The coordinator of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, Paulo Moutinho, stated on Thursday (15th), in a debate at the Chamber, that the compensation to traditional and indigenous population by environmental services, as forests, rivers, lakes and streams conservation, will reduce 95% of the Amazon deforestation in 15 years. According to him, if the actual standard occupation and the use of the land in the region continue, the estimative is that 32 billion tons of carbon will be issued up to 2050.

“The effort of the traditional and indigenous population to conserve forests and reduce the climate change must be paid”, defended the coordinator. He highlighted that the indigenous population has 30% of the carbon stock in the region - about 13 billion tons - and that the avoided deforestation in the reserves stands for 5 billion tons of carbon up to 2050.

Moutinho took part in the public hearing about the subject that was promoted by the Committee on the Amazon, National Integration and Regional Development. The debate was proposed by deputies Lupércio Ramos (PMDB-AM) and Zé Geraldo (PT-PA).

Monetary value
During the hearing, Lupércio Ramos manifested the preoccupation of how to account for the environmental services. According to him, if the government does not motivate this subject, the country may not have a concrete proposal to the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) that will be held in November in Denmark.

Maurício de Carvalho Amazonas, professor of Environmental Economics of the University of Brasília (UnB), said that the value of things depends on a social pact. According to him, that one who degrades the environment must pay for it and that the ones who preserve it must be compensated.

The general-coordinator of Indian Heritage and Environment of the National Foundation of the Indian (Funai), Marcela Menezes, stated that Funai is looking for mechanisms of payment for the carbon; however, she commented that the subject “still needs more technically complex negotiations”.

The representative of the Indian Organisations of the Brazilian Amazon, Valéria Paye, warned that it is necessary to ensure that the resources reach the villages.

She highlighted that the indigenous land are more preserved, and this effort is not recognized.

A forest preservation allowance
The coordinator of the Climate Changes Center of the State of Amazon, Ernesto Roessing, told about a program on his state to encourage the preservation. According to him, the “bolsa floresta” (Forest Grant) is benefiting 6052 families with R$50 per month. For the family to have the right to this money, they compromise not to increase the size of the cleared ground (land where the forest was burned) and to keep the children in school.

Reporting – Oscar Telles
Edition - João Pitella Junior