Dec 17, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. The National Forest Agency (CONAFOR) and the Ministry of Environment and Territory of Italy are working together to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change by generating bioenergy while preventing forest degradation, ITTO reported. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2008, and Mexico has already started a national energy progamme, which includes a programme to save firewood and reduce the incidence of respiratory disease. In 2008, 185 million Mexican pesos ($ 14 million) will be invested for the installation of 120 thousand stoves in the country. Another component of the program will promote commercial forest plantations for the generation of biogas and bioethanol. Mexico and Italy will promote technical and scientific cooperation for the prevention of forest degradation and sustainable forestry and exchange experiences on bioenergy generation to promote sustainable development.