Deforestation is a driver of climate change, reducing smallholders’ productivity and their earnings.
The Amazon landscape contains 1.4 billion acres of dense forests, half of the planet's remaining tropical forests. The 3,977-mile-long Amazon River is the second-longest river on Earth after the Nile. The Amazon is not only a crucial habitat for biodiversity and indigenous communities but also plays a vital role in global climate regulation. It covers vast areas and contains a significant portion of Earth's known species, as well as storing immense amounts of carbon and releasing large quantities of water into the atmosphere. This is now under threat due to deforestation.
Read more about the landscape (PDF).
Deforestation in the Amazon is a pressing issue driven by economic factors such as livestock farming, agriculture, mining, infrastructure expansion, logging, and land grabbing. The rate of deforestation reached record levels in 2021, with significant consequences for climate change and the indigenous territories that have historically played a crucial role in curbing deforestation. In the context of climate change and the climate crisis scenario there is a need for local climate solutions that support both mitigation and adaptation efforts.
The focus is on supporting local partners and environmental defenders in protecting their territories and cultures. The Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) network emphasizes the importance of empowering youth and women activists who face various obstacles due to social, economic, and environmental injustices. The aim is to foster a collaborative approach that respects local knowledge, cultures, and contexts while strengthening the agendas and resilience of local communities.
The VCA network consists of a diversity of local organizations in Brazil.
