Leaders of major forest countries have pledged to provide “strong, collective and urgent action” to promote equitable rural economic development while slowing, halting and reversing deforestation and increasing forest restoration.
In a session hosted by former president Mary Robinson, this shared vision was endorsed by leaders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Congo, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Peru, the UK and the US.
A joint statement said they recognised the “essential role forests play in the long-term health of our planet, in contributing to sustainable development, and in meeting our shared goal of avoiding dangerous climate change”.
“We are committed to intensifying efforts to protect forests; to significantly restore degraded forest, peat and agricultural lands; and to promote low carbon rural development”, they said, pledging to “reverse deforestation in our lifetimes”.
Amazon
Brazil and Norway made a joint announcement to extend their climate and forest partnership until 2020. Brazil has reduced Amazon deforestation by more than 70 per cent in the past decade, with significant support from Norway and Germany.
Germany, Norway and the UK announced a collective aim to provide $1 billion a year until 2020 to countries that pursue “REDD+” programmes, aimed at reducing deforestation and forest degradation.
