Public comments and the subsequent State Department report will be used to inform the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on forest conservation. President Biden’s Plan to Conserve Global Forests: Critical Carbon Sinks set the goals of ending natural forest loss, restoring at least an additional 200 million hectares of vital ecosystems, and showcasing new economic models conducive to the services provided by critical worldwide ecosystems by 2030. These goals emphasize how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by enhancing peatland and forest ecosystems in the Amazon, Congo Basin and Southeast Asia and using the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3371-3378) to combat illegal logging and the trade of illegally sourced wood. With these targets in mind, the State Department is requesting feedback in these key areas:
- Approach to Identifying Deforested Lands
- Approach to Addressing Deforestation Associated with Commodities
- Data and Information
- Covered Commodities
- Covered Entities
- Prioritization of Resources
- Monitoring and Traceability
- Certification Schemes
- Public Private Partnerships
- Resources.
Companies interested in providing input to the Biden-Harris administration should send comments in PDF form or as a Word attachment in an email to DeforestationRFI@state.gov by December 2, 2022. Akin Gump frequently advises clients on the preparation of comments and welcomes the opportunity to assist companies in impacted sectors as they craft their feedback for the State Department and, ultimately, the administration.