Forum, as part of the institution’s commitment to public-private partnerships. TFA is part of the Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate which has a vision to achieve industry decarbonization in line with the 1.5°C Paris pathway; systems transition in ocean and land use; and resource stewardship in food, water and materials.
2024
In 2024, TFA began its current phase of activities, putting its primary focus on major global companies, who deal with our priority commodities of cattle, palm oil, and soy, and who hold significant influence within global value chains.
Today
Today, TFA comprises around 190 participants and collaborators, including private companies, governments and civil society organizations working together to accelerate progress in decoupling agricultural production from deforestation and ecosystem conversion.
TFA's approach
Globally, land-use change contributes to more than a fifth of CO2 emissions, with deforestation and ecosystem conversion - generally driven by agricultural commodity production - being the single largest source.
If we are to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, it’s imperative we develop a sustainable agricultural production model that does not generate deforestation and ecosystem conversion.
TFA is committed to making this change happen by working with leading commodity companies to ensure deforestation commitments are made and implemented.
TFA recognizes that corporations alone cannot drive the transformation required. To transition to a new production model requires collective action – the integration of corporate practices, public policy, and the application of traditional and innovative finance – developed and deployed to link demand-side and supply-side efforts.
Our governance and team
The Tropical Forest Alliance is housed within the World Economic Forum, with the secretariat team based in Geneva, New York and Beijing. It is supported by experts in key geographies, and informed by an advisory committee comprised of a subset of our alliance community.
TFA team
The TFA team supports the day-to-day operations of the alliance. This includes designing and organizing workshops and meetings, engaging new and existing partners, facilitating best practice exchange, helping partners to meet their deforestation commitments, and working on strategic communications to raise the profile of DCF issues.
Jack Hurd
Anna Zampa
Ashley Erika Bastiampillai
Cynthia Gaechner-Anniah
Danielle Carreira
Jack Lloyd
Janne Siregar
Mathilde Huot
Eleanor Ross
Marina Ruta
Rafael Forsetto
Rizal Algamar
Tadeo Thorburn
Ricieri Vidal Marchi
Felipe Carazo
Our donors
We are grateful for the support of our donors who provide us with the necessary resources to deliver our work. Our funders currently include the governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Tropical Forest Alliance
A World Economic Forum Initiative