WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell launched a new U.S. government initiative aimed at combating the global problem of illegal logging.
The U.S. program will focus initially on the Congo and Amazon basins and tropical forests in Southeast Asia.
The Initiative Against Illegal Logging is starting with modest funding, about $15 million, but the Bush administration says it will seek more money from Congress as pilot projects prove their worth, Voice of America reported.
The U.S. government is looking for support from conservation and industry groups to help tackle a problem it says costs developing countries $10 billion to $15 billion a year in lost revenue and environmental degradation.
"Illegal logging destroys biodiversity and hundreds of thousands of acres of forest habitat annually as well
as releases millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere," Bush said.
"Last year, I directed Secretary Powell to develop a plan to address this serious issue and I thank him for his efforts."
