The administration of Pará, an Amazonian state, is embarking on a significant initiative. They are initiating a dialogue with indigenous groups on carbon credit sales, aiming to ensure these groups benefit from future carbon offset credit sales. These credits are part of an agreement with US firms to protect the Amazon rainforest. Semas, the Pará state environmental secretariat, has announced the start of ‘a new phase of dialogue’ with Indigenous peoples and other traditional communities. This step to consultation is a crucial step in addressing the growing concerns about proper inclusion and representation in environmental decision-making.

Preserving the Amazon rainforest is crucial for tackling global climate change, and scientists emphasize its role in reducing global warming. A significant transaction worth $180 million was recently completed in New York. This transaction, facilitated by the LEAF Coalition, a conservation program founded in 2021 by Amazon.com Inc. and other firms, as well as the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom, aims to fund projects that combat deforestation and protect forests such as the Amazon. However, the technique of incorporating local communities in this project has sparked criticism.

Consultation and Controversies

Controversy has grown over the claim made by Pará Governor Helder Barbalho. He initially stated that Indigenous Groups were included in the deal, but a public statement signed by 38 Indigenous and community organisations last week refuted this claim. These groups asserted that they had not been properly consulted in the decision-making process. The sale of carbon credits under the LEAF Coalition is scheduled to be completed in 2025, and the Pará administration claims that this timescale allows for a thorough engagement process aimed at addressing Indigenous concerns.

In recent years, the carbon offset market has come under scrutiny. According to studies, some big forest conservation projects failed to meet their carbon reduction pledges, prompting several corporations to exit the market. On the other hand, the LEAF Coalition has stated that no carbon credits would be traded until the consultation process is concluded, and it is confident in Pará’s construction of a REDD+ system that involves active engagement from local populations.

REDD+, which stands for “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation,” is a global climate change mitigation plan focusing on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions through forest conservation. The consultation process in Pará will include around 30 workshops to enable widespread participation from various groups, including Indigenous peoples, Quilombolas (descendants of escaped slaves), and family farmers.

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Indigenous Groups on Carbon Credit Sales: Involvement and Benefits

The Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Pará (FEPIPA) is a significant organisation involved in the consultations. The group has been asking Indigenous communities to participate in these meetings so that their perspectives can be heard. Concita Sompré, FEPIPA’s leader, favours the sale of carbon credits as a potential solution for Indigenous communities but emphasises that many people are still unaware of how they would gain. Sompré advocated for increased transparency in determining how earnings from carbon credit sales will be divided. “In the benefit-sharing agreement, we Indigenous people, together with the other beneficiaries in the state, will decide how much each group will receive,” she stated, emphasising the importance of transparent communication throughout the process. The conclusion of these consultations will be critical in establishing how Pará’s communities can actively oppose deforestation while receiving tangible benefits for their efforts to preserve the Amazon.

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