I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9867 
To establish a verifiable international terrestrial ecosystem services conserva-
tion program and provide international technical assistance for the devel-
opment of markets, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 
Mr. HOYER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish a verifiable international terrestrial ecosystem 
services conservation program and provide international 
technical assistance for the development of markets, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combatting Global De-
forestation Act of 2024’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Forests are a vital to the ecological health 
of the Earth, biodiversity, the protection of water 
and soil quality, the prevention of erosion and dan-
gerous landslides, the production of oxygen, the reg-
ulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the 
regulation of the global system. 
(2) Forests are a critical natural resource that, 
when appropriately managed and conserved, provide 
significant economic, cultural, health, and commu-
nity benefits to humanity. 
(3) Since the start of the 20th century, an esti-
mated 3,900,000 square miles of forest have been 
lost due to human activities, including land conver-
sions for agricultural production, cattle ranching, 
logging, land development, and extractive industrial 
activities such as mining and fossil fuel extraction. 
(4) Since 2000, 23 percent of global tree cov-
erage loss has been the result of deforestation in-
cluding— 
(A) 48 percent in Brazil; 
(B) 50 percent in Argentina; 
(C) 89 percent in the Philippines; and 
(D) 96 percent in Indonesia. 
(5) Deforestation disproportionately affects— 
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(A) critical habitats and ecosystems for 
critically endangered species such as Sumatran 
Elephants and Orangutans in Indonesia; 
(B) the health and quality of water re-
sources through the alteration of critical eco-
system services to hydrological systems, includ-
ing slowing stormwater runoff into surface 
waters and providing natural filtration for fall-
en precipitation that infiltrates groundwater re-
sources; and 
(C) approximately 370,000,000 people in 
indigenous communities that rely on naturally 
forested lands that are historically and cul-
turally significant and provide community and 
economic opportunities, sustenance, medicinal 
resources and spiritual connection; 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADDITIONALITY.—The term ‘‘additionality’’ 
means emissions reductions or other terrestrial eco-
system services in developing countries that would 
not have occurred but for activities to reduce green-
house gas emissions in partner developing countries 
funded and made possible by funding provided pur-
suant to section 5. 
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