#livelihood-transition

Northern textile collection is funded by exporting the reusable fraction — historically ~half of sorted EU volume — to African markets. That outlet is closing: importing countries increasingly buy cheap new Asian garments instead, and several destinations now restrict secondhand

Enforcement reaches the act of clearing but not the economics behind it. Illegal miners and smallholders often clear because it is their only livelihood, so crackdowns without alternatives push activity underground and cause hardship rather than keeping forest standing.