Category: Tropical Forest

Harrison Ford at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019

Harrison Ford speaking at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019:

“We need to protect what we have. We need to restore what we have lost. We need to defund the mechanisms, the perverse tax subsidies, the lending policies, and the institutional investments that fuel deforestation. It is understood that the protection and preservation of forest, can achieve at least 30% of the emission reduction we need to protect the planet.”

See more in this video.

Fires in Amazonia

Sunrise from a canopy tower overlooking the Amazon Forest. Photo by Luana Luna.

The amazon often referred to as the ‘lungs of the Earth’ as more than 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced there. News of the 2019 fire season in Amazonia has made headlines around the world, but there’s more to the story.

Find out more on analysis by Conservation International that is revealing where the fires are and why that matters.

One Million Trees for Timor Leste

Matebian, third highest mountain in Timor Leste. © Billtrips.com

In July, I discussed with the Cabinet of the President of Republic of Timor Leste on supporting the One Million Trees Program. Conservation International will support the Government’s commitment of planting one million trees by the end of 2022, as stated by President Mr. Francisco Guterres (Lú Olo). By having one million trees, the country would be able to combat climate change, reduce land degradation, and bring clean water to communities. With the active involvement of all agencies and various partners, it is expected that more than 180,000 ha will be replanted or restored.

Mt. Panie New Caledonia, the largest cloud forest in the Pacific

Mount Panie in New Caledonia. Photo by Conservation International.

I went to New Caledonia this week to see Mt. Panie reserves and other Conservation International’s initiatives in the country. The mountain is the highest mountain in New Caledonia (1,629 m), providing ecosystem and cultural services, home to three-quarter of plant species, and 95% reptile species are found nowhere else!

Our team has been working to conserve the Mt. Panie since 1996 and now supporting the expansion from 5,400 ha to 20,000 ha, to enabling this critical ecosystem to mitigate climate change impact. This forest also important to the continued flow of pristine rivers and the conservation of the downstream mangroves, coral reef and lagoons with its manta rays, turtles and whales.