Overview

At the Avoided Deforestation Partners September 2008 lunch event in New York, featuring Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Al Gore, Jr. and Professor Wangari Maathai, a “Call for Leadership” urging the U.S. government to take a global leadership role in reducing deforestation was launched before the audience and international press. Stu Eizenstat, former U.S. negotiator for the Kyoto Protocol, urged the Presidents of the NGOs that were present in addition to other leaders to come together and send a message to the US Congress and government officials requesting action be taken.

The following “Call for Leadership” was authored by a broad range of individuals who represent prominent organizations that care deeply about our climate crisis, forest conservation and the communities on the ground whose lives depend on forests. The “Call for Leadership” already has the endorsement of many highly recognized organizations both public and private. AD Partners serves as the facilitating organization for this effort.

AD Partners publicly presented this “Call for Leadership” with its initial list of signatories to U.S. government and Congressional leaders at a Congressional briefing held on Capitol Hill on February 9, 2009. (See more on our event here.)