Norway helps restore tropical forests

At the UN climate change conference (COP20) in Lima, Norway announced the allocation of NOK 76 million for a new project to support the restoration of forests and landscapes in the tropics.

“This is a very important climate measure for the future,” says Norwegian Minister of Climate and the Environment, Tine Sundtoft.

“I am very pleased to announce this new project. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that we cannot achieve climate targets just by reducing emissions. We also need to increase the global absorption of greenhouse gases and actively capture carbon from the atmosphere. Restoring forests is a climate measure that does just this,” the Minister says. 

Trees sequester carbon. For this reason, through Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative. Norway has worked since 2008 to stop the deforestation of rainforests, which are one of the world's largest carbon depositories. 

In addition to leaving forests as they are, restoring damaged forests and landscapes is becoming increasingly important. Such areas may either be restored, for example by allowing the forest to grow back, or they may be transformed into agricultural land to increase food production.

“The world faces a growing global population and an increased need for food and resources. At the same time, the climate challenges are becoming increasingly acute. The world cannot afford to allow degraded and damaged areas to remain unused,” Sundtoft says.  

(Press release)