ISPN, Apib, Rede Cerrado and WWF are in Europe to demand that non-forest areas, such as the Cerrado, be included in European regulations against deforestation (EUDR).
From March 10 to 22, the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN), along with WWF-Brazil, will participate in a delegation led by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) and the Cerrado Network in three European capitals: Amsterdam, Paris, and Brussels.
The group is undertaking a political advocacy trip with the aim of advocating for the inclusion of non-forest ecosystems (Other wooded lands – OWL, in English) in the European Union's regulation against deforestation (EUDR), which seeks to prevent the import of commodities that are related to deforestation.
On the first day of the trip (March 11th), the delegation visited the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam to present the Cerrado, its people and nature, and how all of this is threatened by agribusiness. Data indicates that more than 80% of the deforestation 'imported' to the European Union is concentrated in six [regions/areas]. commodities, with particular emphasis on soy and beef, which are especially harmful to the Cerrado biome.
In the evening, the debate “Cerrado, a forgotten jewel,” held at the Pakhuis de Zwijger cultural center, sought solutions to protect the Brazilian biome and others just as vital. What can the Netherlands and other European countries do to help stop the destruction of the Cerrado? – this was the question left for the participants to answer. There was also a presentation of photographs by the indigenous photographer Kamikiá Kisedje and of products from the Cerrado.
On Tuesday (March 12), a meeting with the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, Albert Heijn, highlighted the retailer's commitment to zero deforestation in the conversion of its supply chain by 2025. "We talked about the challenges of reaching this goal and how to replicate it for other large-scale companies," explained Isabel Figueiredo, coordinator of the Cerrado and Caatinga Program at ISPN.
On the same day, the delegation held meetings with representatives from the Dutch Ministries of Food and Agriculture and International Trade. Dutch environmental NGOs also participated.
“We affirmed our interest in supporting the implementation of the legislation and our demand that the Cerrado and other non-forest areas be included. Government representatives said that the Netherlands has already taken a position in favor of including other ecosystems and commodities“We request that human rights and other social issues be considered. There are still many uncertainties regarding compliance monitoring systems with national legislation and the application of socio-environmental safeguard criteria in European regulations,” reported Isabel Figueiredo.
This Wednesday (March 13th), the group visited a biodynamic livestock and dairy farm that produces animal feed. on-site visit Therefore, it doesn't import soybeans from deforested areas to make animal feed.
“The cows' feed is produced on the farm itself: wheat, oats, corn, clover, and peas. In other words, they don't use soy from deforestation in Brazil. This is a challenge, and few (farms) do this because it's more expensive – when feed is cheaper, we, the commodity-exporting countries, are the ones who pay,” said Isabel Figueiredo.
SOY AND DEFORESTATION
The trip continues to Paris, where there will be a press conference this Thursday (March 14th) regarding the launch of the Mighty Earth study on soy and deforestation (here), and highlighting the urgency regarding the impacts of converting the Cerrado into pastures and large soybean farms on indigenous peoples. A study by Mighty Earth linked more than half a million hectares of deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado to beef products produced by large meatpacking companies. Read more here.
In the French capital, the delegation will meet with Senator Yannick Jadot, former CEO of Greenpeace France and Green presidential candidate. They will also participate in an evening showcasing the Cerrado biome at the Académie du Climat cultural center, featuring a photo exhibition, discussions, and a tasting of dishes made with Cerrado fruits.
In Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the final stop on the trip, the group will have meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment, and the European Parliament. At events in the city, they will participate in the panel discussion “Political Realities in Brazil: The Cerrado Under Threat,” and attend cultural events showcasing the Cerrado biome and culture.
UNDERSTAND
Currently, the EUDR recognizes deforestation only as the conversion of forests, which excludes vast expanses of natural landscapes, such as savannas and grasslands, from its scope. This exclusion represents a contradiction in relation to the objectives of the regulation, since most deforestation is associated with the production of commodities Production destined for the European market occurs in non-forested areas, mainly in the Brazilian Cerrado.
However, current European legislation only considers products originating primarily from the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest eligible for inspection, leaving other biomes vulnerable to destruction.
Another relevant point is that, without the inclusion of non-forest arboreal ecosystems, European regulations protect only 26% of the Cerrado and fail to meet the main objective of eliminating deforestation for products imported by the European bloc. This is because the highest concentration of environmental degradation occurs in the Cerrado. commodities Imports by Europe are linked to soy produced in the Cerrado, which contributed to a 35% increase in deforestation in the last two years (16.437 km²).
“The Cerrado is the biome most impacted by European consumption, especially by deforestation caused by soy and cattle ranching. Therefore, we believe that the European Commission needs to conduct impact studies and review the scope of the regulation as soon as possible, expanding it to include non-forest ecosystems,” says Lourdes Nascimento, general coordinator of the Cerrado Network.
APIB and the Cerrado Network have been warning about loopholes in regulation that prevent the effective protection of Indigenous Peoples and other Traditional Peoples and Communities in Brazilian biomes. The increase in conservation measures in the Amazon has shifted deforestation to the Cerrado, resulting in an alarming 43% increase in deforestation in this biome in 2023, while the Amazon recorded a 50% decrease in the same period.
EUDR REVIEW
"We consider the regulation positive and a step forward in the adoption of traceability systems in the production chain of..." commodities"This is an additional mechanism for protecting our biomes and our territorial rights. However, if the regulation is not applied equally to all biomes (Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal, Pampas and Coastal Biome), we will have an effect contrary to that expected by the European Union, as the EUDR will contribute to even greater pressure for deforestation in non-forest biomes, also increasing the violence experienced in indigenous territories that are not in the Amazon or the Atlantic Forest," explains Dinamam Tuxá, executive coordinator of Apib.
Given this urgent situation, APIB and the Cerrado Network, in collaboration with ISPN and WWF-Brazil, call on European authorities to consider the serious situation of increased deforestation in the Cerrado and to review regulations to include all Brazilian biomes. Protecting biomes and Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities is essential to effectively reduce deforestation and promote sustainable practices.
The law against importing forest products was proposed in 2012 and approved by the European Parliament in 2023. Currently, the definition of forest excludes vast areas of Brazilian biomes, leaving them unprotected.
Letícia Verdi / ISPN Communications Office with information from Apib, Rede Cerrado and WWF