This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29321143
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Liberia signs 'transformational' deal to stem deforestation | Liberia signs 'transformational' deal to stem deforestation |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Liberia is to become the first nation in Africa to completely stop cutting down its trees in return for development aid. | Liberia is to become the first nation in Africa to completely stop cutting down its trees in return for development aid. |
| Norway will pay the impoverished west African country $150m to stop deforestation by 2020. | |
| There have been fears that the Ebola crisis would see increased logging in a country desperate for cash. | |
| Norwegian officials confirmed details of the deal to the BBC at the UN climate summit in New York. | Norwegian officials confirmed details of the deal to the BBC at the UN climate summit in New York. |
| Liberia's forests are not as big as other countries but the country is home to a significant part of West Africa's remaining rainforest, with about 43% of the Upper Guinean forest. | Liberia's forests are not as big as other countries but the country is home to a significant part of West Africa's remaining rainforest, with about 43% of the Upper Guinean forest. |
| It is also a global diversity hotspot, home to the last remaining viable populations of species including Western Chimpanzees, forest elephants and leopards. | It is also a global diversity hotspot, home to the last remaining viable populations of species including Western Chimpanzees, forest elephants and leopards. |
| But since the civil war ended in 2003, illegal logging has become rife. | But since the civil war ended in 2003, illegal logging has become rife. |
| In 2012, President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson attracted international criticism when she handed out licences to companies to cut down 58% of all the primary rainforest left in the country. After protests many of those permits were cancelled. | In 2012, President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson attracted international criticism when she handed out licences to companies to cut down 58% of all the primary rainforest left in the country. After protests many of those permits were cancelled. |
| Some researchers have connected the current outbreak of Ebola with the widespread destruction of the forests, bringing people into contact with natural reservoirs of the virus. | |
| Now the Norwegians and the Liberian government have signed a deal that they both believe will protect the forests into the future. | Now the Norwegians and the Liberian government have signed a deal that they both believe will protect the forests into the future. |
| "We hope Liberia will be able to cut emissions and reduce poverty at the same time," said Jens Frolich Holte, a political adviser to the Norwegian government, speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in New York. | "We hope Liberia will be able to cut emissions and reduce poverty at the same time," said Jens Frolich Holte, a political adviser to the Norwegian government, speaking to the BBC on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in New York. |
| "We have funded efforts in Indonesia and Indonesia and Brazil, but I think this is the first time we have entered a deal on a country level." | "We have funded efforts in Indonesia and Indonesia and Brazil, but I think this is the first time we have entered a deal on a country level." |
| Under the terms of the agreement, Norway will help Liberia to initially build up the capacity to monitor and police the forests. | Under the terms of the agreement, Norway will help Liberia to initially build up the capacity to monitor and police the forests. |
| Liberia will refrain from issuing any new logging concessions until all existing ones have been reviewed by an independent body. | Liberia will refrain from issuing any new logging concessions until all existing ones have been reviewed by an independent body. |
| The country agrees to place 30% or more of its forest estate under protected area status by 2020. It will also pilot direct payments to communities for protecting the forest. | The country agrees to place 30% or more of its forest estate under protected area status by 2020. It will also pilot direct payments to communities for protecting the forest. |
| Ultimately the Norwegians will pay for results, with independent verification that trees remain standing. | Ultimately the Norwegians will pay for results, with independent verification that trees remain standing. |
| The development has been welcomed by environmental campaigners in Liberia. | The development has been welcomed by environmental campaigners in Liberia. |
| "This partnership holds promise not only for the forest and climate; but for forest communities that have been marginalized for generations," said Silas Siakor, a Liberian environmental campaigner and Goldman Environmental Prize laureate. | "This partnership holds promise not only for the forest and climate; but for forest communities that have been marginalized for generations," said Silas Siakor, a Liberian environmental campaigner and Goldman Environmental Prize laureate. |
| "The partnership's commitment to respecting and protecting community's rights with respect to forests is laudable." | "The partnership's commitment to respecting and protecting community's rights with respect to forests is laudable." |
| Experts believe that Liberia has turned to logging as a way of raising cash in difficult times. With the current ebola outbreak having a significant economic impact on the country, the Norwegian deal is timely. | Experts believe that Liberia has turned to logging as a way of raising cash in difficult times. With the current ebola outbreak having a significant economic impact on the country, the Norwegian deal is timely. |
| "Our hope is that the situation there now will be contained and resolved," said Jens Frolich Holte. | "Our hope is that the situation there now will be contained and resolved," said Jens Frolich Holte. |
| "But we also need to give Liberia a long term hope for development and that is what this rainforest money will provide for them, a long term vision for a country with reduced poverty and reduced deforestation." | "But we also need to give Liberia a long term hope for development and that is what this rainforest money will provide for them, a long term vision for a country with reduced poverty and reduced deforestation." |
| With widespread corruption and a government struggling to impose its authority, campaigners recognise that stopping all the logging in Liberia will not be easy. | With widespread corruption and a government struggling to impose its authority, campaigners recognise that stopping all the logging in Liberia will not be easy. |
| "There is the potential for this to go wrong, both Norway and Liberia will have to make sure that this deal does not get affected by corruption, but I am cautiously confident it can be done," said Patrick Alley, the director of campaign group Global Witness. | "There is the potential for this to go wrong, both Norway and Liberia will have to make sure that this deal does not get affected by corruption, but I am cautiously confident it can be done," said Patrick Alley, the director of campaign group Global Witness. |
| "It's really good news, it's transformational for Liberia when all the news coming out of there is bad - I think this will be a real boost." | "It's really good news, it's transformational for Liberia when all the news coming out of there is bad - I think this will be a real boost." |
| Follow Matt on Twitter. |