For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
July 28, 2003
President Bush Discusses New Initiative to Stop Illegal Logging
Statement by the President
Today, my Administration has announced a new international
initiative to help developing countries stop illegal logging. Illegal
logging destroys biodiversity and hundreds of thousands of acres of
forest habitat annually. It releases millions of tons of greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere. Last year, I directed Secretary Powell to
develop a plan to address this serious issue. I thank him for his
efforts in establishing this initiative. Working with the private
sector, non-governmental organizations, and other nations, the United
States will help identify and reduce threats to protected forest areas
and other high value conservation forests. These efforts will serve as
a foundation for future actions to eliminate illegal logging,
corruption in the forest sector, and the sale - including for export -
of illegally harvested timber products. They will also help us protect
forests and the livelihoods that depend upon them.
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