Rainforests can be protected by establishing game reserves to save rare animals and plants, reducing deforestation in areas where native people live, replant the areas the timber countries clear and by supporting the countries that have rainforests. The "debt for nature" scheme is designed to remove or reduce the debts that developing countries may have if the forests are protected.

People have also tried to reduce the demand for tropical hardwoods such as mahogany, teak and ebony. This can be done by using woods that are grown in sustainable forests.