Does a natural disaster qualify as deforestation under the Regulation?

Yes, the Regulation’s definition of “deforestation” includes the conversion of forest to agricultural use, regardless of whether it’s caused by humans or natural disasters. For instance, if a forest is burned by a wildfire and later turned into agricultural land (after the cut-off date), it’s considered deforestation. In such cases, operators are prohibited from sourcing commodities from that area under the Regulation. However, if the forest regenerates, it’s not considered deforestation, and operators can source wood from it once it’s regrown.