Brazil rejected on Tuesday an anti-deforestation pledge, which was the centerpiece of a one-day summit of the United Nations in New York.

Brazilian officials said the country refused to sign the pledge to fight illegal deforestation because it was drafted in a closed-door session without Brazil's help, according to a report from The Independent.

The pledge to help end deforestation was the main topic at the U.N. summit and Brazil's cooperation was key. The Amazon rain forest in Brazil is included among the planet's primary ways to absorb carbon dioxide, which is the main cause of rising global temperatures. On top of that, logging is the second biggest source of emissions.

"Putting a stop to deforestation is the smart thing to do," said Justine Greening, British Development Secretary. "Without action, the world will get hungrier, poorer and more dangerous. There is no point building a health clinic for poor people in Bangladesh if it will get washed away by the next floods."

Brazil's Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said that her country was "not invited to be engaged in the preparation process" of the pledge and was only handed a copy of the pledge when it was done.

The U.N. denies intentionally freezing Brazil out of the drafting process and was taken aback by its refusal to sign the pledge.

"There was no desire to exclude Brazil," said Charles McNeill, a UN policy advisor. "They are the most important country in this area. An effort that involves Brazil is much more powerful and impactful than one that doesn't."

Deforestation in Brazil has fallen 79 percent in the last decade, but increased last year, according to a report from The Climate Group.

Several other countries signed the pledge to slow deforestation, including Germany, Norway, Peru and the United States, among other countries, indigenous groups and companies, NBC News reported.