Sustainable Forests Bimonthly newsletter of the World Bank Rain Forest Unit ­ No. 1 ­ February, 2005 PAGE 1 | Interview: Gregor Wolf PAGE 2 | In Focus PAGES 3 and 4 | Report: Women of fiber in the PDA Developments Communicating results To contribute to learning new forms of preservation and use of the Rain Forests in order to ensure their sustainable development of the region is the main objective of the World Bank Rain Forest Unit (RFU). Therefore, one of the established priorities is the dialogue with the Government and various sectors of society. From now on, the newsletter Sustainable Forests will assist with this task. A commitment to partnership Our objective is to enhance and facilitate communication between all the partners and disseminate the key actions and results. We will address all 1 projects that involve the In an interview to the newsletter Sustain- 3,000 community leaders in fire prevention World Bank's support in able Forests, Gregor Wolf, coordinator of the and control. Today, the states of Brazil's Le- the area of rain forests and World Bank Rain Forest Unit (RFU) speaks gal Amazon are better prepared to implement sustainable development about the RFU's working plan for the 2005- integrated environmental management ini- including the Brazil Rain 2008 cycle and highlights the main results tiatives. We have also worked with state-lev- Forests Program (PPG7). and the challenges ahead. el environmental organizations, helping In this first issue, What are the key objectives of the work- them train their own staff in relevant areas. Sustainable Forests brings you ing plan developed by the RFU? But perhaps the most important result of the an interview with Gregor We are going to act as a facilitator be- Brazil Rain Forests Program overall has been Wolf, coordinator of the Rain tween Brazil and the international commu- its strong influence on the Government's Forest Unit. You will also read nity so as to enhance dialogue. We hope cross-cutting Programs, which have benefit- about a group of women that to support donors in optimizing their finan- ed from the experience and methodology in forms the Association of cial and technical assistance in sustainable how to address issues, keep up dialogue with Alternative Producers (APA) development to Brazil. Given the growing communities, strengthen local capacities, etc. in Ouro Preto do Oeste, number of projects the Bank supports, we What are the challenges facing the RFU Rondônia. This example is would like to contribute to the creation, di- for the coming years? an illustration of the changes alogue and analysis of strategic policies on Promoting the sustainable development of promoted by the environmental and developmental issues. the Amazon region will remain a huge chal- Demonstration Projects (PDA) We hope to promote the dissemination of lenge for years to come.We hope to maintain in the lives of people in the the lessons learned during the first phase of a dialogue with the Government and other ac- Amazon region. the Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7) and tors in order to ensure that the projects we have There will always be a place of how this experience may be applied in supported in the environmental area are prop- in this newsletter to show how future development strategies for the Ama- erly integrated with other sectors involved in the projects outcomes have zon. the development of the region, such as the in- changed people's lives. What have been the results of the Program? frastructure sector.We are taking strides to think Meanwhile, the In concrete terms, there have been many. through and coordinate our projects in a cross- Developments and In Focus Indigenous lands have been demarcated cutting and integrated manner, as was the case sections present résumés about equivalent in size to Germany, Switzerland with the recently-approved loan focusing on our activities and our partners. and the Netherlands together. The program the environment. Keeping this up is an impor- has supported more than 200 community tant challenge in itself, as is taking the expe- Enjoy reading! projects to develop the sustainable manage- riences of the Brazil Rain Forests Program to ment of resources. It has trained more than other countries in the Amazon Basin. Sustainable Forests PAGE 1 | Interview: Gregor Wolf PAGE 2 | In Focus PAGES 3 and 4 | Report: Women of fiber in the PDA Developments Developments Brazil and World Bank Institute Partnerships The World Bank Institute is the arm of the Bank that pro- vides learning and training programs in areas such as sustain- able development, poverty reduction, economic administra- tion and human development. The Institute combines face- to-face and distance classes to reach both policymakers and civil society representatives. In 2002, the World Bank Insti- In Focus tute conducted 560 training activities involving 48,000 peo- Twelve years in Brazil ple in more than 150 countries. With the Rain Forest Unit and Brazil's Ministry of Environ- ment, in 2004, the World Bank Institute promoted the Region- The Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7) is considered al Plan for Environmental Capacity (CENA) in the Amazon re- the largest multilateral program for the Rain Forests pres- gion in cooperation with the Natural Resources Policy Project ervation on a global scale. The Program has been active (NRPP), a subprogram of the Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7). for twelve years and works in an integrated manner with The objective is to raise the institutional capacity of Govern- the Brazilian Government, civil society, the international ments and public ministries to produce interconnected envi- community and the World Bank. With the support of G-7 ronmental actions.The World Bank Institute and the NRPP are countries (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, It- working together on subjects such as conflict management, aly, Japan and the United Kingdom), the European Union, participative strategic planning, valuation of the forest and sus- the Netherlands and Brazil, the Program opens news paths tainable production, rural property licensing, environmental for the sustainable use of natural resources. For Alfred legislation and territorial development. The initiative will Schweitzer, program coordinator for the German Devel- strengthen the institutional capacity for sound environmental 2 opment Bank (KfW) ­ which together with the German management in the Amazon region. Agency forTechnical Cooperation (GTZ) is one of the main international partners ­ there are many positive results, such as the development of public policies for the preservation Objectives of the Rain of the Amazon and Atlantic Rain Forests, the shaping of a public awareness on the importance of preserving these areas, the extension and demarcation of indigenous lands Forest Unit and conservation units in the Amazon, not to mention the development of management actions and land use. · Promote analytical thinking in support of strategic pol- The changes are clearly visible. The Program has lent a icy improvements and long-term actions for the rain forests; voice and more clout to the forest communities, enhanced · Contribute to maximizing the use of what is learned from the capacity of environmental management bodies and the Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7) in other programs and strengthened civil society. It has also influenced nationwide policies; plans and programs, such as the Sustainable Amazon Plan · Generate, share and disseminate the knowledge and (PAS) and the First Programatic Loan for Environmental Sus- learning acquired from the funded projects with World Bank tainability signed by the World Bank and the Brazilian Gov- technical teams and other interested parties, both from Bra- ernment in the second half of 2004. "The pace of defor- zil and other tropical regions, including Governments, civ- estation in Brazil, however, demonstrates the ongoing need il society, private sector, researchers, etc; for a focused approach to the problem", remarks Schweit- · Lead the implementation of the Brazil's World Bank zer. "The concentration of efforts in actions of an even more Country Assistance Strategy as regards Rain Forests regions, structural and lasting nature, such as the extension of con- particularly in the Amazon Basin, in partnership with other servation units and indigenous lands, and the enlargement areas of the Bank, drawing on the accumulated experience, of the Brazilian Fund to finance the conservation unit sys- the learning and the best practices in new operations and tem are among the challenges ahead", he notes. On top studies developed by the World Bank; of this, equally important are land regularization and a great- · Foster communications and mutual understanding be- er integration of the executive between the Ministry of En- tween the international donor community and its conserva- vironment, Incra (the Land Reform Agency), the Minis- tion concerns on the one hand, and the development aspi- try of Agriculture, the Ministry of National Integration and rations of Brazil and other Amazon basin countries on the the Amazon states. As far as KfW is concerned, the pres- other hand; ence of the World Bank illustrates the depth of the Pro- · Assist the international donor community in optimizing gram's political significance in a global context. its technical and financial assistance to the international Bra- zilian development efforts in the Amazon and Atlantic Forests. Sustainable Forests PAGE 1 | Interview: Gregor Wolf PAGE 2 | In Focus PAGES 3 and 4 | Report: Women of fiber in the PDA Developments Women of fiber in the PDA cial structure organized around the direct participation of associated families that seek to foster sustain- able development and improved quality of life so that they remain in the countryside. The association is supported by the Dem- onstration Projects (PDA), one of the sub- programs comprising the Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7). These are projects run by the Ministry of Environment that in- itially counted on support from the Rain Forest Trust Fund (RFT), administered by the Part of the APA women's group. World Bank. Detail: Marly Feiger, president of the Association There are currently 250 families directly associated to the APA, while another 300 The APA women's The year of 2004 was a turning point in benefit indirectly from the actions developed the life of Minas Gerais-born Ivanir Lucas dos by the institution. For this women's group, group promotes Santos, a farmer from the municipality of Ou- which has nearly 200 members today, the ro Preto do Oeste, in Rondônia. Now 46 years APA promotes training in handicrafts works training for old, married with three daughters, Santos is and in the use of regional fruits, production 3 about to conclude her primary education. "I of candies, jellies and liqueurs, processing the female always wanted to go back to school, because of alternative foodstuffs, such as eggshell studying isn't just for people who want to find powder and rice bran. "This work is very im- workforce, a better job. It helps us to grow and gives us portant, since ideas and experiences can be a much clearer picture of things", she says. exchanged with other women in the group The return to her studies occurred in 2003, and the role of women in home economics changing the after more than 30 years away from books and even in society can be discussed", ex- and school. plains Santos, who has already acted as a life of the The desire to get back into the classroom supervisor of one of the women's groups. became more intense when Santos joined the This experience prompted Santos to start community group of women from the Association of Al- studying again. When she first got to know ternative Producers (APA). Established in the PDA Program, she experienced some dif- 1992, the APA is meant to consolidate a so- ficulties understanding and implementing the Lessons learned The final report of the first phase of the PDA reveals the lessons with more gradual approaches and realistic expectations for each phase learned from the Subprogram. Some aspects are: tend to be more effective, reduce operating risks, ensure local involve- 1. Projects evaluations should also be conducted by the benefici- ment and allow for the possibility of making mid-term adjustments, aries themselves. The learning, methodologies, conditions and evi- whenever necessary; dence of success should be continually registered and disclosed; 5. Partnerships with local Governments and associations help pre- 2. Starting with the planning phase, projects should draw on lo- vent an impression of outside interference and contribute to sustain- cal knowledge and respect local needs to ensure acceptance and rec- ability. These need to be confirmed at various occasions, particular- ognition by local people; ly when in remote areas or under weak institutional circumstances; 3. Technical assistance should be made available right from the 6. Few small scale projects designed to commercialize non-timber planning phase of the projects and not only when they are put into forest products prove successful, as the planning seldom takes into con- practice; institutional partners and local professionals with similar ex- sideration managerial limitations, infrastructure difficulties, the nec- perience may be good choices to turn to technical assistance; essary market knowledge, political interference, supply limitations, etc. 4. Sustainability is an unrealistic goal for three years, particular- A business plan would need to be in place that has goals instead of ex- ly when referring to environmental and economic aspects. Projects pecting local producers to quickly become entrepreneurs. Sustainable Forests PAGE 1 | Interview: Gregor Wolf PAGE 2 | In Focus PAGES 3 and 4 | Report: Women of fiber in the PDA Developments Project. "I realized that I had to study to bet- I am the liaison between the APA and the ter understand the ideas and pass them on to women's group", says Feiger.According to her, other people", she says.Today, Santos is proud the work developed by the APA has helped to have achieved her objective and to have improve the nutrition and health of rural fam- set an example for the community. "My neigh- ilies. "We have noticed that the quality of life bor has also returned to her studies since I start- of the members has been improving year by ed. Now it is my husband's turn. Afterwards, year. The same cannot be said about the tra- I want to go back to school to complete my ditional producers", she observes. secondary education", she says. A healthier diet is just one of benefits re- The work of the women's group has also sulting from the foodstuffs produced by the yielded fruits for 31-year-old, Espírito Santo- women's group and marketed by the APA. born, Zeulita de Fátima Quinelato Neto. She Paraná-born Ludivina Ferreira de Souza Lu- left her home state for Rondônia in 1990 and na, 33 years old, says the money she receives was one of the first women to participate in from her participation in the women's the APA group. "In the beginning, we culti- group is spent on clothing for her family. "At vated vegetable gardens, but more recently harder times, it is this work that puts food we have been working with alternative food- on the table", explains Souza Luna, who is stuffs", she says. According to her, this work married and has two children. brings in a significant portion of the house- As far as 46-year-old farmer João dos Re- hold budget, representing up to 30% of fam- is Ferreira is concerned, the women's group ily income. "I think it's very important for enables women to have an even greater par- Women attending an women to have an occupation. Not just for ticipation in the family. "It's a way for them APA handicrafts course the sake of livelihood, but because work is to earn their own money and depend less a way of keeping busy, of playing a greater on their husbands", he says. Married with role in the family and in society", she says. three children, Ferreira also works as a tech- Paraná-born Marly Assis de Andrade Fei- nical agent for the APA, helping local farm- ger, 39 years old, is a good example of this. ers develop sustainable agriculture. Accord- Married with three children, she has always ing to him, the PDA is one of the pillars of 4 actively participated in the APA women's the APA's achievements. "Without the sup- groups. In February of 2003, she was appoint- port of the Program, it would have been dif- ed president of the Association, becoming the ficult to get where we are today. And the first women at the helm of the APA. "Today women's group is part of all this", he affirms. "The work of the PDA subprogram of the APA in Rondônia represents up to 30% of family income in the community" Program supports community initiatives The Demonstration Projects (PDA) are one of the subprograms com- tation of 95 hectares per year of agroforest consortia comprised of pu- prising the Brazil Rain Forests Program (PPG7). Established in 1995, these punha and cupuaçu fruit and native essences, and the consolidation projects promote new forms of sustainable use of natural resources, in- of the four women's groups within the APA, in Rondônia. cluding the processing and marketing of forest products other than tim- Run by the Ministry of Environment, the PDA has an executive com- ber, such as fruits and seeds. Since its creation, the PDA has funded 194 mission formed by the Technical Secretariat, representatives from the community projects. Atlantic Rain Forest NGO Network, the Amazon Working Group (GTA), In Ouro Preto do Oeste, Rondônia, for example, the PDA has already Ibama, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Funai, Banco do Brasil implemented 60 hectares of agroforest systems and 45 hectares of pu- and the Ministry of Environment. Technical cooperation is provided by punha fruit, and has provided horizontal technical assistance for farm- the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the financing ers, trained farmers to process fruits, and supported the implementa- arm of the German Development Bank (KfW). During its first phase, the tion of 18 apicultural centers, among others. Beginning in October, 2001, PDA counted on the support from the World Bank Rain Forest Unit. and with completion scheduled for March, 2005, the second phase of For more information on the PDA, call (55 61) 4009-9256 or send the PDA, in Ouro Preto do Oeste, has among its goals the implemen- an e-mail to: pda@mma.gov.br. Sustainable Forests is produced by the Rain Forest Unit (RFU) of the World Bank. RFU Coordinator: Gregor Wolf. RFU Projects Officer: Ofelia Silva. Address: SCN, Quadra 02, Lote A, ED. Corporate Financial Center, CEP 70712-900, Brasília-DF, Tel: +55 (61) 329-1000, email: rainforestunitbrazil@worldbank.org. Editing and reporting: Cross Content Comunicação Integrada, contatos@crosscontent.com.br, photos: World Bank Archives and the APA.