Forest 500, developed by Global Canopy, is an online database that ranks 500 companies and financial institutions on their commitment to eliminating deforestation and addressing human rights issues. This platform is designed for stakeholders in finance, business, and environmental sectors, particularly those focused on mitigating deforestation risks and human rights violations within supply chains.

The database allows users to compare institutions’ commitments and track their progress on deforestation and human rights policies. By ranking organisations based on their deforestation risk exposure, it offers valuable insights for identifying trends and potential risks in global supply chains, especially in sectors such as agriculture and finance. It also supports engagement efforts by providing data that can be used to influence corporate behaviour, promote better practices, and track improvements.

For finance professionals, Forest 500 offers critical data for assessing deforestation-related risks in investment portfolios, supply chains, and partnerships. It provides a structured approach to understanding the policies and actions of influential companies in sectors prone to deforestation, such as cattle, palm oil, soy, and timber. The tool’s ability to integrate into high-level deforestation risk assessments makes it valuable for those developing sustainable finance strategies or focusing on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance metrics.

This platform can aid finance professionals in making informed decisions about investments, monitoring compliance with deforestation and human rights standards, and enhancing their ESG strategies. Through comparative analysis, it enables the identification of leaders and laggards in the fight against deforestation, helping professionals adjust their strategies to meet global sustainability goals.