Key goal is carbon neutrality in land and forest use by 2030
11/05/2024
Governor Helder Barbalho of Pará signed into law the “Amazon Now State Plan” on Monday, aimed at curbing deforestation and promoting sustainable development across the state. A primary goal is to achieve carbon neutrality in land and forest use by 2030. The plan also outlines directives for land regularization, strengthening environmental monitoring, and fostering a low-carbon economy.
Key measures in the new law include establishing the State Anti-Deforestation Force, a unit dedicated to monitoring forest areas in Pará, and the creation of the Eastern Amazon Fund, a financial mechanism designed to attract and allocate resources for environmental conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable development projects.
The law also provides incentives for rural producers to adopt low-carbon practices and encourages active participation from local communities, including Indigenous and quilombola groups, in conservation and restoration efforts.
Gabriela Savian, deputy director of public policy at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM), believes that formalizing the plan—originally introduced in 2019—is crucial for providing predictability and legal certainty for sustainable investments. “It’s essential that subnational states have long-term, low-emission economic development plans, with a well-defined strategic direction,” she said, noting that over 80% of Pará’s emissions stem from deforestation and forest degradation.
The plan uses an average of greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2022, based on data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The aim is for Pará to reach near-zero emissions by 2030, which will require not only controlling deforestation but also expanding secondary vegetation areas to compensate for lost forest cover.
To monitor compliance, the government has created a Permanent Monitoring Center responsible for tracking actions and publishing periodic progress reports. Another body, the Climate Science Panel, made up of research institutions, will contribute technical recommendations and strategies for the plan.
The proposal also includes the establishment of the Pará Forum for Climate Change and Adaptation, a platform that will allow local communities and social organizations to participate in policy discussions and action oversight. These groups will be involved in forest conservation and promoting sustainable practices.
The law aligns the state with Brazil’s national commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan also emphasizes adopting the REDD+ mechanism, an international system incentivizing forest conservation, which would reward Pará for reducing emissions from deforestation.
*By Murillo Camarotto, Fabio Murakawa — Brasília
Source: Valor International