COP30 host city Belém links Amazon’s biodiversity with human footprint

Key Concepts

• COP 30: The 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, an international climate change summit.
• Amazon Biodiversity: The vast array of plant and animal life found in the Amazon rainforest.
• Urban-Rainforest Coexistence: The complex relationship between city life and the natural environment in the Amazon region.
• Traditional Communities: Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, fishermen, and riverside dwellers of the Amazon.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Deficiencies in essential public services and facilities, such as sanitation and transportation.
• Environmental Issues: Problems related to the natural environment, including pollution and waste management.
• Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Pella and Mangaldas Garcas Park

Mangaldas Garcas Park in Pella serves as a microcosm of the Amazon's biodiversity within an urban setting. It highlights the close proximity of city life and the rainforest, with birds flocking to the park at sunset. This coexistence is a key reason why Belém was chosen to host COP 30, as it embodies both the natural beauty and the challenges of living on the edge of the forest.

Verupzu Market: Biodiversity in Daily Life

The Verupzu market in Belém offers a tangible demonstration of the Amazon's biodiversity and its integration into daily life through trade and adaptation. A specific section features "ervadeiros" who sell herbs, cosmetics, and medicines derived from the Amazon jungle. One ervadeiro, who has worked at the market for 20 years, expresses optimism that COP 30 will boost sales and product offerings due to the influx of visitors.

Advocating for COP 30 in Belém

A member of the Pará State Assembly, an early advocate for hosting COP 30 in Belém, emphasizes the need for global support in preserving the Amazon. The argument is that to protect the Amazon, the world must assist the Amazon, and its people – including traditional communities, quilombolas, indigenous groups, fishermen, and riverside dwellers – must be central to global discussions.

Infrastructure and Preparations for COP 30

The main events of COP 30 are scheduled to take place at the Hangar Convention Center and the City Park, both of which have undergone renovations for the international gathering. Beyond these venues, Belém has undertaken significant infrastructure improvements to accommodate the expected influx of visitors, focusing on transport and accommodation.

Deeper Challenges: Poverty and Infrastructure Gaps

Despite the investments, Belém faces deeper issues of poverty and long-standing infrastructure deficits. A government investment program exceeding $1 billion has included crucial upgrades like canal renovations. However, this is considered insufficient to address decades of neglect.

Environmental Issues: Sanitation in Villa Darka

Even with efforts to position Belém as an environmental capital, the city grapples with severe environmental problems, particularly sanitation. In a poor neighborhood like Villa Darka, homes built on stilts discharge sewage directly into the Guajarab River. Residents of Villa Darka express concern that a new sewage treatment plant being constructed nearby will serve wealthier neighborhoods but exclude their own community. A resident states, "COP 30 itself is not a problem for us. I think it's important to stress that. But the way the state has treated Villa Dabara is different. Why was Villa dear chosen? Our community sea wedge don't even be included in that new treatment plant."

Conclusion: A Showcase and a Reminder

As Belém hosts COP 30, the city serves as both a showcase of the Amazon's natural richness and a stark reminder of the extensive work required to translate sustainability into tangible realities on the ground. The situation in Belém, as reported by Paulo Cabra for CGTN, encapsulates the complex interplay between urban development, environmental preservation, and social equity in the Amazon region.