As part of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the U.S. and China have reached an agreement on illegal logging and associated trade practices, according to AFP:
The deal provides for steps that will “help conserve forests and their wildlife and reduce deforestation — a major factor in the global effort to address climate change,” the statement said.
“Nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions results from deforestation and other land use changes,” it added.
Under the arrangement, the two countries will work together to promote “both sustainable forest management and trade in legally-sourced forest products, as well as encourage public-private partnerships.” [Full text]
See also an interview with Rolf Skor, the senior forest campaigner for Greenpeace USA, about this issue, from New American Media.
