Climate change on a national scale and alternatives for sustainable management of the Amazon Forest: the REDD+ mechanism under debate

One of the most pressing characteristics of contemporaneity is the central place of the environmental variable in the global political-economic agenda and in local decision-making processes in relation to social development. Evidence on climate change is growing and, despite Latin America's relatively small share of greenhouse gas emissions, Brazil has emerged as an important player in conservation and climate agendas, mainly due to the importance of the Amazon rainforest as a biodiversity stronghold, carbon sink and reservoir; as well as by greenhouse gas emissions which in Brazil is mainly in the sector of changes in land use. In Brazil, there are significant actions by popular social movements that have been gaining strength towards strengthening the horizon of sustainability and reducing social inequalities. In the midst of this scenario, this article presents a review of key aspects for the sustainable management of the Amazon Forest, with emphasis on the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) mechanism, in dialogue with recent elements of the implementation of policies and actions of socio-environmental governance. Thus, aspects of the process of institutionalization and implementation of the REDD+ mechanism at the global and Brazilian levels are debated. It is argued that, despite the need to improve some of its functions, this mechanism and its respective safeguards can be key elements to contribute to the reversal of the current scenario of deforestation and degradation of the Brazilian Amazon and, also, to face the global ecological crisis in convergence with actions of popular social movements and valuing of traditional peoples and communities.