International Forest Policies
Tropical forests have been on the United Nations’ agenda since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Unfortunately, corporate interests have co-opted these processes and initiatives, and they now promote mostly market-based ideas—such as the 'green' economy or green’ capitalism—which are false solutions.
Most governments, NGOs and corporations are promoting more Protected Areas and conservation areas around the world. But what does conservation mean? Marlon Santi of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku explains to us what the Amazonian peoples of Ecuador consider to be conservation.
When the Chure region was declared a Protected Area, the rights of thousands of Community Forest Groups were undermined. They keep resisting despite the overall violence and the accepted project from the Green Climate Fund.
While the destruction of forest territories continues, more pledges, agreements and programs are being implemented in the name of ‘addressing deforestation and climate change’.
