Governments promised to protect forests in the Earth Summit 1992 and support sustainable logging operations in the world's remaining ancient forests.

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Blanket regulation could even fail the environment, he added, pointing to laws designed to protect sandalwood forests in the Philippines.

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Failing to protect global forests could lead to changes in the ways guitars are designed and constructed, Mr Juber adds.

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Whatever the case, Protect the Forests is adamant that Swedwood has violated both international and Russian FSC standards and demands retribution.

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This in turn would lead to a sophisticated carbon "market", and ultimately to billions of dollars in incentives for governments and communities to manage and protect their forests.

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With more than 1 million members, NRDC has won landmark cases and helped pass landmark laws to clean up our air and water, protect our forests and wildlife, and keep our climate safe.

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By supporting this promising and courageous democracy with the right economic tools and technical assistance to protect these forests, we will not only be helping Liberia, but a global community facing the unprecedented challenge of climate change.

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And that, he says, could help protect what remains of South America's forests.

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