In addition to enforcing the fundamental rights of indigenous peoples, Indigenous Lands (ILs) are crucial for the maintenance of important ecosystem services. However, this role is under threat. If the Proposed Constitutional Amendment 215 of 2000 (PEC 215/00), currently under discussion in the Brazilian National Congress, is approved, it can cause serious legal insecurity for Indigenous Lands.
The potential role of responsible forestry in REDD
If properly designed, REDD could tip the balance towards responsible, certified logging, thus squeezing out illegal operations. Responsible forestry should be coupled with measures to reduce the flow and irresponsibly harvested timber into consumer markets.