MEDIA RELEASE
14th December 2009
Nicholas Stern Signs Pledge Urging Native Forest Protection At Copenhagen
The world’s leading climate change economist Sir Nicholas Stern has joined with 57 countries and
signed a pledge at Copenhagen, organised by The Wilderness Society, to protect unlogged native
forests as part of a new global agreement to fight climate change.
The inclusion of Sir Nicholas Stern on the Forests Pledge has occurred at a critical time as
negotiations at Copenhagen enter the final week and will now involve Ministers from nations
attending to agree on a deal to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (the
REDD mechanism).
57 countries have signed the Forests Pledge, including Brazil, France, Indonesia and most of the
African countries. However, Australia, Norway, most EU countries and the US have not yet been
willing to do so. (See the Wilderness Society website for the full list:
Significantly, the Governor of the Brazilian state of Amazonas in the heart of the Amazon has also
signed The Wilderness Society’s Forests Pledge. Brazil has a pivotal role to play in forging an
agreement on REDD at Copenhagen.
Youth campaigner for TWS, Gemma Tillack, secured the high level signatories by making a plea on
behalf of international youth and future generations.
“To have the support of such important high level signatories as Sir Nicholas Stern and Governor
Eduardo Braga of Amazonas to protecting and restoring natural forests for a climate solution is a
strong message that we hope will influence world leaders as they finalise the agreement on the fate
of forests in developing countries,” Ms Tillack said.
“It is ironic that so many countries are calling for protection of developing countries' native forests
but developed countries are still not prepared to protect their own forests, especially those of
Australia, Canada and Russia.”
The Forest Pledge emphasises required core objectives of REDD in the Copenhagen climate deal.
At the heart of debate over REDD and still awaiting resolution, is:
Protecting intact natural forest
Restoring degraded natural forest
Including protecting the rights and interests of indigenous peoples and forest communities in
such forests
Media Enquiries:
Gemma Tillack, +45 52 65 0229 or +61427 057643
NEWS 
