A delegation composed of representatives of the European Commission and the Spanish and Belgian authorities responsible for the application of the European Union's EU Deforestation Free Regulation (EUDR), together with the AL-INVEST Verde team, carried out a technical mission to the Brazilian state of Acre with the aim of learning about public policies, environmental control tools and sustainable production initiatives developed in the Amazon region.
The agenda began with the presentation of the main state policies aimed at combating illegal deforestation, promoting environmental regularisation and strengthening the traceability of production. These actions seek to position Acre as a reference point in sustainability and adaptation to the requirements of international markets, particularly in the context of the EUDR.
In this context, the delegation took part in a workshop on the platform. SeloVerde, supported by AL-INVEST Verde in the states of Acre, Espírito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and Tocantins. This tool integrates environmental, territorial and socio-economic data to monitor the situation of rural properties.
SeloVerde makes it possible to verify the environmental compliance of production and facilitate access to more demanding markets. During the meeting, European and Brazilian representatives exchanged experiences on the implementation and/or development of this platform, along with control systems, transparency mechanisms and adaptation of production chains to the new international standards.
In the following days, institutional and cultural visits were made, including the Viveiro da Floresta and the Biofábrica de Clones da Amazônia, the Centro Integrado de Inteligencia, Geoprocesamiento y Monitoreo (CIGMA), as well as the Museum of the Acrean Peoples and the Casa do Artesanato Acreano, where the cultural diversity of the state and the handicraft work based on the sustainable use of raw materials from the forest were presented.
The mission included field visits to concrete experiences of sustainable production. In the municipality of Acrelândia, the delegation learned about an initiative for the cultivation of coffee and cocoa which combines income generation with environmental conservation, supported by public policies to promote agriculture.
Later, in Xapuri, a visit was made to the Chico Mendes Extractivist Reserve, where traditional practices of latex extraction and Brazil nut collection are carried out, as well as sustainable handicraft initiatives.
The mission reinforced the exchange of knowledge between European and Brazilian institutions, as well as raising awareness of Acre's potential in the implementation of development models that integrate production, environmental conservation and improvement of the living conditions of Amazonian communities.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 2, led by FIAP in consortium with IILA, the programme provides assistance for strengthening public policies and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks.
