This is an updated Evidence Gap Map (EGM) of forest conservation interventions in developing countries based on evidence published from 1990 to 2024. Compared to the 2019 EGM, the EGM shows that the evidence base has expanded, helping to address key evidence gaps, especially concerning the role of forest policies in halting deforestation and the contribution of market-based instruments, such as certification and credit mechanisms in both conserving forests and supporting livelihoods. There are also emerging studies on the role of the private sector, such as supply chain initiatives and corporate social responsibility, in supporting conservation.

However, as with the previous EGM, most of the available evidence focuses on protected areas, community-based forest management and payments for ecosystem services, with the majority of outcomes concerning forest cover and livelihoods. The findings also indicate that a critical mass of evidence now exists for conducting meta-analyses on certain combinations of forest conservation interventions and outcomes.