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<p>Protecting forests delivers substantial climate, development, biodiversity and
ecosystem outcomes. Stopping deforestation offers the potential to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions on a globally significant scale, while protecting the vital services,
such as regulating rainfall patterns, on which the world economy depends for agricultural
productivity and sustainable economic growth.</p><br /><p>Addressing deforestation
and supporting the sustainable management of forests is a priority for the UK’s £3.87
billion International Climate Fund (ICF), and the Prime Minister announced in September
that this will rise to £5.8bn over the next Spending review period. To date, over
£700m has been programmed, including initiatives that: incentivise action to reduce
deforestation and forest degradation; support forest management, governance and market
reforms; curb illegal and unsustainable use of forest resources; and promote investments
in sustainable forestry, agriculture and land management.</p><br /><p>The UK also
plays an active leadership role in international fora, including the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biodiversity, and the United
Nations Forum on Forests. Last year, we played a key role in the negotiation of the
New York Declaration on Forests, which set ambitious targets for halving (by 2020)
and halting (by 2030) the loss of natural forests, eliminating deforestation from
the production of key agricultural commodities by 2020, and accelerating restoration
efforts.</p>
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