In a move that could be the Co2 equivalent of removing all of the world’s cars from the road, unprecedented protection for natural forests has been announced along with funds to restore hundreds of millions of acres. As part of the UN climate summit, more than 130 governments, corporations, civil society and indigenous groups have pledged to participate in the effort.

Although it is a political and non-binding document, if enacted in full, it would reduce carbon dioxide by between 4.5 and 8.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year by 2030. That is roughly the equivalent of removing one billion cars from the road.

While frequently overlooked in the climate change discussion, the loss of forests which take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen has been an enormous factor in the buildup of greenhouse gasses and the resulting global warming.

“The New York Declaration aims to reduce more climate pollution each year than the United States
emits annually. Forests are not only a critical part of the climate solution – they hold multiple benefits for all members of society,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement.

Included in the pledges and provisions of the statement is a pledge by more than 20 food companies to use deforestation-free sourcing policies of palm oil and a pledge by the three largest palm oil producers to comply.

There are also provisions, including financial incentives, to help countries combat deforestation internally, a pledge by Indiginous groups from Asia, Africa, Central America and the
Amazon Basin to protect 400 million hectares of tropical forests that they manage and new forest protection and restoration policies from a number of countries in South America and Africa.

“Forests are not solely economic resources, but are the center of spiritual life and cultural integration for indigenous peoples. The New York Declaration is a long-awaited show of political will by
all countries to support indigenous peoples as we fight to defend our forests,” said Abdon Nababan, Secretary General of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of Indonesia’s Archipelago (AMAN).

A full copy of the New York Declaration (PDF) can be found on the United Nations website.