Brazil: More on mainstream enviros sorta getting in the way of the devouring of the Amazon

WWF – Brazil’s Conservation Director, Carlos Alberto de Mattos
Scaramuzza, explains that actions to fight deforestation must run on
four tracks. The first one is the effective protection of forests
through creation and implementation of protected areas. Secondly,
there is the promotion of sustainable use of natural resources,
through forest management capacity building in the Amazon states.

Then
there are patrolling actions to tackle illegal activity threats which
are linked to land property and occupation (“grilagem”), to
agribusiness and to large infrastructure works. Finally, we must have
financial offset actions to reward those who protect the forest. “We
acknowledge some positive actions taken by the federal government, but
we urge some improvements,” Scaramuzza said. “In particular, we call
for the continuation of the protected areas creation process, the
strengthening of implementation efforts in the already created
protected areas, the allocation of personnel and their management
capacity building, plus the effective implementation of the new forest
policy, including forest management capacity development in the Amazon
states.”

The Amazon Fund, created by the government in August 2008, is
also an important policy to make financial offset viable for those who
protect the forest. Nevertheless, WWF-Brazil claims that funds should
be applied in the end of the chain. “It is crucial that funds reach
the field, direct to local communities, land owners and protected
areas”, Scaramuzza said. “We hope that the Amazon Fund implementation
will encourage innovation, creativity, experimentation and the
involvement of civil society; and that it will be complemented by
public funds, instead of being used to fulfill the blanks and gaps in
governmental programs”.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090104093542.htm
— Posted to http://forestpolicyresearch.com via gmail to posterous and
also to forestpolicyresearch@yahoogroups.com

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