Secretary of State Powell Joins Forum on Global Deforestation; Primatologist, Environmentalist Goodall Leads Distinguished Panel 4/22/2003
From: Mark Hurley, 202-778-9739 Kerry Zobor, 202-778-9509, both of WWF WASHINGTON, April 22 -- At 12 this afternoon Secretary of State Colin Powell will participate in a U.S. Department of State-sponsored Open Forum discussion on the global problem of deforestation. Secretary Powell will be joined in this Earth Day event by noted scientist and environmentalist Jane Goodall, whose famous studies of chimpanzees in their natural habitat have caused her to become concerned with deforestation and its effects on animal species. Participants on the panel will also include World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and The Home Depot. Loss of forest resources directly affects the livelihoods of 90 percent of the 1.2 billion people in the developing world who live on less than $1 per day, making deforestation a roadblock for development. In addition to their value for forest-dependent people and communities, forests are vital to the health of the planet. Forests provide a range of important services such as habitat for endangered species, filtration of drinking water, and climate regulation. "When I began studying chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960, lush forest stretched for miles on either side of the 30-square-mile Gombe National Park where my study took place, but by the mid 90's, the surrounding hillsides were virtually barren," noted Jane Goodall. "Deforestation in Africa represents a major crisis for forest inhabitants, including chimpanzees, and for the people who rely on forest resources to survive. Action now for Africa's land, people, and wildlife is crucial." Forests also serve as important business resources. The forest products industry depends on timber to meet the needs of consumers of products ranging from lumber to furniture to cosmetics. "As the world's largest wood purchaser, our responsibility is clear," said Ron Jarvis, Vice President of Merchandising for The Home Depot. "Today, we are delivering on the promise of good stewardship and constantly refining our wood purchasing policy to achieve better forestry management. It is a daunting task, but we trace the origin of each and every wood product on our shelves. We applaud the leadership that Secretary Powell and Dr. Goodall bring to this issue." While forests are important to a wide range of stakeholders, they are disappearing quickly in some key geographic areas due to threats such as illegal logging. Illegal logging and the trade in illegal timber is known to occur in more than 70 countries. Some scientists estimate the global rate of deforestation from all causes at over 50,000 square miles each year. "Deforestation, which occurs globally at a rate of over 50,000 square miles each year, threatens countless species and is the primary driver of habitat loss around the world," said Bruce Cabarle, director of WWF's Global Forest Program. "It also represents a major economic loss. The World Bank estimates the loss of revenue due to illegal logging at US$5 billion annually, with a further US$10 billion lost to the economies of producing countries. " "Illegal logging is ravaging some of the world's most precious and biodiverse forests," said Randy Curtis, Director of Multi- and Bilateral Affairs for The Nature Conservancy. "In one of the hardest hit nations, Indonesia, we are developing an innovative public-private partnership to tackle the problem through market incentives, new technologies to track legally produced wood, and sustainable forestry practices. The strength of the partnership lies in the breadth of partners, from private sector partners, such as Home Depot, to the Department of State, to progressive wood buyers in Japan. We look forward to continued support for this effort -- and others like it around the world." Institutions including environmental organizations, forest products companies and major retailers, and governments have become increasingly concerned with threats to the world's forests and are addressing deforestation through new programs and partnerships. This multi-sector approach to deforestation is reflected in today's Open Forum event, which consists of environmental organizations, corporations, and government representatives. "Winning the battle to save our world's forests will require everybody -- corporations, conservationists and public policymakers alike -- to move beyond their comfort zones and negotiate realistic working agreements with each other," said Steve Cox, executive director of WRI's Global Forest Watch. "Until we cooperate across the cultural and political barriers that separate us, nothing good can happen." Notes for Editors: -- For press queries regarding the Open Forum Earth Day commemoration, please contact Susan Povenmire, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, at 202-647-3486, or the Office of Press Relations at 202-647-2492. All other questions about the event should be directed to William Keppler, Chairman of the Secretary's Open Forum at 202-647-0488. -- The Open Forum Earth Day commemoration will be broadcast live on C-Span starting at 12:00 noon. -- Founded in 1978, The Home Depot( is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer and the second largest retailer in the United States, with fiscal 2002 sales of $58.2 billion. The company employs approximately 296,000 associates and has 1,562 stores in 50 states, Puerto Rico, seven Canadian provinces, and Mexico. Its stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:HD) and is included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor's 500 Index. -- The Jane Goodall Institute advances the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment for all living things. With Dr. Jane Goodall's words and example as guiding principles, the Institute inspires hope for a brighter future. -- The Nature Conservancy is a leading international, nonprofit organization that preserves plants, animals and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 14 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 us on the Web at nature.org. -- The World Resources Institute (http://www.wri.org/) is an environmental research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the Earth and improve people's lives. Global Forest Watch is an international data and mapping network that combines on-the-ground knowledge with digital technology to provide accurate information about the world's forests. -- World Wildlife Fund (WWF), known worldwide by its panda logo, leads international efforts to protect the diversity of life on Earth. Now in its fourth decade, WWF works in more than 100 countries around the globe. For more information: http://www.worldwildlife.org. For further information: The Home Depot, Goldie Taylor, 770-384-4155, e-mail: goldie(underscore)[email protected] The Jane Goodall Institute, Nona Gandelman, 301-565-0086, e-mail: ngandelman@janegoodall.org The Nature Conservancy, Jordan Peavey, 703-841-5980 World Resources Institute, Christopher Lagan, 202-729-7684, e-mail: clagan@wri.org WWF, Mark Hurley, 202-778-9739, e-mail: mark.hurley@wwfus.org WWF, Kerry Zobor, 202-778-9509, e-mail: kerry.zobor@wwfus.org |