Notícias
Marine Resources
Brazil launches targets for ocean conservation
The Brazilian Blue Fund will be dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in Brazilian coastal and marine areas - Credit: Rafa Tecchio/Governo de São Paulo
On Thursday (8), World Oceans Day, Brazil presented its voluntary commitments for the conservation of marine resources during the United Nations Ocean Conference 2017. The event, hosted at the UN headquarters in New York, had as overarching theme "Our Oceans, Our Future: Partnerships for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14)".
Brazil's commitment to SDG 14 was strengthened through a series of measures, notably the Brazil Blue Fund ("Fundo Azul do Brasil"), the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and the country's overall marine spatial planning, with special attention to the Abrolhos Region, the Vitoria-Trindade Seamount Chain and the north coast.
“We are proud of what Brazil has done for the protection and conservation of whales and the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. We want to look forward and work even harder for marine conservation," says José Pedro de Oliveira Costa, Secretary of Biodiversity of the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry is one of the organisations representing Brazil at the Ocean Conference.
Investment and conservation
The flagship measure proposed by Brazil at the Conference is the Brazil Blue Fund, which will be dedicated to the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures in coastal and marine jurisdictional areas of the country. The project proposes to expand and improve the management of protected areas, seeking to achieve the goal of effective conservation of 10% of Brazil's oceans.
Multiple partnerships will be responsible for the fund's projected investments of US$ 140 million by 2022. The resources will contribute to the restoration of endangered species, the recovery of fish stocks, and the promotion of good practices in the development of sustainable tourism and small-scale fisheries, with positive impacts on mitigating climate change.
“The Fund is a tool for Brazil to achieve its biodiversity conservation targets under Sustainable Development Goal 14, in addition to other commitments made under the Paris Agreement," adds Maretti.