Acre, Brazil

The Acre State Secretary of Environmental Management (SEMA) has finalized the new System of Incentives for Environmental Services (SISA). Acre has worked vigorously to formalize the implementing institutions and ratify legislation which established programs and building capacity for SEMA technical staff is now a priority.

 

Forest Trends’ Communities and Markets Program, the Katoomba Group’s Rapid Response Team, and the State Secretary of Environmental Management delivered a four-day workshop to technical experts in Acre from November 9-12, 2010. The training course focused on the basics of environmental services and REDD in preparation for implementing the new forest carbon and PES framework introduced with the new System of Incentives for Environmental Services (SISA) in Acre.

 

​Objectives of the course included:

• Introduce the role of forests in climate change

• Define environmental services

• Describe payments for environmental services (PES), carbon markets, and reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD)

• Provide background on international climate negotiations and Brazil’s national REDD regime

• Outline the principal elements of the regional-level carbon policy in Acre

• Present the essential elements of a carbon project, accounting, and MRV methodologies

• Discuss opportunities for PES outside of carbon and REDD

• Explore incentives and finance for conservation in the context of SISA

• Share information on indigenous rights, best practices, and social-environmental principles and criteria

 

Forest Trends was honored to participate in this opportunity to work together with the Government of Acre in the implementation of the Policy for Valuing Forest Assets, with an emphasis on aspects of payment for environmental services and carbon. We look forward to continuing to build this important relationship.