They have known each other for a long time, and it was a cordial reunion here in Brasília. Espen Barth Eide and Marina Silva have a common heart: To protect the Amazon – the world’s largest rainforest. The Norwegian climate and environment minister emphasizes what this is all about: – I want to say it so strongly that if we do not protect the Amazon, almost all other climate policy is wasted. Espen Barth Eide is the first Norwegian minister to visit Brazil after the Lula government came to power at the turn of the year. Photo: Arnt Stefansen / news And Norway’s largest international climate initiative is precisely about this: With a contribution of several billion kroner, Norway accounts for just over 90 percent of the deposit in the Amazon fund. Environment Minister Marina Silva is very satisfied after the meeting with her Norwegian colleague: – The most important conclusion is that we must continue to develop this cooperation. And we are now looking at new opportunities for Norwegian support, she says to news. – 100 years of emissions The Norwegian rainforest money will be used, among other things, to strengthen the Brazilian environmental police, IBAMA. Espen Barth Eide visited IBAMA’s headquarters in Brasília on Wednesday, and heard that the challenges are now great. After four years of Jair Bolsonaro’s government, there is a great shortage of equipment and qualified people: – The cooperation with Norway through the Amazon Fund is crucial for us to be able to solve our tasks, says IBAMA’s president, Rodrigo Augustino: to news. The Norwegian delegation visits the headquarters of the environmental police IBAMA. Photo: Arnt Stefansen / news The change of government at the turn of the year is the starting point for Barth Eide’s visit and for the new investment in Brazil. He reminds us of what an environmentally friendly government can achieve: – In the previous period of Lula da Silva, deforestation was reduced so much that it corresponds to almost 100 years of total Norwegian emissions. – It is not the case that Norway paid for all this, because Brazil took a good part of the responsibility itself. But we were the first – and still are – the largest contributor to the Amazon Fund, says the Minister for Climate and Environment. 40 years for the indigenous people Brazil’s indigenous people have a central role in the fight to protect the rainforest. In the indigenous reserves, the forest is better cared for than in other parts of the Amazon. Brazil’s Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara at the Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia last night. Photo: Arnt Stefansen / news And in several places the indigenous people have created groups of forest guards. They fight against illegal logging with their lives at stake. Last night, the Norwegian embassy in Brasília marked that it is 40 years since Norway started programs to support the rights of indigenous peoples in Brazil. The guest of honor was Sonia Guajajara, who is the country’s first minister for indigenous peoples: – Norway has supported our struggle all these years, and has helped pay for a number of projects that have improved life for our people. The support for our fight for the right to land has been very important, she says. And she describes the situation for indigenous people as critical after the years with the Bolsonaro government: – It has been four very difficult years. We have experienced a lot of violence and many invasions and attacks in our reserves, says Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara to news.
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– It has been four very difficult years – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
