Feature story - June 9, 2009
While biological diversity (the diversity of plant and animal species and ecosystems) is the basis of human life on Earth, the importance of biodiversity in the fight against climate change often goes unrecognized.Amazon Jaguar, SIGS zoo, Manaus, Amazon, Brazil
© Greenpeace/Rodrigo Baleia
Biodiversity is crucial for both cutting climate pollution and
dealing with and adapting to the effects of climate change. If we
do not protect the diversity of life on Earth, the effects could be
as devastating as the effects of global warming itself. This is
especially true with tropical forests - they are critical to
fighting climate change and home to more species than any other
ecosystem type.
How should we protect biodiversity and our climate?
Greenpeace commissioned the Institute of Forest Policy at the
University of Freiburg in Germany to study the most recent science
on the relationship between biodiversity and climate change. The
report shows that a fund-based approach to reducing emissions from
deforestation and degradation (REDD) is more effective at
protecting biodiversity than an offset-based scheme.
To download the full, technical report, click here:
REDD From the Conservation
Perspective
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