Successes and challenges of the socio-environmental movement in the Amazon Region Acre state Alberto Tavares - Economist London June 2 – 2008

Over 90 % of the world's poorest people depend on forests for livelihoods More than a billion people living within the 19 forest biodiversity “hotspots” 22% of all developing country forests owned by communities Community tenure will double again by 2020 to more than 700 million hectares 21 million people live in Brazilian Amazon Region ~60% of public (state) lands are in the hand of local communities Cmmunities and Earth’s Biomes Forests and Livelihood

Amazon Rainforest 9 countries

What are ecosystem services after all? The Forest Climate Alliance Strategic Advice to National Policy Initiatives Biodiversity Offsets Carbon sequestration and storage Soil formation and fertility Beauty landscape Wild species & habitat protection Plant pollination Watershed protection and regulation Air quality Environmental Services of the Tropical Forests

Impacts of Climate Change in the Amazon Region -The Amazon Region is one of the two Brazilian Climatic Hotspots - The increase of temperature can be a s high as 8º C in some areas Dec-Jan-Feb Jun-July-Aug Probability of rainfall reduction (%)

Source: Brazilian Forest Service (2008)

Big Challenge deforestation scenarium if business as usual fonte: IPAM

Main threats in Amazon Region

The size of the problem... From 1988 to 2006: 345,000 km2 of amazon rainforest deforested only in Brazil São Paulo state area= 248,000 km2

Federal Government Reaction Reduction of Deforestation Plan Since 2002: Involvement of 11 Ministries Main lines of action: – Landscape planning; – Support for economic sustainability – Government control – Monitoring (technology) In December 2007 Deforestation growth – “embargo” on rural finance; – Focus in the districts with highest deforestation – Involve the market consumers of commodities

Social and Political Context Deforestation does not generate much economic welfare; Local communities present throughout the region depend on standing forest for their livelihoods. Insufficient actions to stop deforestation by the central government; REDD Emissions have gained considerable attention by the international community. Much funds have been promised but no clear framework is ready; No clear public directive on how adaptation will be woven into development policies in the region;

History of socio-environmental movement in the Amazon Region Acre State Sustainability Protagonists Recognition of traditional communities as protagonists of sustainable development, in so far as they maintain natural resources and provide environmental services for the planet and humanity; and their role should be valued.

Forest People Alliance Rubber tappers and indigenous people examples Chico Mendes and the rubber tappers’ movement: “Empates” against deforestation Protagonists of sustainable development Innovative Public policies

Strategies and alternatives for Sustainable Development in Amazon Region: Government (enviroment area); and NGO´s (civil society) Creation and implementation of Protected Areas Comunity Forestry Production Chain and Market for timber and no-timber products Sustainable Fishery Inclusion of Forest and carbon in Climate deal (Bali-2007) – payment for reduction emissions Market transformation Capacity building of social capital Public and Private Polices

Public and private policies in Nacional/Regional Level PACTO PELA VALORIZAÇÃO DA FLORESTA E PELO FIM DO DESMATAMENTO NA AMAZÔNIA October 2007 Ground-breaking initiative to establish commitment from diverse sectors of the Brazilian government and society; to propose urgent actions to end deforestation in the Brazilian Objective: reduce deforestation rate to zero by 2015 Main Goals Economic value of the foresta Recognise Legítimacy of traditional use of the forest resources (communities) Economic incentives How is it going? Support of the governors of the states of the Amazon: AC, AM, MT, AP, as well as SP e MG; Federal parliament Civil Society

Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) Greenpeace Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV) Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV) Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia (IPAM) The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Conservação Internacional (CI) Amigos da Terra - Amazônia Brasileira Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (Imazon) WWF-Brasil

Public and private policies in Nacional/Regional Level Project: Strengthen voices for better choices Leader: GTA - Grupo de Trabalho Amazônico (Wokgroup from Amazon) Stakeholders: Comunities organizations (extrativists and indiginous groups) and NGO´s. Support: WWF-Brazil and IUCN Goal: Construction of a Civil Society Agenda for Socio-environmental Public Policy of Acre state Values of the project Involvement and participation of civil society actors from the start Strengthening networks Clear strategy for action Structure and process for Social Participation and good Governance Shared learning of multi-institutional governance processes Process Phase 1 - Studies on Participation policies Phase 2 - Elaboration of Agenda and Policies Phase 3 – Capacity-building and support for implementation of the agreed agenda

PES is a community’s right… “At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.” - Chico Mendes †

Thank you! Alberto Tavares Phone xx