Minister Gabriel: Tropical forests are the green lung of our planet
In view of Tropical Forest Day on 14 September 2006 Federal Environment Minister Gabriel highlighted the importance of tropical forests for climate protection and biodiversity. "Tropical forests are the green lung of our planet and a treasure trove of biodiversity", he said. Within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Framework Convention on Climate Change Minister Gabriel will advocate international measures against the destruction of tropical forests.
In a workshop organised by the UN-Framework Convention on Climate Change in early September, emissions from tropical deforestation were discussed in detail. More than 20 percent of global CO2 emissions are released as a result of tropical deforestation. Germany and the EU would therefore support including these emissions in the international climate protection regime, if it lead to real emission reductions and to incentives for preventing the destruction of forests.
The 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Germany in 2008, will be of special importance for the protection of tropical forests. The protection of forests will even be the focus of the meeting. Minister Gabriel announced that the protection of tropical forests will also be an issue for the German EU and G8 Presidencies.