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Britain (express.co.uk) – From forest fires in Australia to logging in the Amazon,Artem Anisimov Jersey, the area lost is always described as the size of Wales.But a team of campaigners backed by royal greenie Prince Charles has turned this on its head. On St David’s Day,Rene Bourque Jersey, the Size of Wales charity was expected to announce that the principality has become the first country to protect an area of tropical forest equivalent to its own size.That’s five million acres of trees in 20 projects from Kenya to Guyana in a £2million project.Prince Charles says Size of Wales is “impressive hands-on action” to protect the world’s forests and climate.He adds: “Helping to sustain an area of tropical forest equivalent in size to two million rugby pitches shows great leadership to other nations…”Denmark is now considering doing the same,Jaden Schwartz Jersey, which would save 10 million acres,Gump Worsley Jersey, and Ireland has launched a more modest Size of Phoenix Park campaign.Safeguarding forests helps the locals and us. Tropical rainforests absorb one-third of man’s carbon emissions,Niklas Hjalmarsson Jersey, a benefit cancelled out by emissions from clearing forests.Research shows that preventing deforestation is 875 times cheaper than cutting emissions through the EU’s labyrinthine Emission Trading Scheme.Saving forests can also change lives. Roger Wasibi,Mike Gartner Jersey, of Uganda’s One Million Trees Project,Martin Havlat Jersey, said: “Uganda has suffered from devastating landslides as a result of deforestation and this tree planting project is helping to stabilise the soil to prevent further disasters and provide shade for better crops.”The need for action is urgent. About 30 million acres of rainforest are cut down every year from Brazil to Indonesia. Maybe it’s time for England to follow Wales’ lead. |
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