President Piñera leads UN alliance to protect the world’s rainforests
The President led the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Colombian President Iván Duque and actor Harrison Ford of Conservation International. The objective of the gathering was to launch a new global initiative for cooperation on forest conservation, protection of biodiversity and the reforestation of rainforests in the Amazon and other parts of the world.
“These are true treasures of humanity, and they are under threat from forest fires and deforestation. As such, they require urgent and effective protection,” President Piñera said at the meeting, during which he highlighted the urgency and need for international collaboration in this effort. The meeting was also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bolivian President Evo Morales and other heads of state.
Rainforests are the lungs of the planet and are essential for containing global warming and protecting Earth’s biodiversity.
“This alliance to protect tropical forests, which began to take shape during a G7 meeting and is continuing to form during this UN meeting, will evolve during COP25, which Chile will host in December of this year,” President Piñera stated.
President Piñera also noted that this alliance will mainly focus on protecting and conserving rainforests and the biodiversity they shelter, aligning this care with sustainable use of resources in the areas where they are found; international collaboration; and respect for the national sovereignty of the countries in which these forests are located.
Rainforests around the world from Southeast Asia to Africa and the Americas are being threatened by forest fires and deforestation.
President Piñera has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting the forests. Following the G7 summit in August, he coordinated the aid to combat the fires impacting the Amazon. In addition to visiting Brazil and Paraguay, he announced that Chile would coordinate the provision of five planes that are being used for this purpose in the affected area.