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To: Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon: We demand the restoration and protection of forests worldwide.

To: U. N. Sec. Gen. Ban KI Moon,

Forests play a crucial role in the health of our planet. They are more then just a collection of trees- they are integrated ecosystems and home to the highest concentration of biodiversity on earth! Forests are also major players in the carbon and water cycles that make life possible as well as playing a key role in the local water cycle by helping to keep the balance between water on land and water in the atmosphere. They produce oxygen, protect aquifers and watersheds, prevent landslides, improve water quality by slowing and filtering rainwater, as well as playing three more major roles in combating climate change – sequestering CO2, cooling the planet and normalising climatic patterns and much more.

As recently as 10,000 years ago, the world had 6 billion acres of tropical rainforests. Today we have less than 1.5 billion acres left, and we are clearing this remaining rainforest at the rate of 30 to 50 million acres per year, two to three times as rapidly as just a few decades ago. Today with over one acre of forest being cleared every second experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years!

The fight against climate change demands a double edged sword: on the one side, sustainable energy sources need to continue to be promoted and adopted, on the other side, our remaining forests must be healed, protected and replanted, before they are irretrievably lost.

Sec. General, you stated, “We will mobilize the UN system to address the building blocks of sustainable development – from food and nutrition security to sustainable energy for all… from sustainable transportation and universal access to safe drinking water to adequate sanitation and the improved governance of our oceans.” Our collective human environmental rights to clean air and water can be achieved through the restoration of the worlds’ forests and therefore must be included in this commitment. In light of the dire conditions of forests worldwide and the environmental affects of forest destruction we demand a moratorium against logging, oil drilling, the building of dams, gas exploration, cattle ranching, soy production, agriculture (destroyed rain forest land only yields 3-4 years of agriculture) and all other actions that cause destruction of existing temperate, boreal and rain forests around the world for no less then 10 years with full protection, during which time replanting programs and projects will be implemented, to restore, conserve, protect and teach about the importance of forests.

You stated, “It is well known that prevention is better – and cheaper – than cure.” If you are serious about preventing a further rise in global temperatures, flooding, landslides and more, then now is the time to act, save, restore and protect this vital resource for now and future generations.

Why is this important?

With the recent drought in Sao Paolo that brought its population to its knees, ice caps melting even faster, another mega sized hurricane (this time hitting the Philippines, again), disappearing coastlines, forest fires in rain forests, sea level rising, climate patterns in turmoil and another worldwide warmest year on record, the destruction of our rain forests around the world is insane!

The world had 6 billion acres of tropical rainforests. Today we have less than 1.5 billion acres left, and we are clearing this remaining rainforest at the rate of 30 to 50 million acres per year and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years!

Rain forest destruction is a major factor in climate change that must be addressed and acted upon. Forests play a crucial role in the health of our planet in combatting climate change:
• Sequestering CO2
• Cooling the planet
• Normalising climatic patterns
Time is critical but there is still a window of opportunity to turn this mess around and keep global temperatures below the 2˚ rise that so threatens life on our planet. Fighting climate change must include the restoration and protection of rain forests around the world for now and future generations. All life, including the lives of our children and grandchildren deserve a living, breathing, and healthy planet!

Your support is needed! Sign the petition today and pass it on to family, friends and colleagues.

Thank you,
Leora Rosner (Dir.)
Growing Air Foundation

How it will be delivered

The intention is to hand deliver the petition.

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Updates

2015-03-20 15:40:38 +0000

50 signatures reached

2015-01-20 14:32:13 +0000

25 signatures reached

2015-01-17 18:02:15 +0000

10 signatures reached