The Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forests and Agriculture, a multi-sectoral movement comprising more than 350 members from the private and financial sectors, the academia, and civil society organizations, considers as positive the announcement of the public consultation on Phase V of the Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm) and the resumption of this important instrument that has proven to be effective and efficient in combating deforestation in the country.
The initiative is in tune with the Coalition’s proposal to restructure and implement the PPCDAm, presented in the document “The Brazil of Tomorrow: proposals for the country’s agro-environmental agenda from now on“, submitted to the new administration’s transition staff. With 33 proposals for the next four years, the document foresees this action already for the first day of the presidential term in office.
We emphasize the Plan’s transversal nature, as already announced by the government, which involves 13 ministries. We believe this is the most effective way to deal with this matter, considering its several implications, and besides identifying possible overlaps between policies and projects, thus saving efforts and resources. It is also important to emphasize the GPTI – Permanent Inter-Ministerial Working Group, which has already shown itself to be important in the past in the same context as the PPCDAm. We understand that it is essential to ensure, starting from the GPTI, a continuous dialogue with the civil society, through the sector’s permanent seat in the GPTI, in addition to holding seminars and events to disclose the Group’s deliberations.
As a multi-sector entity, we emphasize our vision, established from the consensus among our members, that it is only possible to move towards sustainable, fair, and inclusive development for Brazil by putting an end to deforestation and fostering an economy based on standing forests. We believe in a new economy, based on low-carbon activities and the promotion of social inclusion.
The Plan’s axes I and IV follow this direction, that fighting deforestation goes far beyond command-and-control measures, and it is essential to address economic alternatives and include economic instruments that enable development without deforestation.
The prediction of articulation with state plans, as mentioned in axes I and II, is very positive. However, the PPCDAm needs, from the outset, to indicate how to consider these plans within the overall scope of the program without leaving out the consideration of how crucial it is, for the territorial planning of the Amazon, that states progress in their analyses of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and its connection with other mechanisms for curbing deforestation and preventing land grabbing.
Furthermore, it is important to be clearer about the Plan’s operationalization, with deadlines, budget, and order of implementation (phasing), as well as a follow-up rationale for the effectiveness of action lines by means of indicators and their monitoring by stakeholders. It is also interesting to understand how this consultation fits into a larger process of constant listening to society. In fact, it is important to ensure spaces for different players and segments of society to be involved in the development and implementation of the action plans.
At last, given the current stage of maturity of Brazilian democracy, which demands so much transparency and quality of information, it is essential to include a well-structured Communication strategy in the PPCDAm. A Communication Plan that considers the different stakeholders inside and outside the Amazon is an essential instrument for aspects such as conservation education, consolidating a new economic vision that considers traditional knowledge, values, and know-how, as well as for the support to command and control actions in the region. The Brazilian population should recognize the standing forest values and develop pride in this great heritage. For this reason, the public consultation for PPCDAm Phase V is a unique opportunity for civil society and other stakeholders to contribute with proposals and suggestions that will further strengthen the Plan.
Also, regarding transparency, it is crucial to make explicit, as a part of the main text, the understanding of “zero deforestation” within the scope of the Plan, currently available only in the second footnote of the section on political-institutional context. Such a concept deserves a broad discussion, otherwise it could undermine the Plan’s commitment to avoid the point of no return in the Amazon.
We stress the importance of the PPCDAm implementation – the necessity for a collaborative and articulated approach from all sectors of society to tackle the challenge of deforestation in the Amazon. The Coalition is committed to contribute to the agro-environmental agenda and will continue to work along with its members and partners to create a sustainable future for Brazil.
The contributions were developed through a broad consultation involving eight Task Forces on specific themes and dozens of representatives of the several sectors associated with the Coalition. They are separated by axis and can be found as an Annex, in Portuguese, here.