Together for forests

Forests are essential for our survival. Not only do they provide oxygen to the air we breathe and purify the water we drink, but they are also home to millions of plants, animals and indigenous people. Moreover, healthy forests protect us from diseases, and absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

Destructive agriculture drives the degradation of forests and other natural habitats. Without knowing it, Europeans are consuming products with ingredients originating from deforested areas or other destroyed habitats such as savannahs. Nowadays, the European Union allows products linked to deforestation and ecosystem destruction on the EU market. This means we are unwittingly eating up our forests. We want the European Commission to protect our forests, and our future, NOW!

Right now we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to curb deforestation. A new EU law on products linked to deforestation is now within reach, and the European Commission is asking for your opinion on a law in an open public consultation.As a network of Mediterranean Forests we felt the urge to participate in the campaign and help raise awareness on this important matter. In order to show your support and participate in the campaign read our requests here, fill in your details in the form below and click on ACT NOW.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Research reveals we are losing natural habitats at an alarming rate. Over the past decade, the Amazon has lost more than 8.4 million football fields worth of tree cover, and 10 million football fields of natural habitat has been lost in the Cerrado, the most biodiverse savannah in the world. The main driver is destructive agriculture for commodities such as soy used in animal feed, palm oil, livestock, cocoa and more. These ingredients are hidden on our supermarket shelves, and very hard to avoid.
The EU must play a leading role in the protection of the world’s forests and other ecosystems. If we don’t stop deforestation, forest degradation or the conversion and degradation of other ecosystems, we might lose our fight against climate change and biodiversity collapse.

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

Consumers deserve certainty that their food choices do not inadvertently contribute to deforestation, ecosystem conversion and land degradation. A strong law that stops products linked to deforestation and ecosystem degradation from entering the EU market by the end of 2021 can achieve this. Such a law would have a massive impact, and it is now being discussed in Brussels. It is within reach, but we need your help to make it happen.

Act NOW #Together4Forests: ask the European Commission to protect our future!