Bill from Majority Leader Hoyer Would Protect Tropical Forests, Fight Climate Change, and Support Indigenous Peoples

“Halting rampant tropical deforestation is critical for meeting our climate goals and enhancing global climate ambition, as well as for safeguarding biodiversity, water supplies, agricultural production, public health, and the livelihoods and cultures of Indigneous Peoples and local communities. That’s why EDF strongly supports the AMAZON21 Act from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

“This legislation builds on the forest conservation plan announced earlier this week by President Biden, which will both encourage an all-of-society approach to prioritize forest conservation, and help create economic value for healthy forests and the communities that protect and depend on them, by setting aside $9 billion through 2030 to support forest conservation. The bill further builds on the momentum to protect forests set by the declaration to reverse deforestation by 2030 signed by more than 100 countries this week at COP 26. The bill includes conditional, results-based financing mechanisms and technical assistance to support developing countries’ participation in carbon markets. It also creates a monitoring and reporting system to ensure the integrity of the forest conservation efforts and other smart policies that support forest preservation projects in developing countries.

“The time to enact policies that halt deforestation is now. We thank Leader Hoyer for his leadership in driving real progress.”

• Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund