Failure to reach an agreement on Amazon rainforest protection was the outcome of a critical summit of eight South American countries this week, ringing alarm bells for supporters of this vital ecosystem currently facing severe deforestation. The summit, in Brazil, marked the first gathering in over a decade of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has been a strong advocate for a unified regional plan to eradicate deforestation by 2030, vowing that Brazil will achieve the goal of zero deforestation. Prior to his presidency, the Amazon's deforestation surged under Jair Bolsonaro, stirring concerns among scientists that the rainforest is nearing an irreversible state and could morph into a grassland, severely affecting global biodiversity and the climate.
Addressing the summit attendees in the Brazilian locale of Belém, President Lula da Silva highlighted the urgency of the situation. “The dire state of our climate makes it compelling for us to rethink and enlarge our cooperation. Our era's challenges and the opportunities we face demand collective action."
The heads of state from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia along with top officials from Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname convened to sign a suite of environmental actions, aptly named the Declaration of Belém. This detailed plan of cooperation proposed the creation of an organizational body - the Amazon Alliance to Fight Deforestation. The Alliance, according to a Brazilian government news release, is dedicated to preventing the Amazon region from reaching an irreversible state.
Despite this, the failure to establish a consensus on halting deforestation in the Amazon remains worrisome. The rainforest is a vibrant earth habitat, harboring a broad spectrum of plant and animal species. It is a crucial bulwark for the world's climate, holding vast carbon reserves and shaping global weather patterns.
Guyana, Suriname, and Bolivia diverged from the consensus, according to reports. Records from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research show a concerning 70% surge in deforestation during Bolsonaro’s rule from 2018 to 2021.
About 75% of the rainforest is said to be showing diminished resilience, characterized by a diminishing ability to recover from impacts like logging, fire, and drought. Some areas of the Amazon are even emitting more carbon dioxide than they absorb – an event which could accelerate global warming.
Earlier, on Monday, Colombia pledged its support to an indigenous-led global pact to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025. Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad urged all eight ACTO members to join the "Amazonia for Life 80% by 2025" initiative “so that we find a common purpose.”
There is a glimmer of hope though. Fresh data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research show a significant 66% fall in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon in the last month compared to 2022, marking the lowest rate in six years. However, the Amazon continues to be critically vulnerable and the need for a unified plan to protect it remains imperative.
