Ecuador's president said Monday he would join Indonesia and other rain forest nations in demanding compensation if they help reduce global warming by refusing to clear or burn trees, according to AP. Some experts say deforestation in the developing world is responsible for up to 20 percent of annual emissions of carbon dioxide, largely because it is released into the air during land-clearing. At the same time, trees are believed to play a key role in absorbing emissions. President Rafael Correa, who was in the Southeast Asian country on a three-day visit, and Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono contended that rich nations should provide incentives to those who preserve rain forests, which are being rapidly cleared to meet global demand for cheap timber and palm oil.
