United Kingdom delegation visits Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve in Xapuri

Érika Melhoranse Gouveia, Director of the Forest Portfolio of the United Kingdom's Climate Investment Fund (ICF) in Brazil, visited the extraction reserve with the aim of reinforcing the importance of international support to protect forests and improve the lives of forest people. (Resex) Chico Mendes, in Xapuri (AC), this Thursday, 11.

Erika Gouveia learned about an initiative funded by the United Kingdom through the REM program, which provides financial incentives to families whose main source of income is extraction.

Along with the managers, a representative from the United Kingdom visits the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve in Acre. Photo: Angela Rodriguez/IMC

In Acre, the REM scheme benefits approximately 600 tappers through regular payment of subsidies for rubber.

The program was moderated by Marta Acevedo, General Coordinator of the REM Acre Project, and Executive Director of the Climate Change and Ecosystem Services Regulation Institute (IMC), Jaksilande Araújo and Elsa Mendoza. REM Acres Project – Phase II.

The UK allocates resources through the REM scheme to households whose main source of income is extraction. Photo: Arinelson Morais/REM

Andrea Reyes, executive secretary of the Environmental Services Promotion Organization (Cisa) at IMC and soldier Jerpson Francisco Noguera Mia of the Army Fire Brigade of Acre Province (CBMAC) also followed the agenda.

The delegation visited the property of Raimundo Mendes, a cousin of Chico Mendes and an environmentalist known as Raimundo. Environmental activist recalls conflicts, challenges and achievements with leader Chico Mendes.

Raimundo Mendes reinforced the importance of continuing international support, including the United Kingdom, to pursue public policies for forest conservation and appreciation and made important considerations for new projects that link conservation to improving the lives of communities.

The representative of the United Kingdom spoke to Raimundo Mendes, also known as Raimundo, an environmental activist and cousin of Chico Mendes. Photo: Angela Rodriguez/IMC

Later, the ICF Director from the United Kingdom in Brazil visited Casa de Chico Mendes and the headquarters of the 8th Battalion of the Xapuri Fire Department, which has REM's financial support to counter and combat illegal deforestation.

Érika Gouveia, Director of the UK ICF Forest Portfolio in Brazil, visited Casa de Chico Mendes in Xapuri. Photo: Arinelson Moraes/REM

Speaking about international partnerships, Érika Gouveia reinforced the United Kingdom's commitment to allocate more than R$3 billion to Brazil for projects aimed at climate and nature protection to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

He recalled that last year, British Chancellor James Wise, Itamaraty and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) signed the United Kingdom-Brazil Partnership for Green and Inclusive Development on the official agenda.

The initiative foresees investments in forests, knowledge sharing, political cooperation and support for sustainable agriculture, climate finance and energy transition projects.

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