Monday, August 3, 2009

Peru to raise payment to indigenous communities for Amazon forest conservation

Peru's environment minister now says the government will pay indigenous communities 10 sols ($3.30) for every hectare of rainforest they help to preserve, reports the Latin American Herald. Previously Antonio Brack said that communities would see about half that amount.

The $3.30-per-hectare figure is low by international standards. Under a proposed mechanism that compensates countries for reducing deforestation (REDD), forest land could be worth $800 or more per hectare for its carbon (225 tons of carbon/ha), depending on its level of threat. Forests in areas of high deforestation would be compensated at a higher rate than inaccessible forests at low-risk of development.

But Brack left open the possibility that communities could receive higher payment if parties agree to include REDD compensation in a future climate framework.  …

Peru to raise payment to indigenous communities for Amazon forest conservation

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