Brazilian Government wants to implement national REDD+ mechanism this year

The Brazilian Ministry for the Environment announced that a national mechanism to regulate Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) must be implemented in 2013. The conclusion of a national strategy for REDD+ and the use of the Amazon Forest as a mechanism to help mitigate Climate Change is set as part of the priority plan for this year, according to the government. The plan will support the implementation of projects aiming to encourage forest conservation and sustainability as well as reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Carlos Klink, Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Quality, stated that the Brazilian strategic plan for REDD+ is already designed and will be implemented soon. Still this year, a Sector Mitigation and Climate Change Plan will be executed. In order to be completed and put into practice, these projects will have to fit harmoniously with the existing legislations of the 18 Brazilian states, which already address these forestry and Climate Change issues subject.

Klink recognises the importance of discussing the global greenhouse effect and the need to invest in Climate Change mitigation. According to him, the subject was previously considered, by the Brazilian Government, to be a more international problem, but now has gained momentum nationally and is being increasingly discussed within the Brazilian political rhetoric.