By Tiago da Silva Conceição (CFC-GS/UFPA)
The advancement of climate finance policies in the Amazon has sparked important debates in the field of territorial justice and social inclusion, especially in the state of Pará, a territory marked by extensive areas of forest and the presence of numerous quilombola communities. The implementation of the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) system is an opportunity to reconcile environmental conservation with the generation of socioeconomic benefits, while highlighting challenges related to the equitable distribution of resources and the effective participation of traditional populations in climate mitigation programs.
REDD+ is an international mechanism established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to compensate countries and communities that implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve forest carbon stocks. In Brazil, and particularly in Pará, this policy is implemented through state programs and the Amazon Fund, which finance projects focused on environmental conservation, sustainable use of forest resources, and sustainable territorial development. However, the inclusion of quilombola communities in these mechanisms remains limited due to institutional, technical, and legal barriers that restrict access to climate resources.
The main limitation faced by quilombola communities lies in the land regularization of their territories. Access to climate finance resources depends largely on collective land ownership, a condition that has not yet been consolidated for most communities. According to information from the Palmares Cultural Foundation and the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), several quilombola communities in the state of Pará still do not have definitive title to their territories. The lack of legal recognition of collective ownership makes it impossible for these communities to formally participate in REDD+ programs and payment for environmental services (PES) mechanisms, despite their essential role in forest preservation and conservation.
In addition, challenges related to administrative bureaucracy and lack of technical training persist. Many climate finance calls for proposals require the development of complex projects and accountability standards that are not easily accessible to traditional communities. The absence of free, prior, and informed consultation, a right guaranteed by Convention No. 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), limits the autonomy of quilombola communities in defining environmental priorities and managing the benefits derived from projects.
Despite these obstacles, local initiatives in the Lower Tocantins and Marajó regions have sought to integrate quilombola communities into conservation projects based on traditional knowledge and community forest management models, demonstrating the possibility of reconciling environmental preservation and cultural appreciation, provided there is technical support and public policies aimed at equitable access to climate resources.
Ensuring that climate finance and REDD+ resources effectively reach quilombola communities is a crucial step toward strengthening territorial justice in the Amazon. The inclusion of these populations in the climate finance system is not only a measure of environmental sustainability, but also a historical and legal recognition. Over the centuries, quilombola communities have played a decisive role in protecting the forest and should be recognized as protagonists in the construction of an environmentally responsible and socially inclusive development model.
REFERENCES
National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). Amazon Fund – Annual Report 2023. Available at: https://web.bndes.gov.br/bib/jspui/handle/1408/24965 Accessed on: October 23, 2025
National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA). Land Regularization Program for Quilombola Territories. Available at: https://www.gov.br/incra/pt-br/assuntos/governanca-fundiaria/quilombolas Accessed on: October 23, 2025
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). 2022 Census: quilombola population in Brazil. Available at: https://censo2022.ibge.gov.br/noticias-por-estado/37464-brasil-tem-1-3-milhao-de-quilombolas-em-1-696-municipios Accessed on: October 23, 2025
International Labor Organization (ILO). Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, 1989. Available at: https://www.oas.org/dil/port/1989%20Conven%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20sobre%20Povos%20Ind%C3%ADgenas%20e% 20Tribal%20Convention%20ILO%20No.%20169.pdf Accessed on: October 23, 2025
