OPEN LETTER TO VICE PRESIDENT Mourão FROM THE AMSTERDAM DECLARATIONS PARTNERSHIP1
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His Excellency Vice-President Antônio Hamilton Martins Mourão,
For a long time, Brazil has led the way in reducing deforestation in the Amazon by establishing globally respected,independent scientific institutions to ensure rigorous and transparent monitoring, combinedwith competent law enforcement agencies, recognition of indigenous territoriesand a vibrant civil society.
The Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon, the Brazilian Forest Code and the Amazon Soy Moratorium are rightly recognised for the difference they madein reducing deforestation.As a result, businesses have preferentially sourced from the Brazilian Amazon thanks to the strong standards in place across the region, giving confidence to consumers.Over thelast couple of years, however,deforestation has increased at alarming rates, most recently documented by INPE.
Without doubt, this is confirming that an adequatecapacity of national government agencies to monitor these developments and enforce the respective lawsiscrucial.
We are deeply concerned about this trend and its negative effectsinter alia on the sustainable development options in Brazil, on the livelihood options for indigenous peoples and local communitiesandon primary forests and biodiversity within and outside forests.
The countries meeting under the Amsterdam Declarations Partnershipshare theincreasingnumber ofconcerns raised byEuropean consumers,businesses,investorsand civil society about the ongoingdeforestationin Brazil.
In Europe,there is legitimate interest that products and food on offer areproduced in a fair, environmentally sound and sustainable way.
Business actors like suppliers, traders and investors are responding bybetter reflectingthis interest intheir own corporate strategies.Our collective efforts to generate greater financial investment in sustainable, agricultural production and improve market access for sustainable sourced productscould also support Brazilian economic growth.
However, while Europeanefforts are aiming at achieving deforestation-free supply chains the current trend of rising deforestationin Brazilis making it increasinglydifficult for businesses and investors to meet their environmental, social and governance criteria.
Brazilian and European governments have long and very closely workedtogether to our mutual benefit and that of our citizens. We jointly found solutions for sustainable development that strengthen Brazil's economy, respect its sovereignty and protect areas of high conservation value, such as primary forests in the Amazon.
A steady focus of our collaboration has always beeninvolvingall relevant stakeholders and respecting people’s rights, including the rights of indigenous peoplesand local communities.In the past, Brazil has demonstratedthat it can expand agricultural production while at the same time reducing deforestation.
The countries meeting under the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership 1The Amsterdam Declarations Partnership consists of seven European countries committed to remove deforestation from agricultural supply chains to Europe: Germany (current chair), Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom; Belgium associatesitselfwith the open letter. wouldexpecta renewed and firm political commitment from the Brazilian government to reducedeforestationbeingreflected in currentand realaction.
The Amsterdam Declarations Partnershipis specifically committed to achieving sustainable and deforestation-free agricultural commodity supply chains to our countries–which we see as supportive to our individual bilateral and other important multilateral initiatives for upscaling efforts to conserve, restore and sustainably manage forests globally.
We stand ready to intensify dialogue with actors along the agricultural commodity supply chains, including producers, traders, importers and further relevant stakeholders, including policy makers, civil society, indigenous peoples and scientists, on how to reach sustainable and deforestation-free agro-commodity supply chains and long-term demand for sustainably produced goods.
This willalso support a thriving and sustainable Brazilian agricultural sector.We would welcome the opportunityto jointly discuss this challengewith youthrough our diplomatic representatives,in the hope that we canwork on a common agenda, together with other European partners,to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our people, environment and climate.Germany on behalf of all European countries meeting under the Amsterdam DeclarationsPartnership With highest consideration
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