Round Table on Responsible Soy Association

The RTRS standard forbids the clearing of native forests or other areas with High Conservation Values (HCV) for the cultivation of soy. Non-native habitats, such as forests that have rebounded after previous disturbances, can only be cleared if ‘HCV maps’ show that they do not harbor High Conservation Values.
In 2012, RTRS will publish HCV maps showing the regions in Brazil that cannot be converted for soy production. In 2013, the maps for Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay will be published. Until then, members can use other official maps or maps prepared for the Convention on Biodiversity to check for the presence of High Conservation Values. For areas that are not part of current HCV maps, producers need to carry out High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) assessments before any forest can be cleared.
The (voluntary) RTRS standard has, for the first time, introduced rules that require soy farmers to make detailed environmental assessments before they can expand. The standard will help preserve the Amazon tropical forest and other native forests or HCV areas from being cleared for soy cultivation.