Written by Anthony Bowdle
BRASILIA (Reuters) – How will the government of Brazil's Para state in the Amazon basin benefit from future sales of carbon offset credits that a U.S. company has agreed to buy to protect the rainforest? The plan is to consult with indigenous communities regarding this.
In a statement received by Reuters on Monday, the Pará government's environment secretariat, Semas, said it would “start a new phase of dialogue” with indigenous and other traditional communities in the rainforest.
Scientists say protecting the Amazon rainforest is essential to combating global warming.
Amazon.com and a group of companies announced last month in New York that they would be acquiring carbon credits in a deal worth $180 million through the Reef Coalition, an environmental protection initiative they helped establish in 2021 with other companies and governments, including the U.S. agreed to purchase. And England.
At the time, Para Governor Helder Barbarulho said the agreement involved the participation of indigenous peoples and other traditional communities. But last week, 38 Indigenous and community groups signed an open letter saying they were not properly consulted.
“The transaction with Reef Alliance is expected to be completed in 2025, following the conclusion of this joint construction process,” a statement from the Pala government said.
A series of high-profile controversies have shaken confidence in the carbon offset market, with carbon credits being cut short after a study found that large-scale forest conservation projects are failing to deliver promised emissions reductions. Some large buying companies are pulling back from carbon offsets.
Emergent, the nonprofit coordinator for the LEAF Coalition, said discussions on the LEAF agreement have not yet begun in Para. This involves a forward purchase and the credits will not be traded until after the consultation process.
An Emergent spokesperson said: “Para is fully committed to developing the REDD+ system with the active participation of various communities and beneficiaries who play an active role in reducing deforestation. I have confidence in them,” he said.
REDD+ is a climate change mitigation strategy that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by slowing, halting, and reversing deforestation.
This community includes indigenous peoples, descendants of escaped slaves known as quilombolas, and family farmers.
Emergent said it understood the government-led consultation would include more than 30 workshops across the state.
One indigenous organization actively involved in facilitating consultations is the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Para (FEPIPA), which is inviting indigenous communities to participate.
Consita Sompre, leader of FEPIPA, said in a statement that selling carbon credits is the right solution for indigenous communities, but that indigenous communities “feel poorly informed.” He said the talks needed to explain how the profits would be distributed.
“In a benefit-sharing agreement, we as First Nations, along with other beneficiaries living in the province, agree on how much each portion will receive,” she said.
(Reporting by Anthony Bowdle; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
