FOE Statement on Announcement of Federal Deforestation Bill

WASHINGTON — Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai’i anunciado today the pending introduction of a federal bill to ban US imports of products linked to illegal deforestation and land conversion. Friends of the Earth and dozens of other advocacy organizations have simultaneously called on Congress and the Biden-Harris administration to enact policy measures to support the health and well-being of the world’s forests and the people who depend on them.  

Amigos de la Tierra has supported efforts to develop this legislation for several years, co-sponsoring Senator Schatz’'’ 2018 Senate briefing en tropical deforestation and working with the Senator to urge private financial firms to address deforestation risk. 

En respuesta al anuncio, Jeff Conant, Senior International Forests Program Manager at Friends of the Earth U.S., Emitió la siguiente declaración: 

Friends of the Earth is proud to work with Senator Schatz to use federal regulatory power to stem the tide of global deforestation. The global deforestation crisis is intricately connected to some of the most pressing problems we face. Nosotros voluntad do what it takes to turn this crucial bill into law.

The degradation and destruction of forests is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and biodiversity loss y increases human exposure to zoonotic diseases such as coronavirus and Ebola. It is both a cause of and enabling factor in land invasions and violence against Indigenous peoples, local communities, and environmental defenders.  

Contacto experto: Jeff Conant, [email protected]
Comunicaciones contacto:  Kaela Bamberger, (202) 222-0703, [email protected]