From the forest to the consumer - GVces - Fundação Getulio Vargas

that regulate the management of an institution, be it public, private or organized by civil
society.
Forest management: This is a set of techniques used to produce goods (timber, fruit
etc.) or services (water, for instance) with minimum impact on the forest, ensuring its
long term maintenance and conservation.
Carbon market: This market trades in carbon credits (1 credit equals 1 CO2 ton) generated
by projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997,
established the market where developed countries committed to cut their emissions by
5.2% between 2008 and 2012 according to 1990 levels. Carbon credits act as a currency
for these countries to offset their obligations by paying for emission cuts in developing
countries. In recent years, a voluntary carbon market unrelated to the official commitments
under the Kyoto Protocol has developed. The Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
Forest Degradation (REDD) mechanism financially compensates activities such as forest
management that conserve the forest or alleviate its destruction.
Climate change: This is the global change of climate patterns caused by emissions of
greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by human activities.
Payment for ecosystem services: This is a mechanism that rewards farmers and
extractive communities for the conservation of important natural areas and the mitigation
of negative impacts of economic activities.
Legal Reserve: This is a portion of rural properties that, according to the Brazilian
Forest Law, needs to be conserved in order to make the use of natural resources sustainable,
conserve biodiversity and rehabilitate ecological processes. In the Amazon,
it is equivalent to 80% of the property area in regions covered by forest and to 35%
in regions covered by Cerrado. In addition to the Legal Reserve, properties must also
maintain “permanent preservation areas” on the banks of rivers, on slopes and mountaintops.
Ecosystem services: These are the benefits that natural or cultivated ecosystems
provide to the planet, such as water, food, genetic resources, and climate balance.
Sustainability: According to this principle, the current use of natural resources must
not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Ecological-Economic Zoning: This is a technical and political tool established under
the National Environment Policy that aims to support sustainable development based
on the social and environmental conditions and potential of territories.
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