Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém
November 18, 2025 Climate and environment
Kombu Island rises like a green wall above the Guama River in Brazil. Local communities have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. Here, cupuaçu, tapereba, pupunha, arazá, and cacao are more than just fruits. They are inextricably linked to local identity, culture, and economy.
But today, Kombu's natural wealth is in danger. To protect the world's forests, the UN emphasizes, we must first support those who preserve them.
Chocolate in harmony with nature
Kombu is just 30 minutes by boat from Belém, the gateway to the Amazon, the city currently hosting UN Climate Change Conference (COP30)The association "Daughter of Combu" (Filha do Combu), founded by businesswoman Izete Costa, better known as Dona Nena, operates here. Her project demonstrates that community-led movements can influence global action to combat climate change.
What began as a modest attempt to turn tradition into a source of income has blossomed into a thriving enterprise. Dona Nena began by producing chocolate from Amazonian cacao and selling it at local fairs, then underwent professional training to expand her business.
UN News Service/F. de Carvalho
Today, she runs a small factory and a tour program where participants can see how chocolate is made in the rainforest. Of the 20 employees, 16 are women.
The production is based on agroecological principles, including the use of only locally grown plants.
"I try to enrich the forest with what grows well," says Dona Nena. "We don't cut down trees to plant anything. We work with the existing forest and plant trees where there's natural decline."
Solar energy and plans for the future
The factory, whose products are sold throughout Brazil, operates eight hours a day on solar power. One of the main challenges is power outages. When trees fall or power lines are damaged, machines are idle for days. Dona Nena hopes to double her solar capacity to ensure stable production.
In addition to problems with the power grid, Kombu is feeling the effects of climate change. Cocoa harvests are declining, and fruits and trees are drying up and becoming deformed. Furthermore, the island is facing problems with drinking water: despite the start of the rainy season, Kombu has not seen rain for over 15 days.
Local solutions with global impact
Last Sunday, Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, visited Komba for the second time – she first met Dona Nena while still serving as German Foreign Minister.
"I am pleased to see the project thriving and creating value chains in the heart of regional communities – benefiting indigenous peoples and local residents," Baerbock told UN News Service.
UN News Service/F. de Carvalho
According to her, the initiative proves that real solutions already exist. They combine economic growth, sustainable development, and the fight against the climate crisis. Scaling up such models is necessary to keep global temperature rise within two degrees Celsius—ideally, 1.5 degrees Celsius.
"Destroying forests is destroying humanity's safety net," Baerbock warned.
"COP30 must show the world that even in geopolitically challenging times, countries, businesses and financial institutions are uniting to combat the climate crisis and ensure sustainable growth for all," she added.
Lessons from the Forests
After tasting Amazonian fruits and local chocolates, Dona Nena led Berbock along a forest trail where they had met women who produce cocoa two years earlier.
They discussed how the project helps expand the economic opportunities of local women. Dona Nena emphasized that women bring a special energy of care and devotion, which is reflected in the quality of the chocolate.
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Along the way, Nena and Baerbok saw a tapereba tree dying under the grip of a parasitic vine. "When the tree dies, the vine will die too, deprived of its food source," Dona Nena explained. Baerbok noted that this was a "hidden lesson" that reminded them of the global emissions destroying the planet.
But the forest also holds hope. They stopped before a sumauma tree, an Amazonian giant over 280 years old. These trees, members of the baobab family, may survive for centuries to come—if the COP30 participants achieve the necessary results.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.