Avoided Deforestation (REDD) and Indigenous ... - Amazon Fund

predominant. Carbon stocks vary from 185 t/ha in the dense forest, to 170 t/ha in the seasonal
forest, and a low of 6 t/ha in cerrado grasslands.
As mentioned above, differences among figures are due to differences in methodologies
and are particularly significant for estimated stocks in less-frequently studied forest formations,
such as campinarana, cerrado and transition forests between the Amazon and other biomes. In any
event, neither the order of magnitude of carbon stocks in these lands, nor their relevance to global
climate is affected by these differences. The total estimated carbon stock for indigenous lands which
have been recognized in the Brazilian Amazon is 14 GtC (considering only above ground biomass
carbon), which corresponds to the total volume of global emissions for a period of six months.
If, hypothetically speaking, indigenous peoples who inhabit these lands were to decide
to make use of them by suppressing forest cover in up to 20% of the area, which is legally possible,
they would incur future emissions of 2.8 GtC, which would represent 460% of the total volume
of emissions Brazil intends to reduce up to 2020 (currently at 0.61 GtC; MCT, 2009) and with an
average drop of 37%, it would be 0.41 GtC in that year, according to targets voluntarily registered
with the United Nations.
It should be noted that the largest indigenous lands, or polygons surrounding these lands,
have areas larger than some independent countries and have carbon stocks and other climate
services also at a country scale. This means that “local” projects developed in these lands have
significant potential climate benefits, which sets them apart from local – or pilot – projects developed
under Clean Development Mechanism or by means of other sources of financial support.
According to the Brazilian Constitution, indigenous lands belong to the nation, being
destined for permanent possession by indigenous people, and natural resources in the soil,
rivers, and lakes in these areas are reserved for exclusive use by indigenous people. Indigenous
uses and customs are known, but there is no juridical figure for self-management of their lands
(which is the case in Colombia and other countries). Indigenous lands are part of territories of
municipalities and states (in addition, obviously, to national territory), but are not specific federal
units and are not entitled to automatic transfer of federal funds as are municipalities and states.
In theory, state management of indigenous lands is the responsibility of the National
Indian Foundation (Funai) which has legal responsibility for identifying and demarcating them,
monitoring their boundaries, and defending (with support from the police) indigenous assets and
rights. There is permanent military presence in many lands, especially those located in frontier
regions. Other federal institutions have specific responsibilities regarding indigenous demands,
such as those regarding health care and basic sanitation.
16 Av o i d e d d e f o re s t A t i o n (redd) A n d i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s: experiences, chAllenges A n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s in t h e A m A zo n c o n t e x t