British Environment Minister visits the Quilombola community in Pará: “They are the guardians of the Amazon,” he says to

On a visit to Pará, the UK Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey, visited, on Tuesday, (3) sustainable agricultural projects in the Quilombola community of São Manuel, in the city of Mogo, north-eastern region of the state.

The British delegation was able to learn about the techniques of the agroforestry system to produce foods typical of the region, such as Brazil nuts, açaí, black pepper, cupuaçu and cocoa – watch the video below.

Mugu municipality is one of the places benefiting from the British Government-funded Sustainable Rural Scheme (PRS). The Poverty Reduction Strategy has begun its second phase of implementation in Pará, with a focus on supporting nature-based solutions to reduce deforestation.

Therese Coffey heard from residents about the challenges faced by social biodiversity chains in the Amazon region. It is possible to see, in practice, the relationship between climate action, reducing poverty and promoting development.

“I have seen good techniques for production with low carbon emissions. It is knowledge that is passed down through generations, using fertilizers and other products taken from nature itself. Local communities are the guardians of the Amazon and play an essential role for the planet,” the UK Minister said.

The Sustainable Rural Program (PRS) is scheduled to launch a notification in the coming weeks to select projects that will receive resources. The poverty reduction strategy focuses in particular on promoting sustainable value chains in the region, such as coffee, nuts, fish, açaí and cocoa.

Resources for the program come from the UK Government, through International Climate Finance. In Pará, the State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainability (Semas) participates in the PRSP implementation strategy and provides logistical support for the actions.

The UK is Brazil's third largest climate and nature partner. More than £250 million of international climate finance has been allocated to Brazil. In the case of the Sustainable Rural Program, the budget is about 7 million pounds.

Since her arrival in the country, Therese Coffey has met with several representatives of the Brazilian government. The Minister met with Governor Helder Barbalo, with Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and with Minister Sonia Guajajara, of indigenous peoples.

“It is clear that the ambitions and agenda of this new Lula government place the environment and sustainable agriculture in a central position, to combine the fight against climate change with the generation of prosperity. I see many possibilities to strengthen our partnership in the field of the bioeconomy,” said Minister Thérèse Coffey.

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