Last week, American Forests launched its first-ever petition through TakePart’s Take Action forum — a letter to President Obama to make forests play an important role in the country’s climate change plan — and have seen a tremendous amount of people from across the world sign on.

Forests across the country and world are succumbing to a range of threats, from drought and wildfire to pests and diseases, all of which are exacerbated by climate change.
Forests across the country and world are succumbing to a range of threats, from drought and wildfire to pests and diseases, all of which are exacerbated by climate change.

President Obama announced the initiative in July, highlighting rising temperatures, carbon pollution, and the country’s preparedness for the impacts of climate change.

Forests and climate change have a dynamic relationship. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, one of the biggest contributors to climate change, and convert it into clean oxygen, which they release, and carbon, which they store. Sound forest management practices and increased funding can help these important natural resources maintain and improve their potential to sequester carbon, maximizing their ability to mitigate climate change.

Please take a moment to sign the petition and share with your friends and family on Facebook and Twitter. With your support, we can encourage the president and his staff to ensure that forests have a place in our country’s — and world’s — climate change conversation.