The institute promotes discussions aimed at advocating for the inclusion of the Cerrado biome in European Union regulations on the import of deforestation-free products, and also to emphasize the importance of the socio-bioeconomy in the conservation of the biome and the generation of income for traditional peoples and communities, which contributes significantly to combating the climate crisis.
The Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN) arrives at the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP 28), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with the mission of defending the Cerrado and everything within it: 5% of the planet's biodiversity, the cradle of Brazil's waters, and the ways of life of traditional peoples and communities. Deforestation in the Cerrado continues to grow, with 11.011 km² of native vegetation cleared between August 2022 and July 2023, equivalent to the size of the entire municipality of Manaus.
The institute's program at COP 28 will focus on the inclusion of the Cerrado in the European Union regulation on the import of deforestation-free products and on emphasizing the importance of socio-biodiversity economies in the context of the discussion on socio-bioeconomy for the conservation of the biome and the appreciation of the ways of life and production of the traditional peoples and communities of the Cerrado.
In this context, ISPN will present the actions carried out by the Observatory of Socio-biodiversity Economies (ÓSocioBio), a network that brings together 29 civil society organizations, social movements and community enterprises, which works to monitor public policies for socio-productive inclusion.
“In the context of global discussions on climate, as a Brazilian institution, we want to emphasize that the sustainable use of natural resources is an important way to generate income for indigenous peoples and traditional communities, who are recognized as the main actors in nature conservation, due to their ways of life,” highlights the executive coordinator of ISPN, Fábio Vaz.
He emphasizes that "it is essential to prevent products derived from deforestation in the Cerrado from having abundant markets abroad, as a way to discourage the displacement of local communities and minimize climate change."
European Standards
On December 8th, the program at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Pavilion will feature a panel discussion with Guilherme Eidt, Public Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at ISPN. Protecting nature: NDCs, laws, and data that can drive change., alongside Jean F. Timmers, Public Policy Manager at WWF, and Nicole Polsterer, Manager of Sustainable Production and Consumption at the Belgian NGO Fern.
The event is a collaboration between ISPN, Global Canopy, and the National Wildlife Federation to discuss how the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which each signatory country to the Paris Agreement establishes to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, along with effective laws and consistent data, can drive positive decision-making that helps meet climate goals.
ISPN will advocate for the inclusion of other wooded lands in the European Union regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) as a climate solution, also providing for the traceability of the origin of imported products. "The time has come to promote transformative changes, eliminating the conversion and degradation of native vegetation associated with key commodity supply chains," says Guilherme Eidt of ISPN.
European regulations, which came into effect in July, prohibit the entry of commodities produced in areas deforested after December 31, 2020, but only from lands with forest cover. This legal framework is considered progress, but it leaves a loophole by not considering non-forest ecosystems. The Cerrado is the biome most impacted by European consumption, particularly by deforestation caused by soy and cattle ranching, and most of its area is outside the scope of the regulations.
Sociobioeconomics and the economies of sociobiodiversity
On December 10th, ISPN will present the panel at the Brazil Pavilion. "The challenges and opportunities of the socio-bioeconomy for climate and biodiversity in Brazil – Innovation, Scale, Inclusion and Conservation", with the participation of Ana Margarida Castro Euler, Business Director of Embrapa; Frineia Rezende, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC Brazil); Carina Mendonça Pimenta, National Secretary of Bioeconomy, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; and Marcelo Salazar, entrepreneur of Mazô Maná Forest Food.
Bringing together representatives from the federal government, the private sector, and civil society, the purpose is to discuss how science and technology, new business models, financing, and market access contribute to the development of sustainable production chains with the potential to conserve biodiversity and combat the climate crisis.
“Brazil possesses numerous untapped biodiversity assets which, combined with science and the knowledge of traditional populations, and the enormous productive and creative capacity of the people who live in and conserve Brazilian ecosystems, can boost socio-biodiversity economies and contribute decisively to global climate and biodiversity, as well as inclusive economic development,” highlights ISPN representative Guilherme Eidt.
ISPN Agenda at COP28
Table: Protecting nature: NDCs, laws and data that can drive change
Date: Friday, December 8th
Schedule: 16:45 PM to 18:15 PM (Dubai time – seven hours ahead of Brasília time)
Location: Side Event (SE) Room 6 – UNFCCC Pavilion
Panel: The challenges and opportunities of the socio-bioeconomy for climate and biodiversity in Brazil – Innovation, Scale, Inclusion and Conservation
Date: Sunday, December 10th
Hours: 9:00 AM to 10:15 AM (Dubai time – seven hours ahead of Brasília time)
Location: Auditorium 1 – Brazil Pavilion