Norway Takes The Lead In Fight Against Deforestation

Norway has initiated the first step in what may hopefully encourage other countries to follow in the fight against deforestation.

Norway has implemented a ban on deforestation, becoming the first nation to do so as it hopes to put a stop to the clear-cutting of trees in an effort to save the plight of rainforests. Word about Norway’s move was first reported by Climate Action.

“This is an important victory in the fight to protect the rainforest. Over the last few years, a number of companies have committed to cease the procurement of goods that can be linked to destruction of the rainforest,” Nils Hermann Ranum of Rainforest Foundation Norway said in a statement.

The move by Norway against deforestation is seen as a positive move towards saving the world’s rain forest. If not addressed immediately, rain forests could completely vanish in 100 years per National Geographic.

Norway is however not finished yet. Aside from leading the fight against deforestation, the country plans to look at other environment-related concerns. That includes finding alternatives as far as sourcing out essential products like palm oil, soy, beef and timber which will have little to no effect on the ecosystem.

This was the same pledge that Norway made at the U.N. Climate Summit back in 2014 together with Germany and the UK. The United Nations bared that palm oil, soy, beef and wood products contributed a bit to the total tropical deforestation and hopefully Norway can come up with a solution.

For those who are unaware on how deforestation is affected, all of it occurs once forests are cleared and set aflame, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide which is considered a main greenhouse gas that contributes to the big issue called climate change.

“Other countries should follow Norway’s leadership and adopt similar zero deforestation commitments,” added Ranum. “In particular, Germany and the UK must act, following their joint statement at the UN Climate Summit.”

Norway has been aggressive in the fight against deforestation and this can be traced to as far as 2008. At that time, the country aided Brazil with $1 billion to fight deforestation. Brazil, home to 60% of the Amazon, saved more than 33,000 square miles of forest and at the same time kept 3.2 billion tons of carbon monoxide out of the atmosphere.

Now, Norway hopes to do the same and hopefully entice the call to other nations starting with Germany and the UK.