The state of Acre, the United Kingdom and Germany agree on a new phase of the second phase of the REM Acre programme

By Arnelson Moraes

The conclusion of the agenda of the observation mission of the REM Acre Program – Phase II, in the presence of the Minister of Planning, Ricardo Brandao, Assistant Minister of Planning, Kelly Lacerda, and representatives of the Governments of Germany and the United Kingdom on Wednesday afternoon – approved the fifth exhibition, the new phase of the REM Acre Program – Phase II.

After the field visits made in the cities of Manciu Lima and Cruzeiro do Sul and the presentations of the agencies implementing the projects, showing the results and the challenges faced by the REM program in Acre, Portfolio Manager of Banco Alemão para o Desenvolvimento (KfW), Klaus Kuhnlein, congratulated the state of Acre on the results Obtained in the second phase of the REM Acre program that, even in the face of the pandemic caused by covid-19 and the change in government administration, “was able to show us that REM contributes to the reduction of deforestation,” he noted.

The new phase of the REM Acre Program – Phase II will undergo a review of the structure of actions, which currently includes a total of 31 projects, with priority given to those that ensure the greatest impact on the overall objective of the programme, which is to reduce emissions from deforestation, with a focus on sustainable productive inclusion initiatives . The big news will be the new dynamics of the implementation of resource decentralization tools, with public calls for public notifications of terms of cooperation and promotion.

He thanked the General Coordinator of REM Acre – Phase II, Roseneide Sena, for renewing their commitment and strengthening trust between governments. “A sense of accomplishment, the ability to contribute with REM to bring about changes in the state. We realize that we are on the right path when we see happiness in the eyes and conversations of the people we reach. The process is slow, but giving up does not speed it up,” he explained.

The state of Acre has signed a pledge to adopt the targets set out in the State Plan to Prevent and Combat Deforestation and Burning of Acre (PPCDQ/AC) as a condition for the release of recent payments, which have been crippled with the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom, due to increased deforestation. The commitment, established by the Plan and accepted by the International Cooperation, is to reduce, compared to the average of the past six years, 10% each year, starting in 2024, and by 2027 to reduce deforestation by 50% in total. Acre state.

With this new commitment, the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom will be able to release, until around the end of 2023 € 6.7 million euros, and in 2024 more € 4.9 million euros, completing the second phase of the REM program in the state of Acre.

The Minister of Planning, Ricardo Brandao, highlighted the importance of this new phase of the REM programme. “We are very happy with the results that are emerging, and this moment is necessary to defend our goal, in a clear indication that the state has united to change the reality of Acre,” the director explained.

The REM program is the result of financial cooperation between the governments of Acre, Germany and the United Kingdom, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany (BMZ) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in the United Kingdom (DESNZ), through the German Development Bank (KfW), to implement projects It aims to conserve forests that benefit, through various agencies, thousands of rural, riparian, extractive and indigenous producers.

And in a symbolic moment, the actors were awarded honors for their contribution to showing that it is possible to generate income, reconciling ecological exploitation with forest conservation.

International consultants for the implementation of the REM Acre Program – Phase II, GFA Consulting Group in partnership with the Earth Innovation Institute (EII), Elsa Mendoza and Dan Pasca; members of the international delegation; Franziska Trogir, Senior Secretary for Sustainable Development and Forestry at the German Embassy; Soren Schopferer, technical expert at the German Development Bank; Claudia Levi, Social and Environmental Specialist at the KfW Development Bank; Sarah Betham, Economist at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Svenia Ponti, REM Program Manager at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero – DESNZ, UK; Louise Hill, Portfolio Manager for Climate Finance (REM and LEAF) at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as technicians from the REM Acre Program Coordination Unit.

The institutions responsible for implementing projects of the REM Acre – Phase II program throughout the territory of Acre are: the Environmental Police Battalion (BPA), of the Military Police in Acre (PMAC); Integrated Air Operations Center (Ciopaer), of the State Secretariat for Justice and Public Security (Sejusp); Acre State Environmental Services Development Company (CDSA); Acre State Military Fire Brigade (CBMAC); Acre State Technology Corporation (Fontak); the Environment Institute in Acre (IMAC); Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Services Regulation of Acre State (IMC); the Land Institute in Acre (Iteracre); Secretary of State for Agriculture (Seagri); Secretary of State for Communications (Secom); the Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Sport (SEE); Minister of State for Tourism and Entrepreneurship (seven); the State Secretariat for the Environment and Indigenous Policies (SEMAPE); and the State Planning Secretariat (SEPLAN).

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