The Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and the Delegation of the European Union to Brazil launch this Friday (November 26), in Brasília, the technical cooperation project "Municipal agreement for reduction of deforestation in the municipality of São Félix do Xingu (Pará)", located in the Amazon region. The ceremony is scheduled for 10h30 a.m. in the Auditorium of the MMA (SEPN 505).
The general objective of the project is to contribute to the reduction of deforestation in the Amazon region, and curb the Brazilian emissions of greenhouse gases. It will also provide the regional institutions with adequate tools for effective environmental and territorial management for deforestation control. The project will have 3 years duration and it will be coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment. A contribution of the European Union, in the amount of 4.910.000,00 euros, will be managed by FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization).
Since 2001, the municipality of São Félix do Xingu is considered by the government priority for prevention, monitoring and control actions on illegal deforestation. With 84.212 km² of total territory - approximately the size of Austria -, the municipality is the second major in Brazil and it has only 67.208 inhabitants, less than one inhabitant per km². It is rated number one in deforestation by the Brazilian government, with 16.621 km² deforested by 2009 that corresponds to almost 20% of its territory.
The project will complement the efforts being made by the Ministry jointly with other countries and international organizations in the region to guarantee environmental protection in Brazil.
With information from the Delegation of the European Union to Brazil
Redes Sociais