In 2023, ICLEI South America added professionals with over 10 years of market experience to its team to further enhance the work developed with its associated local governments. Among them is Cláudio C. Maretti, Senior Fellow for Protected Areas and Biodiversity.

He is currently a researcher, post-doctoral fellow in collaborative conservation at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Geography, a consultant, a senior fellow at ICLEI, and a volunteer. He is a member of the Green List Protected and Conserved Areas Expert Assessment Panel (“EAGL”) for Brazil, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), the Brazil Health and Nature Network, the Council of the International Centre for Water and Transdisciplinarity (Cirat), and the Atibaia Socio-Environmental Collective, among other contributions. 

Throughout his career, he has been President and Director of ICMBio, Coordinator of the III Congress on Protected Areas of Latin America and the Caribbean (in Lima, 2019), Regional Vice-President of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Leader of the Amazon Global Initiative for the WWF Network, Director of WWF-Brazil, Technical Coordinator for the IUCN in West Africa, and Director and Technician of the Forestry Foundation of São Paulo, among other roles nationally and internationally.

Check out the full interview below with Claudio Maretti:

Who is Cláudio Maretti?

Cláudio Maretti is a gentleman, a father and a grandfather! I decided to stop having permanent jobs so that I could live near the forest. I am passionate about the cause of work, not work itself, but it is the cause that motivates me and the desire to contribute to the conservation of nature and, above all, to improving people's quality of life. 

Currently, I live in Atibaia, in a country house next to a conservation unit. Part of my garden is already a protected forest. 

I'm married, and one of my pleasures is having family and friends over to visit.

– What are the main experiences you've gained throughout your career that you believe will contribute to your work with ICLEI?

I began my professional life concerned with social damage, working with landslides and unstable slopes in metropolitan areas. Then, I went to work on the coast of São Paulo and, from there, I specialised in protected areas. I realised that, unfortunately, society is not sustainable, so we need these sanctuaries, which are areas that preserve elements of nature. Over time, I realised that these areas must be not only places of resilience but also of societal transformation. 

I have worked in Brazil, Africa, and various places in Latin America, such as the Galapagos. I have led global initiatives that worked with the nine Amazonian countries and been a government leader for protected areas at national and sub-national levels. I have helped set up systems in other countries and, in recent years, with this new perspective of action, I believe it is my time to give back to society more than just thinking about my career. 

Therefore, I broadened my perspective to other approaches and realised that some protected areas are very important for conserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. In this regard, large national parks and extractive reserves in the Amazon, Pantanal, and along Brazil's territorial waters are crucial. On the other hand, there are things that depend on protected areas closer to people. In recent times, I've learned that local systems of protected and conserved areas (state, municipal, and unofficial ones) are fundamental, at least on two indispensable fronts for quality of life:

• Addressing the consequences of the climate emergency.
  
• Health promotion and societal well-being.

– How did you get to know ICLEI and what are your expectations regarding the partnership?

As I began working with local protected areas and became involved in advocating for global nature conservation agreements, with a particular focus on ecology and ecological processes, I understood that to address climate change, it is crucial to involve subnational governments, non-governmental entities, communities, indigenous peoples, traditional communities, the private sector, among others. In the case of biodiversity, there was still a strong focus on the role of national governments, but this has been evolving in recent decades. I dedicated myself to studying the history and concepts related to protected areas and protected area systems, and I began to advocate for the national and international recognition of subnational efforts and other social support. 

It was precisely by working with the perspective of local protected and conserved areas that we established closer dialogues with ICLEI. I collaborated with the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), GIZ, and ICLEI on the local protected areas project. At the same time, within the research line I lead at the University of São Paulo (USP), in the Department of Geography, I opened several fronts for reflection. One of these was the system of local protected areas, which we currently call protected areas, encompassing conservation units and conserved areas, which are other types of protected areas besides conservation units, although they are not officially part of the system. This approach of working with systems of protected areas allowed me to understand the system of local protected and conserved areas and their contributions. 

Since 2015, when I was president of the Chico Mendes Institute, I opened up new perspectives for conservation units to include other approaches and dialogues. In this context, there were discussions with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the Alana Institute, and the Ministries of the Environment and Health regarding the role of green spaces in promoting health and well-being. Therefore, these new approaches are extremely important, previously addressed by urban planning professionals, but which I now advocate should be tackled by nature conservation professionals, alongside urban planning and health promotion. These new approaches have also led me to work with ICLEI in developing a proposal for a system of guidelines for green and blue protected areas at the municipal level.

– In a few words, how would you summarise this opportunity?

Firstly, I see a spectacular opportunity, as ICLEI is committed to promoting the recognition of subnational governments in achieving global goals for nature conservation, biodiversity, and also in mitigating and addressing the consequences of climate change. I believe I can contribute with my significant knowledge of protected areas at national and subnational levels, both in Brazil and in other countries, and even in international and global processes. 

Secondly, I believe that, together with the other specialities of ICLEI, we can work to improve the quality of life in cities and local communities through the systems, sets, and interactions between society and protected and conserved areas. I have developed concepts of progressiveness, in which the city has green areas close to home, with urban trees present in nearby squares and in easily accessible locations for people's daily lives. This allows for a better quality of life for everyone.

– In your opinion, what are the main challenges and opportunities for implementing Protected Areas in territories?

The main challenge for protected areas is engaging society. In a way, it was social and socioeconomic processes that generated the degradation of nature to a level where we need these protected sites and sanctuaries that end up being defended against the action of society itself. Therefore, there is a reflection attributed to Luxenberg that says: “A city that needs to protect nature from itself cannot be a serious society.” Protected areas face this contradiction, and this has resulted in a sick and unsustainable society, making these areas necessary and important. 

The challenge for society is to engage in the conservation of these areas, but there is also concern that these areas, particularly public ones, serve the interests of society. This also extends to areas that may have a corporate socio-environmental responsibility, such as civil society organisations. However, the emotional and effective involvement of social groups in actions depends on these protected areas meeting their interests.

– With increasingly urbanised territories, what is the key to expanding Protected Areas within those territories?

I understand the preference for using the terms “areas,” “spaces,” or “environments” instead of “territories.” These words convey a less dominant and more inclusive feeling regarding protected natural areas. 

When we consider urbanisation, this issue is as much spatial as it is demographic, and Brazil and Latin America are global leaders in this process. As populations become increasingly urbanised, we see an expansion of urban areas, but also a depopulation of former rural areas. The great challenge is to bring some nature into these increasingly densely populated spaces that are urban areas. These spaces are important as they house an ever-increasing number of people who require quality of life, and it is nature and its benefits that offer this. 

How can we make this integration feasible? One way is to improve building codes, land use codes, and master plans, all with public involvement. There are many neighbourhood social groups fighting for the preservation of green spaces in their areas, and this is crucial for ensuring community engagement and participation.

– For you, Protected Areas are…

It is true that protected and conserved areas are like sanctuaries, as society has destroyed a large part of nature and the values associated with these spaces. Furthermore, these areas also preserve non-physical values, such as archaeological sites, historical sites and landscapes considered important, such as mountains, waterfalls and forests, for historical, cultural and even mystical reasons. It is also important to consider the use of these areas by African-matrix religions, which need to be respected and organised. 

These areas have cultural values, therefore, protected and conserved areas are sanctuaries not only for nature, but also for culture. However, they must also be spaces for transformation, where people and social groups can reconnect with nature, with their own humanity, and thus change their behaviour to value the benefits that nature provides us.

– An achievement.

I am proud of several achievements and will mention a few that bring me pride: 

• I helped build a programme called “Protected Areas in the Amazon”, which contributed to the protection of 60 million hectares. 
• I relaunched the volunteer programme during my presidency and tenure on the board at SEMIBIO, promoting discussions with the public. 
• I successfully created and managed protected areas and sustainable development programmes on the São Paulo coastline and in other regions during the 80s and 90s. 
• I promoted and wrote a funding proposal for the implementation of the Galápagos Marine Reserve. 
• I worked in coastal zone protection in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, in the 1980s and 1990s. 
• Currently, I am promoting a study group with hundreds of people for the collaborative conservation of protected areas. The group includes a course with 15 seminars, the publication of a book, and the drafting of an international scientific article on systems.

A passion.

My passions are my family and my closest friends, who I can now welcome into my home on the edge of the forest. I also love to tend to my garden and observe the surrounding animals. Throughout my career, I have always been dedicated to protected areas and traditional communities. Now, I am committed to using this knowledge for the benefit of cities, subnational governments, and municipalities. I want to contribute to providing solutions that promote harmony between nature and communities, aiming for sustainable development and a better future for all.

– A dream.

One dream I have is to see urban planning that preserves green and blue areas, where the population can enjoy these spaces equitably, regardless of where they live. This access to nature should be distributed fairly so that everyone can benefit from it. Furthermore, I aspire to the elimination of the disasters we see happening repeatedly each year. I wish for good housing conditions, with nature close by, providing a healthy and harmonious environment for all.

– ICLEI is…

It's a path and there are two interesting things:

• One way to bring this knowledge I've acquired over the years and in various places, above all, for a better quality of life and to generate this reconnection of society with nature and with itself

• It's a small revolution, and I say small because the fundamental revolution will be made by social groups, by society, by collectives, in the municipalities and in the areas where people live. This revolution would be this reconnection with nature and with other human beings.