June 6, 2023

11:06

Marcela Leiros – From Amazon Agency

MANAUS – The governor of Amazonas, Mr. Wilson Lima (União Brasil), announced on Monday, 5th, World Environment Day, a series of initiatives for the sustainable socioeconomic development of Amazonas. In the ceremony held at the State government headquarters, in the city’s West Zone, Wilson launched the public notice for carbon credit market projects and signed, together with the National Water Agency (ANA), the Pact for Water Governance.

The public notice will open the 42 conservation units of the State of Amazonas for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), institutions and companies to act as intermediaries between the state government and those who need to sell the credits for environmental compensation purposes. According to the governor, Amazonas currently has around 800 tons of carbon credits.

“This has been a much discussed agenda around the world and, today, we are launching an edict that is to guide the legal issues to guarantee the legal framework of the companies that will be accredited to commercialize the credits that the State of Amazonas has already accumulated from previous commitments”, said Mr. Lima.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is an incentive developed to financially reward developing countries for their results in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, considering the role of conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

According to the state secretary of Environment, Mr. Eduardo Taveira, part of the resources generated with the carbon market will be invested in the conservation units of Amazonas and another part converted into environmental policies.

“Our model is unprecedented in Brazil because it will provide that 50% of the resources coming from carbon REDD+ land in the conservation units, in the improvement of productive processes, improvement of sanitation and education. I have no doubt that this will be a springboard of well-being for these communities”, he explained, affirming that the other 50% will go to the State Climate Change Fund, created in 2021.

Pact for the Waters

The pact for water governance will guide the States in the water resources policies, executed by the Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE), through the Amazonas Sanitation Company (Cosama), in Manaus and in the Amazonas countryside cities.

“This [the pact] reinforces the state’s commitment to the maintenance of a resource that is very important, because standing forest and water resources are very closely linked. The forest plays a very important role in cycling water and bringing rain to regions of Brazil that are responsible for almost 60% of the Brazilian GDP [Gross Domestic Product]”, said Mr. Taveira.

The director of ANA, Ms. Ana Carolina Argolo Nascimento de Castro, explained that the pact will guide the state in the development of public policies for the adequate management of water resources, as a kind of “menu”.

“To improve the quality of the service of adequacy of water quality, of sanitary sewage, involving collection and drainage, so that we can bring dignity and quality to the life of Brazilians and to the life of the Amazon people”, she explained.