Rubber Planting and Deforestation<strong> </strong>

Wang et al. (Nature 623, 340&mdash;350; 2023)1 used satellite observations and phenological signatures to map and estimate the extent of planted rubber (Hevea brasiliensis M&uuml;ll.Arg.), and associated deforestation, for eight Southeast Asian countries. Their assessment implies that planted rubber may have caused over 4&thinsp;Mha of deforestation since 1993 &mdash; a value greater than assumed in setting deforestation policies. Unfortunately, their estimates rely on incorrect methods. In addition, their definition of &ldquo;deforestation&rdquo; is misleading because it includes all tree cover loss, not just natural forests, but also from established rubber gardens, and other plantations. Our assessment indicates that since 2001 the actual extent of deforestation associated with planted rubber is approximately one quarter that reported by Wang et al.