Between May 5 and 7, an event called “Amazonian Leapfrogging: Tackling the Climate Crisis and Social Inequality with Nature-Based Solutions” was held at Princeton University. The event, organized by Brazil Lab (a Princeton University research group dedicated to Portuguese, African and Brazilian studies), was attended by leaders from the private sector, civil society organizations, researchers and indigenous leaders, who discussed challenges and opportunities involving the Amazon’s conservation.
According to Márcia Soares, Fundo Vale’s partnerships and networks leader, who was present at the meeting, it was an opportunity to reflect on the present moment and possible strategies for protecting the Amazon and supporting the people who live in it and protect it. “All the people who were there have a long track record of conserving the biome and they are really keen to find solutions to ensure a better future, in which indigenous peoples are respected and the economy is more sustainable and resilient,” she said.
Vale’s vice president for sustainability, Malu Paiva, took part in a panel discussion about “Biodiversity and Forest Restoration,” together with Bernardo Strassburg of IIS-Rio and Marcelo Medeiros of Re.green. The moderator was Jonathan Levine of Princeton University. Paiva talked about the sustainability commitments already announced by Vale, including its 2030 Forest Goal, which aims to restore and protect 500,000 hectares of habitat outside the company’s sites. This goal is being implemented by Fundo Vale.
She also spoke about the importance of scalable solutions with systemic impacts, partnerships with the private sector, civil society and governments to leverage and accelerate initiatives, innovative funding models featuring hybrid mechanisms, and the need to pay special attention to indigenous peoples. Vale has been present in the region for over 35 years and it is helping to preserve 800,000 hectares of forest in the Carajás region.