PPG-7

The Pilot Program to Conserve the Brazilian Rain Forests is a joint initiative of the Brazilian government, Brazilian civil society and the international community aimed at developing innovative ways of conserving the rainforest of the Brazilian Amazon and the Atlantic Forest.

Execution of the Pilot Program is based upon the formation of partnerships both internationally and locally between different levels of government and between these and the civil society, in order to find solutions which take into account conservation of Brazil's tropical forests together with their sustainable economic use, and at the same time to improve the quality of life of the people who live in the two regions. This is the best example of cooperation between countries seeking solutions to an environmental problem of global dimensions.

Funding for the Pilot Program is provided by donations made by the seven most developed countries which make up the G-7, by the European Union, by the Netherlands and with a counterpart contribution from Brazilian official sources. Part of the donations make up the Rainforest Trust Fund (RTF) administered by the World Bank. Under the leadership of Brazil, the Pilot Program carries out its activities through Brazilian government bodies and partnerships with state governments, municipalities, civil society organizations and the private sector.

Participating and decision-making bodies of the Pilot Program

The Pilot Program brings together a wide range of governmental and non governmental actors - both Brazilian and international staff. Participation by Brazil includes nine ministries, state government representative offices and civil society networks, namely the Amazon Working Group (GTA) and the Atlantic Forest NGO Network (RMA).

The highest decision-making body within the Pilot Program is the Participants' Meeting, comprising all the Brazilian representatives (governmental and non-governmental), donor countries and the World Bank. Decision-making procedures are backed up by the Joint Coordination Commission (CCC) and the Brazilian Coordination Commission (CCB), both of which are presided over by the Brazilian Government's Environment Ministry and by the Donors Coordinating Commission (CCD). Monitoring is carried out by an international consultative group composed of experts from different parts of the world who provide strategic counseling and independent assessment to the Program in order to ensure a high standard of performance.

Brief history of the Pilot Program

The discussions which resulted in the proposal to set up the Pilot Program, including an undertaking by donor countries to provide funding, began at the G-7 summit meeting in Houston, Texas, in 1990. In 1991, the proposal to support this initiative was approved by the G-7 representatives and the European Commission. The agreement approved by the Brazilian government and the other signatory countries described the general objective of the Pilot Program as that of maximization of the environmental benefits of the rain forests in a way which would be consistent with Brazil's developmental targets, through the implantation of a sustainable development methodology which would contribute to the ongoing reduction of the rate of deforestation.

During the United Nations Environment and Development Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the Pilot Program was officially launched by the Brazilian government. The first projects were approved in 1994 and came on stream the following year. The main contributors to the budget of US$ 280 million are Germany (41% of the total), the European Union (23%) and Brazil which is responsible for 15% of the resources earmarked for the program, as a counterpart contribution.

The Pilot Program comprises 26 subprograms and projects, six of which have already been completed. The program's main action lines focus on: