Over the last decade, forests like the Amazon have been lost at a devastating rate. In fact, our new report shows that in 24 deforestation hotspots, an area almost twice the size of the UK has been destroyed - in just 13 years.
This is devastating indigenous peoples and local communities, killing wildlife and making the climate crisis worse. And we know that some products sold in the UK are fuelling this destruction.
But we can make sure the next decade is different. Together, we can turn things around.
As we start 2021, new laws are going through the UK Parliament that could be a huge step forward in restoring nature, and protecting forests and other amazing habitats – here at home and around the world. If we get these laws right, we can make sure UK products are forest and nature friendly. But these laws need to be much stronger than what’s been proposed so far.
And you can help.
Your local MP can make the difference. Enter your details to send an email to your MP, asking them to speak up in the parliamentary debate in the coming weeks, and urge the Government to raise their ambition.
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In the last few months, nearly 60,000 of you responded to a consultation from the UK Government, calling on them to bring in new laws that would stop products linked to the destruction of nature being imported to the UK and sold on our shelves.
In response, the Government has set out what they intend to do about it in the Environment Bill. This is an important first step, but it isn’t enough. As they stand, the proposed new laws would make us completely reliant on local laws and law enforcement, which we know may be weakened in the future. This could be damaging for local wildlife and people, and our climate.
As the Environment Bill is discussed in the coming weeks, every one of our politicians will have the chance to speak up for our forests and demand more ambitious action from our Government – including your local MP. We need politicians from every party to raise this issue in Parliament and help us put an end to our role in the continued destruction of nature for good.