BRAZIL: State of Acre Advising on Draft Guidelines for a Regional REDD Policy

Katoomba partners completed an in-depth review of Acre State’s draft PES-Carbon Program Guidelines. The review included recommendations for improvement in the framework to be processed and considered by Acre prior to implementation of the policy.

In September of 2009 the Acre Government in the Southwest Amazon produced draft Guidelines for a new project underneath the ‘Socio-Environmental Development Policy of the State of Acre’. The Acre Government partnered with IPAM: Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazonia, IUCN, WWF, GTZ, The Woods Hole Research Center, Universidad Federal de Acre (UFAC), & Embrapa, to develop the “Plan for Valuing Forest Assets, Payment for Environmental Services – Carbon Project”. On behalf of the Government of Acre State in the Brazilian Southwestern Amazon, Forest Trends’ Katoomba Group was invited in November 2009 by Eufran Ferreira do Amaral, Environmental Secretary in Acre, to contribute to the public consultation of Acre State’s Payment for Environmental Services – Carbon Program. 

In response to their request to provide comment, The Katoomba Group circulated the draft PES-Carbon Program framework among 30 key network members. Comments from participants were compiled to form a single response / recommendation to the State of Acre which was submitted in the beginning of March.

Our partners were asked the following questions:
-          Is there anything in the project which appears to be an unrealistic goal or expectation?
-          Is the project design viable on a regional level?
-          Are there any gaps in the framework?
-          Are there any clarifying questions to ask of Acre State?

The main deliverable of this RRT Consultation was the 8 page document, ‘Consultation on the Acre State’s Payment for Environmental Services – Carbon Project, The Forest Trends Katoomba Group’s Response: A Summary’. The Acre State Government has completed its review of all the feedback received on the draft PES – Carbon Guidelines. This summer, Acre is working to formalize the implementing institutions and ratify the legislation which will establish the PES-Carbon program and corresponding incentives for conservation activities.

“First of all, please convey our sincere congratulations to the Acre team for this ambitious and seriously considered proposal for REDD and PES. It shows strong intellectual understanding of the social, economic, and environmental considerations for REDD internationally and at the local level. The team has been able to create an organic program, building on the history and geography of Acre, which incorporates real economic development, achievable governance standards, and existing technology. The world would do well to use Acre’s plan as a model for other developing states that count on this kind of intellectual prowess and conservation value.”
-- Amy Rosenthal,
former Deputy Director for Projects,
Amazon Conservation Association, Rapid Response Participant