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More than 80 indigenous leaders took part in a workshop in the Pastaza province of Ecuador to share information on the country’s current conservation initiatives and indigenous experience with these projects. The discussions focused on climate change and mechanisms that the government is developing to conserve forests.
Discussing REDD+
Fundación Pachamama, along with other civil society organizations and indigenous organizations, discussed the project known as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation). REDD+ proposes conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, as an initiative to protect forests. Yet, there are also potentially negative impacts on indigenous people. Indigenous people had the chance to discuss their concerns directly with the Subsecretary of Climate Change, Marco Chiu.
Participants also discussed the UN-REDD Joint National Program to prepare the country’s political and technical framework for this initiative. The central criticisms were: the lack of information, input and participation at a community level; poor coordination by the government to build awareness with enough time to generate a true consultation of the program; and the contradiction in government policies between conservation and resource exploitation.
Socio Bosque shares developments
The manager of the Socio Bosque Program, Max Lascano, shared information on the development of this initiative for the last three years. Socio Bosque provides a financial conservation incentive to individual and communal property owners whose lands include primary vegetation or forests. In the Amazon, 35 communities from 6 indigenous nationalities have entered into agreements with Socio Bosque to conserve parts of their territory for an initial period of 20 years. Four communities shared with participants the benefits and disadvantages they have experienced. Mario Melo, lawyer and technical advisor to Fundación Pachamama, presented important observations on the legal obligations of project administrators once they sign the 20-year contract.
Important critiques included legal and administrative obligations that project administrators must comply with, and the confusion regarding the possibility that Socio Bosque could become a REDD mechanism or enter into a carbon market. Positive comments were also made, especially by members of the Shuar and Cofán communities, about the benefits they have received through Socio Bosque, especially in how they have been able to use the resources received to finance higher education and improve health conditions in their communities.
Reciprocity and joint efforts
This workshop was considered highly successfully in many ways. The Subsecretary of Climate Change and the Socio Bosque Program directly answered the concerns and questions of indigenous peoples, and provided clear explanations for issues that have caused much conflict. Important comments were created that hopefully will serve to improve the preparations for a REDD mechanism and the Socio Bosque Program in Ecuador.
