This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8399871.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Paying to keep the rainforests standing Paying to keep the rainforests standing
(about 5 hours later)
A UN-backed scheme to reduce carbon emissions from the burning of forests could be one of the big winners of the Copenhagen climate summit, with the possibility of a big injection of funds. The BBC's Paulo Cabral has been to the Amazon to visit one of the most advanced pilot projects.A UN-backed scheme to reduce carbon emissions from the burning of forests could be one of the big winners of the Copenhagen climate summit, with the possibility of a big injection of funds. The BBC's Paulo Cabral has been to the Amazon to visit one of the most advanced pilot projects.
For Amazon villager Paulo Dos Santos, money does not grow on trees. It drips from them.For Amazon villager Paulo Dos Santos, money does not grow on trees. It drips from them.
At times, he spends up to two weeks deep in the jungle looking for copaiba oil, a resin highly valued for its medicinal properties, extracted from the Amazonian tree with the same name.At times, he spends up to two weeks deep in the jungle looking for copaiba oil, a resin highly valued for its medicinal properties, extracted from the Amazonian tree with the same name.
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Real life in the Amazon rainforestReal life in the Amazon rainforest
"I look for the trees in the jungle and drill a hole in them so the copaiba oil can be extracted. Then I plug the hole with wood and I can come back weeks or even months later for more," Mr Dos Santos explains. He takes the oil to town to sell it but, he says, does not get much money for it."I look for the trees in the jungle and drill a hole in them so the copaiba oil can be extracted. Then I plug the hole with wood and I can come back weeks or even months later for more," Mr Dos Santos explains. He takes the oil to town to sell it but, he says, does not get much money for it.
"To survive from this kind of work we do need (financial) help, otherwise the only solution is to cut the trees and sell the wood.""To survive from this kind of work we do need (financial) help, otherwise the only solution is to cut the trees and sell the wood."
Sustainable forest exploration - such as harvesting copaiba oil - is the kind of activity encouraged by the anti-deforestation scheme, known as Redd - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. But agricultural activities are closely monitored, and villagers promise not to cut down trees.Sustainable forest exploration - such as harvesting copaiba oil - is the kind of activity encouraged by the anti-deforestation scheme, known as Redd - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. But agricultural activities are closely monitored, and villagers promise not to cut down trees.
Vast quantities of carbon are stored in the trees and soils of tropical forests - when the trees are burned down to clear land to grow crops, this is converted into carbon dioxide Q&A: ReddVast quantities of carbon are stored in the trees and soils of tropical forests - when the trees are burned down to clear land to grow crops, this is converted into carbon dioxide Q&A: Redd
In return for their "environmental services", the community also gets help to build infrastructure such as schools and electric power, and each family gets a monthly allowance.In return for their "environmental services", the community also gets help to build infrastructure such as schools and electric power, and each family gets a monthly allowance.
Paulo dos Santos' wife, Josivalda, goes every month to the town of Novo Aripuana - a four-hour boat ride from their Boa Frente community - to get the family's benefit. It is not much money, but $360 a year does make a difference in a region where the average yearly income is less than $1000.Paulo dos Santos' wife, Josivalda, goes every month to the town of Novo Aripuana - a four-hour boat ride from their Boa Frente community - to get the family's benefit. It is not much money, but $360 a year does make a difference in a region where the average yearly income is less than $1000.
"It certainly helps. Before, people used to cut down trees around our village to sell to loggers but now we don't see much of that any more," Josivalda says."It certainly helps. Before, people used to cut down trees around our village to sell to loggers but now we don't see much of that any more," Josivalda says.
Community policingCommunity policing
The Juma reserve in the Amazon, where Mr dos Santos lives with Josivalda and their six children, is one of the most advanced pilot projects of this kind in the world. It is all about changing the way forest economies work.The Juma reserve in the Amazon, where Mr dos Santos lives with Josivalda and their six children, is one of the most advanced pilot projects of this kind in the world. It is all about changing the way forest economies work.
If we want to stop destruction we have to show that a forest can be worth more standing than cut down Virgilio VianaSustainable Amazonas FoundationIf we want to stop destruction we have to show that a forest can be worth more standing than cut down Virgilio VianaSustainable Amazonas Foundation
"Deforestation does not happen because people are stupid or irrational, but because it brings money. If we want to stop destruction we have to show that a forest can be worth more standing than cut down," says Virgilio Viana, general director of the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation (FAS), a public-private partnership which runs the Juma reserve Redd project."Deforestation does not happen because people are stupid or irrational, but because it brings money. If we want to stop destruction we have to show that a forest can be worth more standing than cut down," says Virgilio Viana, general director of the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation (FAS), a public-private partnership which runs the Juma reserve Redd project.
Deforestation in the Juma reserve has not stopped completely but satellite pictures from the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE) show that it has significantly slowed down - from some 150 hectares in 2006 when the reserve was set up to less than 80 hectares last year.Deforestation in the Juma reserve has not stopped completely but satellite pictures from the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE) show that it has significantly slowed down - from some 150 hectares in 2006 when the reserve was set up to less than 80 hectares last year.
Anyone can monitor deforestation in the Amazon on the internet. The INPE website has up-to-date satellite pictures which are freely available to anyone who is interested. You can't quite see every tree, but you can make out the canopies.Anyone can monitor deforestation in the Amazon on the internet. The INPE website has up-to-date satellite pictures which are freely available to anyone who is interested. You can't quite see every tree, but you can make out the canopies.
But if state-of-the-art satellite monitoring allows authorities to spot deforestation almost in real time, getting there to do anything about it is a very different matter.But if state-of-the-art satellite monitoring allows authorities to spot deforestation almost in real time, getting there to do anything about it is a very different matter.
Brazilian authorities have only 19 teams on the ground to police a region larger than the 27 countries of EU put together.Brazilian authorities have only 19 teams on the ground to police a region larger than the 27 countries of EU put together.
Projects must help families in the rainforest, experts sayProjects must help families in the rainforest, experts say
"Every week we inform to the police and environmental authorities of hundreds of spots of deforestation or jungle degradation. They do make an effort but they are clearly overwhelmed with all the information we send in," says the co-ordinator of the Amazon Program at INPE, Dalton Valeriano."Every week we inform to the police and environmental authorities of hundreds of spots of deforestation or jungle degradation. They do make an effort but they are clearly overwhelmed with all the information we send in," says the co-ordinator of the Amazon Program at INPE, Dalton Valeriano.
Amazonas state governor Eduardo Braga admits that more infrastructure on the ground is needed to police the Amazon more efficiently, but he is adamant that most of the surveillance has to be carried out by the people who live in the region.Amazonas state governor Eduardo Braga admits that more infrastructure on the ground is needed to police the Amazon more efficiently, but he is adamant that most of the surveillance has to be carried out by the people who live in the region.
"This can only work if we engage with the people in the Amazon. We cannot have police everywhere, but we do have communities everywhere," says Braga. "This can only work if we engage with the people in the Amazon. We cannot have police everywhere, but we do have communities everywhere," says Mr Braga.
Right now Redd is the cheapest and most efficient way to reduce emissions in the short term Joao TezzaFAS directorRight now Redd is the cheapest and most efficient way to reduce emissions in the short term Joao TezzaFAS director
In his state - 16 times the size of Britain or four times the size of Texas - 98% of the forest is still preserved, but projections show that if current rates of deforestation continue, almost a third could be devastated by the middle of this century.In his state - 16 times the size of Britain or four times the size of Texas - 98% of the forest is still preserved, but projections show that if current rates of deforestation continue, almost a third could be devastated by the middle of this century.
Braga says that the only way to prevent this is to make the effort to save not only trees but also people. Mr Braga says that the only way to prevent this is to make the effort to save not only trees but also people.
"You can't ask a mother to mind about saving a tree if her child is crying with hunger. If loggers come into her area willing to buy wood she certainly will cut the trees to feed her family.""You can't ask a mother to mind about saving a tree if her child is crying with hunger. If loggers come into her area willing to buy wood she certainly will cut the trees to feed her family."
'Living being''Living being'
However, all this is not cheap.However, all this is not cheap.
Harvesting copaiba oil as Paulo is doing is encouraged by ReddHarvesting copaiba oil as Paulo is doing is encouraged by Redd
The Juma reserve alone needs $500,000 a year to run. To roll out the project for the whole Amazon, FAS director Joao Tezza calculates up to $5bn will be needed. But he says the high figures should not be a deterrent to rolling it out.The Juma reserve alone needs $500,000 a year to run. To roll out the project for the whole Amazon, FAS director Joao Tezza calculates up to $5bn will be needed. But he says the high figures should not be a deterrent to rolling it out.
"Deforestation represents about 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of course Redd cannot replace other actions such as reducing industrial emissions but right now it is the cheapest and most efficient way to reduce emissions in the short term,", says Mr Tezza."Deforestation represents about 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of course Redd cannot replace other actions such as reducing industrial emissions but right now it is the cheapest and most efficient way to reduce emissions in the short term,", says Mr Tezza.
Virgilio Viana of the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation is confident the cost can be met through the growing global carbon markets.Virgilio Viana of the Sustainable Amazonas Foundation is confident the cost can be met through the growing global carbon markets.
"We have made a proposition that out of the total $118bn of the carbon market that we had in 2008, 10% to be allocated to Redd. If the new agreements to be signed in Copenhagen mean that we have more ambitious goals of emission reductions, this market is going to be much greater than we had in 2008.""We have made a proposition that out of the total $118bn of the carbon market that we had in 2008, 10% to be allocated to Redd. If the new agreements to be signed in Copenhagen mean that we have more ambitious goals of emission reductions, this market is going to be much greater than we had in 2008."
In Juma, many people are starting to realise that it is important for them to protect their corner of the jungle.In Juma, many people are starting to realise that it is important for them to protect their corner of the jungle.
Raimundo is one of the elders of the Boa Frente village and was a school teacher for many years. In the past, he used to travel the Amazon rivers trading on whatever could be extracted from the jungle, including wood.Raimundo is one of the elders of the Boa Frente village and was a school teacher for many years. In the past, he used to travel the Amazon rivers trading on whatever could be extracted from the jungle, including wood.
But in the last few years, Raimundo had a change of mind. He does not cut trees, and does not like to see other people doing it.But in the last few years, Raimundo had a change of mind. He does not cut trees, and does not like to see other people doing it.
"A tree is also a living being and I don't like to see it being killed. I think nature feels as I would feel if somebody came and killed one of my five children.""A tree is also a living being and I don't like to see it being killed. I think nature feels as I would feel if somebody came and killed one of my five children."
Deforestation-->
In the last few years loggers and farmers have migrated west into the state of Amazonas as nearby parts of the rainforests are cleared. The relatively small areas of deforestation in 2005 could consume 30% of the forest in 50 years.
The Juma Sustainable Development Reserve is one of the world's richest regions for bird and primate species diversity. Deforestation projections prompted the state government to establish the reserve in 2006.
These projections for 2050 are based on a scenario that combines low government intervention, historical deforestation rates and factors such as the paving of large roads and population growth.
BACK{current} of {total}NEXTÂ