International workshop to address capacity building for rainforest leaders

From the silent victims of climate change, rain forest peoples in Latin America are preparing themselves to have an active voice in international decision-making on climate issues. A major landmark in preparing for the dialogue with authorities of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will take place from April 1-4 in Manaus, Brazil, when forest leaders from 13 countries and experts will be participating in the workshop "Climate Change and the Peoples of the Forest: Advancing in the Discussion on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) and the Rights of Indigenous and Traditional Peoples", promoted by the Forest Peoples' Alliance.

The emergence of the global climate issue and the effective participation of forest communities in the conservation of the environment was one of the reasons for the re-launching of the Forest Peoples' Alliance, in September last year. The Alliance had been first established in 1989, shortly after the murder of leader Chico Mendes and represents the interests of indigenous peoples, extractive producers, riverine populations and other traditional communities who keep a mutual pact of survival with the forest.

During the workshop, leaders of Latin American forest communities expect to reach a consensus on which stand they shall take with regard to economic compensation for the environmental services they provide to the planet by helping to conserve millions of hectares of rain forests. Representatives from Asia and Africa will be participating as observers.

In order to encourage discussions during the workshop, the Forest Peoples' Alliance has invited some of the most expressive scientists and experts on topics related to climate, deforestation, indigenous and community rights in rain forests, including Daniel Nepstad (The Woods and Hole Research Center), Peter Frumhoff (Union of Concerned Scientists), Márcio Santilli (Instituto Socioambiental) and Paulo Moutinho (IPAM).

The meeting's final document will be taken to debate with global authorities during the meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the Climate Convention to take place next June, in Bonn, Germany. Policies and incentives for the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries also shall be discussed during the meeting.