Rio+20 Announcement: US Partners with CEOs to Reduce Deforestation Through Sustainable Agriculture

“Individually both governments and business have already
mobilized significant resources to address the challenge of deforestation but we
all recognize that much more can be achieved if we align our efforts and work in
partnership,” said Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever.

The US Government
invited other countries, companies, and civil society leaders to join the effort
to develop joint policy recommendations and an action plan to promote
sustainable food production, while also protecting and conserving forests.

“I am so pleased to see the United States Government and
major companies beginning to take a leadership role in protecting the
environment. We environmentalists can only do so much. It truly takes all of us
working together to heal the planet,” said Jane Goodall, co-Chair of the event.

“The private sector needs to put people and the planet at
the center of all we do,” said Richard Branson, CEO of the Virgin Group.
“Together we need to face critical challenges, including finding ways to harness
and protect our natural assets—including the last remaining tropical forests. 
The planet won’t wait.”

Ted Turner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and
the second largest landowner in the United States, also voiced support. “The
message of this event is very timely.  Our land-based resources are dwindling,
and so we must be responsible stewards by reducing wasteful consumption and
agricultural practices and promoting sustainable uses that protect the
environment while continuing to feed growing populations,” he said.

Jeff
Horowitz, founder of Avoided Deforestation Partners who organized the event was
“extremely pleased to see governments and corporations make such extraordinary
commitments”.  He added, “We believe this partnership can be a game changer with
the potential to transform how we grow our food, fuel and fiber, with immediate
and dramatic effects on efforts to slow, halt and reverse deforestation.”