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Warning that the destruction of rainforests is responsible for 20 per cent of worldwide emissions - more than the world's entire transport system - Mr Ainsworth said his action plan would not only result in a drastic reduction in emissions but also protect precious ecosystems.

Setting out his proposals in a Conservative consultation document, the spokesman said: ?Deforestation is responsible for 20 per cent of worldwide emissions. If we are serious about tackling climate change, we must address the threat of deforestation. Creating a market value, through the Kyoto agreement, for keeping rainforests rather than cutting them down could be an impressive step towards doing this.?

He added: ?This process also needs to be supported by laws against illegal deforestation. Currently, British and EU laws do little to support legal traders and even less to clamp down on the illegal foresters.?

The consultation paper puts forward a package of measures which backs-up market opportunities with legal obligations. Subject to the results of consultation, Conservatives are considering proposals to make the possession of illegally logged timber an offence; to seek sustainability as well as legality by pushing for an EU wide definition of sustainable timber; and to push for an EU ban for products which do not meet these criteria, to be phased to allow countries time to reach the required standard.

Other moves include negotiating revised EU government procurement rules to ensure that public procurement meets these criteria in the meantime, thereby guaranteeing a market for sustainable timber; developing and negotiating an accreditation scheme for biofuels covered by EU targets, to ensure proven carbon reduction and a local environmental impact assessment; putting a price on ecosystem services provided by the rainforests; and ensuring that a robust market for voluntary carbon exists until inconsistencies within Kyoto and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme can be overcome.