Thread by @ciel_tweets

It’s #Biodiversity day at #COP27.
🌴 Deforestation is a leading cause of climate change, second only to #FossilFuels.
🌴 #Forests play a vital role in protecting #Biodiversity and supporting the lives and livelihoods of communities and animals.

Illegal logging & timber trade is a key driver of deforestation.
In order to address these drivers and protect forest ecosystems, there is an urgent need to ensure that national and international safeguards and laws are strong and well-enforced.

That's why, this week, we are at #CITESCoP19, the 19th Conference of the Parties of @CITES, (a Convention that regulates the trade of endangered species) to work with partners and governments to further strengthen the Convention and meaningfully protect forests.

Legal protections must be more ambitious: There are fewer than 1,000 tree species protected under @CITES, but at least 16,000 species of trees globally are threatened with extinction. This poses a major risk of biodiversity loss and needs to be addressed urgently.

This year, Parties at @CITES will decide on the future of threatened trees in 6 proposals, including more than 150 species known as: trumpet tree (ipê), cumaru, Brazilwood, African rosewood, African mahogany, & pod mahogany.

The survival of these species is threatened due to deforestation, over-harvesting, & illegal logging.
Listing them for protection under @CITES is a critical step to preventing the extinction of these trees & ensuring their survival.