Measures to protect the Amazon river basin have been agreed upon by seven South American countries. The signing of this pact at a summit in Colombia comes amid global concern over thousands of fires in the world’s largest tropical forest. The seven nations involved include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname. The measures will serve to set up a disaster response network and satellite monitoring, as well as plans to work on reforestation.
After more than 80,000 fires have broken out in the Amazon rainforest this year alone, something urgently needed to be done and this pact marks the beginning of that. “This meeting will live on as a coordination mechanism for the presidents that share this treasure – the Amazon,” said Colombian President Iván Duque, who hosted the summit in the city of Leticia.
The countries were represented by presidents, vice-presidents, and ministers. Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was present by videolink because he was preparing for surgery and couldn’t be there in person.
All of the presidents agreed that they should put more efforts into education and increase the role of indigenous communities. As Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra said: “Goodwill alone is not enough anymore.” It is crucial that everyone takes this seriously because the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming.
Brazil especially has to care about the wellbeing of the rainforest because 60% of it is there. Which is why Bolsonaro has drawn intense domestic and international criticism for failing to protect the region. The fact that the number of fires between January and August 2019 is double that of the same period last year after he took office shows that he really hasn’t been doing a great job at taking care of the Amazon.
Environmentalists blame his policies, saying they have led to the increase in fires this year and that he has encouraged cattle farmers to clear vast swathes of the rainforest since his election last October. As a result, many international retailers have stopped importing Brazilian leather and other goods because of the links between cattle ranching and the fires devastating parts of the Amazon rainforest.
The pact states that the countries will:
- Create a natural disaster network so they can better cooperate in the face of events like large-scale fires
- Work on reforestation initiatives, as well as increase efforts to monitor deforestation activity via satellite
- Develop education initiatives and increase the role of indigenous communities in sustainable development
- Share information on activities like illegal mining that hurt conservation
It reads, the group will: “work together to strengthen the programs and financial mechanisms, reiterate the commitments made by countries in these scenarios, mobilize public and private resources, including the multilateral banks, as appropriate, for the implementation of this pact.”
