Government launches consultation plans to consolidate REDD+ policy with the protagonism of traditional peoples
Consultations will ensure the active participation of indigenous peoples, quilombolas, extractivists, and family farmers in forest preservation and benefit sharing
The Government of Pará launched, this Tuesday (12), the plan for Free, Prior and Informed Consultations (CLPIs), an essential milestone for the construction of the REDD+ Jurisdictional System (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). The event, held at the headquarters of the Secretary of Environment and Sustainability (Semas), brought together representatives of indigenous peoples, quilombolas, extractivists, and family farmers, who will play a central role in the process of listening and negotiating the environmental policy.
With the realization of more than 30 consultations throughout the state, the initiative seeks to ensure that Indigenous Peoples, Quilombolas, Traditional Communities, and Family Farmers (PIQCTAFs) participate in the construction of public policy and the definition of the sharing of benefits generated by the reduction of deforestation.
“Today, Pará takes a fundamental step by starting to listen to the traditional peoples and communities about this policy, which needs to be built collectively and with the protagonism of those who keep the forest alive. Consultations will be held in all regions of the state, respecting the rights guaranteed in ILO Convention 169,” said the Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Raul Protazio Romão.
The event was attended by the Secretary of Indigenous Peoples, Puyr Tembé; the Secretary of Racial Equality and Human Rights, Edilza Fontes; and the Deputy Secretary of Family Agriculture, Cristiano Martins.
The first consultation is scheduled to take place between March 28 and 30 in Castanhal, with extractivist communities. Other consultations will be organized according to social segments and areas of operation.
Structured and comprehensive consultation
The Deputy Secretary of Water Resources and Climate Management at Semas, Renata Nobre, presented the schedule of the CLPIs and detailed the methodology of the consultations, the stages of preparation, execution, and systematization of the meetings, in addition to the draft law that will formalize the REDD+ policy in the State.
There will be 16 consultations with indigenous peoples in the municipalities of Altamira, Belém, Santarém, Itaituba, Jacareacanga, Marabá, Novo Progresso, Oriximiná, Redenção, São Félix do Xingu, Tucuruí, and Almeirim. Extractivist populations will participate in consultations in Abaetetuba, Altamira, Belém, Breves, Castanhal, and Santarém. Quilombolas will be heard in 18 municipalities, including Abaetetuba, Barcarena, Cametá, Cachoeira do Arari, Oriximiná, Óbidos, Salvaterra, and São Miguel do Guamá. Family farmers will participate in consultations in Belém, Castanhal, Redenção, Altamira, Santarém, Novo Repartimento, and Marabá.
Recognition and protagonism
During the launch, leaders from different social segments reinforced the importance of this historic moment. For Letícia Moraes, Vice President of the National Council of Extractivist Populations (CNS), the process “values the living forest and the people who preserve it. It is a source of pride to build this policy with the State.”
Érica Monteiro, from the Coordination of Associations of Remnant Quilombo Communities of Pará (Malungu), highlighted the need to ensure that the specificities of quilombola communities are addressed: “This active listening is a fundamental step for the social participation of all communities.”
Ronaldo Amanayé, coordinator of the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Pará (Fepipa), emphasized the autonomy of indigenous peoples: “We are here with courage to build a policy that brings concrete benefits to our territories, respecting the specificities of each people.”
On this occasion, Semas also officially received the consultation protocols from family farmers. The document was delivered by José Carlos da Silva Reis, president of Fetagri, and by Noemi Gonçalves, state coordinator of Fetraf.
REDD+ and carbon credits
The state REDD+ policy is based on international climate financing mechanisms, which enable the generation of carbon credits from the verification of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. These credits, when sold, generate revenues that should be reinvested in public policies aimed at environmental conservation, sustainability, and improving the quality of life of populations living in the forest.
