Karina Custódio*
For the past 16 years, Gabriela Savian has dedicated most of the hours of her day to supporting government administrations in their efforts to increase protection of the Amazon. Since 2013, she has been doing this through her work at IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute), where she currently holds the position of Director of Public Policy.
An agronomist, Savian combines her academic background with the practical experience she has acquired over the years to contribute to the development and implementation of science-based public policies aimed at the sustainable development of the region.
One of the pillars of her work today is the continuation of IPAM’s legacy in building the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) financial mechanism as a structuring and long-term policy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Working with the Brazilian legislature, the director collaborated on components of the drafting of the SBCE (Brazilian Emissions Trading System), which paves the way for raising funds for conservation through the sale of carbon certificates.
Her work has also promoted technical and strategic support for state governments, such as Pará, in setting up their climate policies in a more robust way. As well as promoting training and dialogues with government officials and leaders, the board led by Savian ensured the participation of civil society in building Jurisdictional REDD+. This included supporting the development of the legal framework, the creation of instruments for monitoring emissions reductions and helping to carry out public consultations to define the inclusion and sharing of benefits among local actors.
Savian emphasizes that IPAM’s work with public policies is based on research: “When designing public policies, we need to have the knowledge to understand the problem we are facing. Bringing this in terms of data and information so that public policy can be developed efficiently and aimed at achieving strategic results for the Amazon. This is what we strive to do at IPAM”.
The REDD+ agenda in the directorate also includes the development of studies to guide the implementation of the mechanism in Brazil, in an articulated way so that the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities is guaranteed in this process.
Policies for the forest
Savian cites as one of the main strategic results of his work the support provided to the Consortium of the Legal Amazon, an autarchy that brings together the nine states of the region. The initiative’s first strategic plan, for example, received technical support from IPAM.
Through its support over the years, the authority has taken the debate on regional climate policies in the Amazon to the international level. Since 2019, with IPAM’s support, the Consortium has attended a COP (United Nations Climate Conference). The Institute has assisted the Consortium in drawing up strategies for the COPs, ensuring its presence and relevance at the event. For the first COP to be held in the Amazon in November, it’s no different: the Consortium relied on IPAM’s expertise to define its priority themes.
Challenges along the way
Influencing those in power is not a simple mission. Gabriela Savian does it by juggling motherhood with meetings and trips around Brazil and the world. “At many times I was following big discussions and, at the same time, keeping an eye on my cell phone worrying about caring for my son,” she says.
Who guides her plans for the future is the other challenge: the continuity of the policies achieved in the coming years.
“It’s a mission to work on the knowledge management process of public policies that can be absorbed by strengthened governance, whatever it may be. So that these policies can continue to be implemented over time. And we don’t have any setbacks with possible changes after the 2026 elections.”
Communications analyst*