Lieberman-Warner Bill: Manager’s Amendment Highlights Critical Funding for International Forest Protection

New Provisions Could Funnel More Than $10 Billion Annually to Long-Term Forest Conservation Through 2050

ARLINGTON , VA — May 23, 2008— The following statement was issued today by Eric Haxthausen, senior policy advisor with The Nature Conservancy, in response to new provisions contained in the Lieberman-Warner Manager’s Amendment that could provide $10 billion or more annually to save forests around the world.

“Now when a tree falls in the forest, everyone will take notice. The manager's amendment reflects a significant step toward leadership by the U.S. in recognizing the important role of tropical forests in reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Deforestation and other land-use activities contribute roughly 20 percent of global carbon emissions, more than all the planes, trains and automobiles around the world. For many developing countries deforestation is the leading source of carbon dioxide emissions, accounting in some cases for 70 percent or more. Emission reductions from this sector, both here and around the world, are essential to a comprehensive climate solution.

The new provisions contained in today’s Manager’s Amendment open up 10 percent of a future carbon market to credits that come from international long-term forest conservation efforts. Companies looking to meet the requirements of the bill and reduce their overall carbon footprint could invest private capital to provide desperately needed financial support to activities that successfully reduce tropical forest destruction.

We urgently need strong climate legislation to address the growing threat of global warming. The Manager's Amendment introduced today would tap a critical source of emission reductions by crediting efforts to halt deforestation. We look forward to working with the Senate and the Congress to assure that strong forest carbon provisions are a part of critically needed climate legislation.”

Click here for more information on the Conservancy’s climate change efforts.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.