Governor Wilson Lima highlighted the new project proposals approved to generate more than R$8 billion in carbon credits, in 21 state Conservation Units (UC). Qualified proposals competed in a notice launched in June 2023.
“For the first time, the State of Amazonas is seeing effective results from the commercialization of carbon credits. The project we are building here has a difference, because it is linked to social indicators and aims to solve some problems that are chronic in these communities: electricity, drinking water and internet”, highlighted Wilson Lima.
In total, 57 proposals for REDD+ projects (acronym for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) were sent to the State Secretariat for the Environment (Sema). Of the total, 21 proposals were approved, with the capacity to generate more than 163 million Tons of Carbon Equivalent (tCO2e) in credits, over 30 years.
The result was published by the Government of Amazonas in the Official State Gazette, on May 3rd. The winning proponents will be responsible for implementing environmental projects capable of generating new carbon credits in the intended UCs. The initiatives should generate direct benefits for 8,050 families, in 483 communities.
“Now, at this moment when we are talking a lot about the impact of climate change that affects these most vulnerable populations, it is about making this resource reach directly to communities to improve infrastructure, water, economy, also supporting extractivism and small farmers who lives in these areas”, explained Sema secretary, Eduardo Taveira.
Projects must include activities in areas such as forest restoration, community-based tourism, bioeconomy and encouraging local production chains (pirarucu management, oil extraction, timber and non-timber management, among others). The positive results in reducing deforestation, obtained through the initiatives, will be transformed into carbon credits, which will be sold by the winning company.
In this strategy, 50% of the resources raised must be invested directly in improvements in the UCs where the credits were generated, while the other 50% will be allocated to the State Climate Change Fund (Femucs) to improve environmental management structures and, above all, guarantee the financial sustainability of “Guardians of the Forest”, the largest payment program for environmental services in the world.
Winning proposals
In March 2024, the State began approving the first REDD+ proposals in UC. The first to be considered were the Juma and Rio Negro Sustainable Development Reserves (RDS). Now, new Conservation Units will benefit, including the RDS Amanã, Igapó Açu, Mamirauá, Cujubim, Matupiri, Puranga Conquista, Rio Madeira and Uatumã.
Projects were also approved for four State Forests: Tapauá, Sucunduri, Maués and Canutama. And among the State Parks covered are Rio Negro – Setor Norte, Sucunduri and Matupiri.
Of the Environmental Protection Areas (APA), proposals were approved for the APA Caverna do Maroaga and the APA Margem Direita do Rio Negro. Of the Extractive Reserves (Resex), the Rio Gregório and Canutama Resex are the ones that will receive REDD+ projects.
Companies classified as Environmental Services Executing Agents, qualified in previous public calls, proposed projects. The winners per Conservation Unit can be seen on the Sema website (www.sema.am.gov.br/redd), in the Notices and Results section.
*With information from consultancy.
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