Prince Charles enlists business in rainforests battle
Prince Charles has taken his campaign to save the worlds rainforests to the heart of Europe, urging the private sector to join forces with governments and international financial institutions and halt deforestation.
In a speech to the European parliament the British throne-heir praised the European Unions ambitious plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions and boost the use of renewable energy sources.
Private financial institutions and businesses were of paramount importance in fighting climate change, said the prince, and new ways should be explored to use the capital markets for the vast sums required.
Meanwhile, UN experts say just 2 to 4 percent of forest cover remains in Haiti, down from 7 to 9 percent in 1981. And despite millions invested in reforestation, such efforts have mostly failed because of economic pressures and political turmoil.
Environmental Minister Jean-Marie Claude Germain said reforestation projects and efforts to preserve trees in three protected zones were set back by the violent rebellion that ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 and prompted the UN to send in thousands of peacekeepers to restore order.
– Even though there were agricultural laws, the laws were not respected. We are trying to create order now, Germain said. But in a nation where 80 percent of the 8.7 million people live on less than two US dollar a day, trees mean income for those lucky enough to have access to them.
Some groups say they have found success on a limited scale by planting fruit trees and protecting hardwoods through micro-loans and agricultural assistance.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
