African legislators sign declaration to save forests

Members of parliament and senators from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe have declared their commitment to spearhead efforts to save forests and restore land.

At the third Inter-Parliamentary Hearing on ‘Forests for People’ in Nairobi, legislators recognized the immense value of forests and the services they provide for the environment by signing the ‘Nairobi Declaration’ – a document that promises to promote the implementation of successful and exemplary policies and programmes to drive forest conservation and the rehabilitation of degraded lands.

The high-level attendees also committed to take an active role in mobilizing their societies to plant, grow and protect trees in their constituencies and to promote grassroots-led landscape restoration activities.

“We are pleased to be holding you by your words. Do not overlook the small steps. Whenever you think the World Future Council can be of any assistance, please get in touch,” said Luc Gnacadja, member of the World Future Council and former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The Hearing was convened by the World Future Council with the support of the Parliament of Kenya, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources of Kenya, the FAO Regional Office for Africa, and the Green Belt Movement. At the hearing, legislators, key civil society actors and international experts on forest policies from African countries discussed visionary forest policies.

The World Future Council brings the interests of future generations to the centre of policy-making. Its 50 eminent members from around the globe have already successfully promoted change. The Council addresses challenges to our common future and provides decision makers with effective policy solutions.